Somerset Spin their Way to a Thrilling Win over Surrey

The top-of-the-table clash between champions Surrey and Somerset at Taunton more than lived up to its billing in a dramatic match that left all to play for with two games remaining in the Vitality County Championship. Surrey had a comfortable lead in the title race and a weather forecast that suggested it might be tricky to get a full four days of play, so they knew a draw would suit them perfectly. To reinforce their chances, they brought in Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan to make his maiden Championship appearance. For their part, after winning the toss, Somerset batted first and were indebted to Tom Banton, who hit a vital 132 to see his side up to a total of 317 all out, no other batter reached fifty. Shakib justified his signing by taking four for 97. In their reply, Surrey crumbled from 196 for three to 228 for eight, before Tom Curran led a spirited fightback, smashing eight sixes in his 75-ball 86. In just his second game, Archie Vaughan took six for 102, while Jack Leach picked up four for 105, as the spinners took all ten wickets and Surrey were all out for 321.

With only four runs in it after the first innings, Somerset knew they needed to score plenty of runs – and quickly – but soon found themselves struggling, aware that an injury to Banton had considerably weakened their batting. Shakib was proving a challenge, and as the third day drew to a close Somerset were reduced to 153 for nine. Barely able to move, Banton hobbled out to support Craig Overton and they added a vital 71 runs for the final wicket, both men reaching their forties. Shakib ended with figures of five for 96. Chasing 221 for victory with 79 overs to play, Surrey decided to bat the game out, knowing that a draw was good enough. As the innings reached the last ball of the 60th over, Surrey’s ploy appeared to be working, with Dom Sibley and Ben Foakes appearing immovable, with just three wickets lost. But then Leach had Foakes caught by Lewis Gregory and eight balls later the same pairing accounted for Sibley. When Gregory caught Shakib off Vaughan six balls later, the entire mood had shifted. Jordan Clark and Kemar Roach batted for 64 balls between them, neither man scoring a run, taking Surrey into the penultimate over. On the fourth delivery, Clark was caught behind off Leach, and then the England star trapped Daniel Worrall in front with his last ball of the match. Surrey were all out for 109, Leach had five for 37 and Vaughan finished with five for 38 to give him match figures of 11 for 140. The spin duo had taken all 20 wickets in the match (it was only the third time spinners had achieved this feat in the Champions since 2000). There was unconfined joy for the West Country outfit, while Surrey had their lead cut to just eight points. Has there been a more thrilling game all summer?

Hampshire were frustrated with a draw at Canterbury. Even though surely they can now no longer hope to win the title, they still have a role to play in the outcome, as they will face Somerset in the final game of the season. Kent asked the visitors to bat first, and Tom Prest responded with a score of 102 while Brad Wheal hit a career-best 61 in Hampshire’s total of 403 all out. Kent could make only 207 in reply, Kyle Abbott taking five for 46, and with the weather not helping the hosts were asked to follow on. Jack Leaning made a vital 100, and the home side fought their way up to 338 and safety. Hampshire needed 143 for victory but the game ended soon after with them on 24 for one. The draw left Kent marooned 36 points off safety on 82.

Lancashire travelled up to Chester-le-Street knowing that a victory was vital for their survival hopes. They had recruited West Indies pace bowler Anderson Phillip, in the hope he would bring some bite to their attack – but unfortunately Durham had also brought in a Caribbean star in Chemar Holder. Put in to bat, Lancashire folded to 228 all out, with Matty Hurst making 90 of them; so often it has been their batting that has struggled this summer, so the choice of overseas recruit felt surprising. Holder had no impact, conceding 53 runs off his eight overs, while Ben Raine took five for 44. At 99 for four, Durham’s reply was in the balance, but that only brought Colin Ackermann out to join David Bedingham. The pair batted on together for 97.4 overs, breaking numerous records as they did so. First of all, they set a new county record for the fifth wicket, beating the previous best of 254*, before going on to pass the previous biggest partnership for any wicket by Durham (334* for the first wicket), and when Ackermann was finally out for 186, the pair had put on 425 for the fifth wicket. It was the second highest fifth-wicket partnership in the history of English cricket – with Ackermann one of the partners in the highest partnership – and the eighth highest for this wicket in all first-class cricket.

