Ollie Pope hits speedy century as Surrey declare crushing win over Hampshire

Ollie Pope introduced ‘Bazball’ to the LV= Insurance coverage County Championship as he blazed an unbeaten 122 from 102 balls to steer Surrey to a crushing nine-wicket win over fellow title hopefuls Hampshire on the Kia Oval.

Dom Sibley’s unbeaten 79 performed the proper anchor function for England batter Pope, who struck three sixes and 14 fours, because the second-wicket pair placed on 193 in 30 overs to assist Surrey chase down a goal of 243 with the minimal of fuss.

The great victory despatched a strong message to the remainder of the division because the defending champions pulled away in damaging trend within the last session of the sport, with Pope ending issues off with back-to-back sixes.

Surrey’s first victory of the marketing campaign leaves them second within the desk, three factors behind Warwickshire after the Bears lastly ended Kent’s cussed resistance with simply six overs to spare at Edgbaston.

The hosts received by an innings and 14 runs when Kent all-rounder Joey Evison edged Hassan Ali behind to agonisingly fall for 99, having taken his facet so near salvaging an unlikely draw

Defeat was on the horizon for the guests as they stumbled to 99 for seven after following on 295 runs behind, however opener Ben Compton (88) and 21-year-old Evison added 100 in 25 overs to provide Kent hope.

Compton fell within the first over after tea however Evison and Conor McKerr then added 74 in 27 overs and Kent have been inside touching distance of an ideal escape when Will Rhodes caught McKerr at fourth slip earlier than Evison fell sufferer to Ali’s outswinger.

Essex are third within the high flight, 4 factors behind Surrey, after their captain Tom Westley stood sturdy for almost three hours to disclaim Lancashire victory at Chelmsford.

Lancashire plundered 184 runs in a 28-over morning session, with 137 coming within the last 15 overs, as they declared on 351 for seven to set Essex a goal of 340 off 68 overs.

Decrease-order trio Tom Hartley (73 not out), Colin de Grandhomme (38) and Tom Bailey (25 not out) clubbed 10 sixes and 10 fours between them as they laid siege to the Essex bowling assault in pursuit of victory.

James Anderson then dismissed his former England captain Sir Alastair Cook dinner for a duck as Essex’s reply began in dismal trend, however Westley, with 43 off 120 balls, ensured that was only a minor setback because the hosts edged their strategy to 128 for 4 from 58 overs when the groups shook palms on the draw.

Nottinghamshire’s dwelling return to Division One acquired off to the best begin with a 165-run victory over Somerset.

Regardless of a two-day washout, Nottinghamshire claimed a convincing win as Somerset have been bowled out for 129 halfway by way of the afternoon session on Sunday after being set a goal of 295 to win.

Dane Paterson handed 500 first-class wickets with figures of 5 for 46, Brett Hutton completed with 9 wickets within the match and England seamer Stuart Broad claimed his first wickets of the season as Nottinghamshire bounced again from their opening-round defeat at Hampshire in fashion.

Additionally in Division One, Sam Whiteman hit a maiden half-century to assist Northamptonshire decide up their first victory with a seven-wicket overcome Middlesex.

Contemporary from his Sheffield Protect win final month, the Western Australia captain struck seven fours and a six in an unbeaten 60 as Northamptonshire reached their goal of 119 simply earlier than lunch.

Leicestershire went high of Division Two after securing useful bonus factors of their rain-affected draw with Derbyshire.

No play was doable on the 2 earlier days however centuries from captain Lewis Hill (162 not out) Colin Ackermann (114), adopted by a tremendous spell of seam bowling by Chris Wright (4 for 38), ensured Leicestershire maximised bonus factors.

The hosts declared on 451 for 9 earlier than Derbyshire completed on 253 for seven of their first innings, with Brooke Visitor (92) and Wayne Madsen (75) main the way in which.

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐖𝐍 🤝

Captains Hill and du Plooy shake palms within the center to conclude a rain-dominated fixture. The Foxes take 1⃣2⃣ factors to return to the 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐰𝐨. 😀

LEI 451/9 decDER 254/7

🦊#LEIvDER pic.twitter.com/O1TUTRW1f9

— Leicestershire CCC 🏏 (@leicsccc) April 16, 2023

Durham moved up second within the desk, stage on 27 factors with Worcestershire, after beating the Pears by 121 runs on the Riverside because of a five-wicket haul from Matthew Kuhnemann.

Durham captain Scott Borthwick (108 not out) scored his first first-class century in two years as he and David Bedingham (86) placed on a 196-run partnership to go away the hosts in prime place for victory.

Worcestershire wanted 314 to win from 70 overs after Durham declared on 254 for 4 however after dropping two early wickets, the guests solely had a draw on their thoughts.

Adam Finch and Dillon Pennington’s late partnership nearly denied the house facet however Australia spinner Kuhnemann (5 for 53) eliminated the latter to safe Durham’s first win of the marketing campaign.