Alfonso Thomas continues to take wickets in the County Championship even as the pitches get flatter and batsmen cash in, reports GARETH STEVENS.
Lancashire managed to hold on for a draw with Somerset at Taunton. The visitors were dismissed for 266 in the first innings before Somerset responded with 484. Lancashire’s only positive outcome from this position was the draw and they batted accordingly in the final innings of the match. They saw out 100 overs, finishing on 251-5.
Ashwell Prince wasn’t able to follow up his highest score in the previous match, only managing 5 and 22 on his two visits to the crease. Proteas Test batsman Alviro Petersen looks in good touch ahead of his trip with the national team to Sri Lanka. He made a steady 73 in Somerset’s only innings.
The performer of the match, on a pitch where wicket-taking proved difficult, was Thomas. He claimed match figures of 6-69. The opening bowler has enjoyed a wonderful season and will lead Somerset’s charge for silverware.
Dawid Malan’s unbeaten 154 set up the game as Middlesex posted 488 in their first innings at Lords. Northamptonshire then found themselves in trouble, an all too familiar position this season, at 168-6. Andrew Hall and Steven Crook showed the kind of determination that has been lacking in their campaign thus far. The Nos 7 and 8 contributed 75 and 131 respectively, taking the total to 312 before the seventh wicket eventually fell.
The partnership had taken enough time out of the game to stave off defeat. Middlesex scored at four runs an over in their second innings to set Northamptonshire 304 on the last afternoon. The visitors reached 82-3 as they negotiated the final 46 overs of the contest to secure a draw.
Worcestershire crushed Glamorgan by 249 runs in Worcester. The hosts got off to a good start posting 352, batting first. The Welsh club then responded with 297. Jacques Rudolph’s 88 at the top of the order was the only half-century of the innings.
Worcestershire batted aggressively in their second dig on a wicket that was starting to spin and bounce. They set the visitors 355 for victory and threw the ball to Saeed Ajmal. Pakistan’s premier spinner did the rest, claiming 7-34 and dismissing the visitors for 105.
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