It has barely been a title race, but it will at least last another day. Essex did their bit, thrashing Warwickshire – whose relegation is inevitable – by an innings for the second time this summer, but second-placed Lancashire would not lie down. Somerset need two more tail-end wickets and then there will be a chase, but it should not be vast: Lancashire’s lead stands at just 45.
Essex, as they have since June, had the look of champions at Edgbaston, and were mighty clinical in polishing off woeful Warwickshire. This was the fifth innings defeat of a sorry season; the rebuild has begun but has plenty of miles ahead.
Jamie Porter, whose command of length and seam position have been sensational all summer, picked up three wickets, to move to 64 for the summer. Simon Harmer picked up four, including the last, to sit one behind. Sam Cook, two games into his Championship career, was superb too, with three wickets – including the two old dukes Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell. Against this attack, Warwickshire never looked like even making Essex bat again.
Porter dismissed an opener in each of his first two overs. His length makes him difficult to drive, as Dom Sibley – in finding first slip – learned, and he nips the ball back too. Sam Hain was rapped on the back pad, plumb in front. When Cook had Trott playing on and Bell caught behind off the glove, both with balls that swung back, Warwickshire were four down in 45 minutes. Before rain brought an early lunch, Harmer’s turn and bounce – in his first over – were too much for Chris Woakes, who turned to leg slip.
When play resumed at 2pm, Harmer immediately had Alex Mellor caught at slip, and Porter’s return saw off Keith Barker, snicking off for a pair. Matt Lamb and Jeetan Patel resisted, but only by slogging. Harmer feasts on that, and Henry Brookes was last to go, caught at slip. The celebrations, with Alastair Cook (who will play in the final two games of the season) and a number of other non-played squad members in tow, could half-begin.
That it was beer, not champagne Essex supped, was down to Haseeb Hameed and Liam Livingstone, respectively playing to and against type to resist Somerset’s sensational young spinners, as Lancashire took the game to the final day at Taunton. At the close, Livingstone was happy to concede the inevitable, that the title was heading to Chelmsford.
Hameed put on 82 with Alex Davies, who made 49 and will surely tour with England Lions this winter, for the first wicket. Hameed ground a typically tough 62 from 188 balls across 210 minutes. Livingstone, known for his swashbuckling strokeplay, lasted two minutes longer in making 57 from 165, even dragging Lancashire into the lead.
But all three fell to Jack Leach who, with 107, has more wickets in the last two seasons than anyone else. Davies was caught and bowled off the leading edge while, after a second wicket stand of 62, Hameed was caught at cover driving. Livingstone, late in the day, was caught behind.
Dom Bess took three for 85. Steven Croft was lbw sweeping, and Shiv Chanderpaul bowled by a beauty. Leach and Bess struck a vital blow each late in the day, Ryan McLaren and Stephen Parry caught at bat-pad, meaning Somerset are within reach of giving their growing survival hopes a mighty boost.
