County Roundup
After the rain of the previous three days, the county programme went ahead uninterrupted on Saturday, but the wisdom of scheduling the matches so that the final day fell on the weekend must be questioned
Dave Liverman
20-May-2000
After the rain of the previous three days, the county programme went ahead uninterrupted on Saturday, but the wisdom of scheduling the matches so that the final day fell on the weekend must be questioned.
The shortened matches meant that four games drifted quietly towards draws, with little incentive for any spectator to come out and watch rather than staying home and watching the FA Cup Final.
County Championship Division 1
DERBYSHIRE v YORKSHIRE: Lehmann finally found a partner to stay with him, and added 114 with number 9 Middlebrook (45, a career best). Lehmann, on 58 overnight went on to complete a fine century, and was last out for 133 with the
total 349. Cassar took 6 wickets to go with a good batting performance. A lead of 46 was unlikely to lead to a win unless something exceptional happened. Derby had little trouble batting out the day, losing just the wicket of Dowman. The highlight was 81* from Di Venuto in just 76 balls with ten boundaries, and in partnership with Stubbings (84*) he took the score to 209/1 before proceedings were halted.
LEICESTERSHIRE v HAMPSHIRE: Leicestershire added 77 runs on the final morning, Habib only adding three but Burns going on to a top score of 67*. Warne had Habib stumped, and bowled DeFreitas to finish with figures of 5/86. Hampshire trailed by 60, and lost 3 wickets before gaining a lead. As wickets continued to fall Leicestershire had fleeting hopes of a win, but ran out of time , Smith with a 122 ball 31 ensuring a draw. At the close Hampshire led by just 63 with 2 wickets remaining. DeFreitas took 4/41, and Kumble 2/27 in 22 overs (four wickets in the match).
County Championship Division 2
SUSSEX v WORCESTERSHIRE: The only match that might see a result is that between Sussex and Warwickshire, as Sussex, with a day left, lead by only 28 with five second innings wickets remaining. Worcestershire batted well, led by Solanki who fell just short of his hundred, hitting a return catch to Rashid. They declared on 311/8, a lead of 58, but made immediate inroads into the Sussex batting. The vital wicket of Bevan fell to Lampitt, after his compatriot McGrath had made the initial breakthrough. Adams failed again, with Sheriyar taking two late wickets to leave the home side with a tough task to avoid defeat.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE v GLOUCESTERSHIRE: Resuming three runs behind, Gloucestershire soon moved into the lead, but Alleyne only added three to his overnight total, bowled by Stemp for 126. Lewis contributed 38, and Gloucester led by 75.
Nottinghamshire had little alternative but to try and bat out time, and this they did with some ease. Bicknell fell to Smith for only 2, but then a good partnership between the impressive Welton and Gallian took Hampshire to 94. Both Welton and Gallian made 42, and fell to Harvey, who bowled well in a somewhat futile cause. Harvey took 4/63 as the match drifted to a draw, Notts finishing on 207/8.
WARWICKSHIRE v ESSEX: Essex had only just started their first innings on the final day of their match against Warwickshire, and both sides were on a quest for bonus points rather than a result. As such the honours went to Essex,
accumulating 298, and only losing four wickets in the process. Stuart Law made an entertaining 83, and Irani, in fine all-round form, an unbeaten 91.