But Bedingham wasn’t finished yet, and he went on to make 279 – the highest score in history by a Durham batsman. He is now the leading runscorer this summer, with 1205. Durham were able to declare on 573 for nine, while Phillip had picked up two for 101 in 21 overs. Lancashire needed to score 345 just to make Durham bat again, but found Matthew Potts in irresistible form. He finished with nine for 68, the fifth best figures ever for a Durham bowler and the best of the summer by any bowler. Lancashire were all out for 282, losing by an innings and 63 runs, with Phillip providing a late flurry, making 41; meanwhile, Holder went wicketless again.

Lancashire’s rivals for the second relegation spot, Nottinghamshire, were also beaten by an innings, though the Trent Bridge outfit hold an 11-point advantage over the Red Rose. Essex were put in to bat at Chelmsford, only for Tom Westley (122) and Michael Pepper (a career-best 115) to score hundreds as the home side piled up a total of 457 all out. On his debut, Luc Benkenstein made just 4. Nottinghamshire were blown away by Jamie Porter (five for 35) and Simon Harmer (four for 16) and were dismissed for 93. Porter is now the joint second leading wicket-taker this summer, with 46 along with Warwickshire’s Oliver Hannon-Dalby, but both men trail Gus Atkinson of England and Surrey, who has 48. Following on, skipper Haseeb Hameed led from the front, making 105, but his side scored 281, with Harmer again picking up four wickets.

The game at New Road, Worcester, was a victim of the weather. Warwickshire chose to field first and the hosts made 307. Tom Taylor rolled over the visitors, taking six for 28 as they were bowled out for 128. Warwickshire followed on, and 121 not out from Will Rhodes helped them up to 252 for three, when the match was drawn. Jack Home made his first-class debut, but failed to take a wicket, though he did score 29 in his only innings.

In the race for promotion in the Second Division, Sussex all but guaranteed their place in the top flight in 2025 with an innings victory over Glamorgan at Hove. The visitors were put in to bat and scored 186, with Jaydev Unadkat taking four for 52. Tom Clark (112 not out) and John Simpson (117, his fifth hundred of the summer) both made centuries as the hosts hit back with a total of 491, despite 20-year-old spinner Ben Kellaway taking five for 142, his best figures. Glamorgan needed to score 305 just to make Sussex bat again, but they were bowled out for 218. Sussex top the table by 21 points.

Yorkshire are their only realistic rivals now, and they reinforced their challenge with a comprehensive win over Leicestershire at Grace Road. The hosts were put in to bat and collapsed to 15 for seven, before a 31-ball 51 not out from Ben Cox dragged them up to 98 all out, Ben Coad finishing with figures of five for 15. Skipper Jonathan Tattersall (126) and Matthew Fisher (a career-best 88) put on 138 for the ninth wicket to help Yorkshire up to 379 in reply. Rehan Ahmed top-scored with 77 in Leicestershire’s second innings, but it wasn’t enough as they were bowled out for 209 to lose by an innings and 72 runs, George Hill doing the damage with six for 59.

Middlesex’s chances of promotion were dealt a blow at Lord’s, where Gloucestershire emerged as the winners, by four wickets. The hosts were put in to bat and made a very handy 377 all out, with Tom Price taking five for 81 while James Bracey became the first wicket-keeper in the county’s history to finish with seven dismissals in the innings (all caught). The visitors declared on 309 for nine in reply, with Zafar Gohar making 86 – his highest score for the county. Toby Roland-Jones took five for 79. Then the match turned, with debutant Archie Bailey taking four for 30 as Middlesex fell away to 165 all out. Bracey continued his fine form behind the stumps, taking another four catches to give him a county record 11 dismissals in the match. Needing 234 for victory, a 113 fourth-wicket partnership between Miles Hammond (78) and Bracey (56), eased any nerves. Middlesex now trail Yorkshire by 15 points.

There was a first win of the summer for the home side at Northampton, who chose to bat first but scored only 219, largely thanks to 90 from Saif Zaib. Derbyshire’s Harry Moore, making his first-class debut, picked up the wicket of Lewis McManus. The away side managed just 165 in reply, unable to handle Yuzvendra Chahal, who took five for 45. Northamptonshire added 211 in their second innings, leaving Derbyshire to chase 266 for victory. Wayne Madsen (48 not out) had no support, and the visitors crumbled to 132 all out, beaten by 133 runs. Rob Keogh took five for 44.