The Cricketer reflects on the latest round of the 2023 LV= Insurance County Championship season by nominating a standout XI after the sixth week of fixtures...
The Derbyshire opener struck his maiden first-class century in the draw against Gloucestershire. In an innings that combined style with grit, Came was able to stand firm as wickets tumbled at the other end. Derbyshire's batters were unable to handle the skilful bowling of Ajeet Singh-Dale and Matt Taylor, but the 24-year-old stood firm before being run out by Chris Dent on 108.
In another drawn game, it was a young batsman's century which caught the eye. Rishi Patel's second innings hundred helped Leicestershire maintain their unbeaten record in Division Two after his side were made to follow on against Sussex. Twice he was lucky to survive, edging to Tom Clark on 27 and he was dropped again on 47 off the bowling of Bradley Currie, but Patel played with unbroken confidence as he reached his third hundred of the season. A naturally aggressive player, he struck three sixes and sixteen fours in his hundred which came off 157 balls.
The Hampshire academy graduate has made a tidy start to the season, but this innings was by far his most impressive yet. This unbeaten 182 came after Alsop made 150 and 60 against the same opponents last term (he averages 136 vs the Running Foxes in five matches). He looked confident and comfortable (mirroring Cheteshwar Pujara's comfort at the crease, who was out for 77) as he knocked around Leicestershire's seam and spin attack.
Wiaan Mulder starred with bat and ball for unbeaten Leicestershire (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
The South African allrounder played a major role in Leicestershire claiming a draw against Sussex. When Patel was dismissed, with the hosts six down and just 36 runs ahead with 43 overs remaining, defeat loomed. But their oversea star came good at the right time after struggling for runs so far this season. His innings took the game beyond Sussex, coming after he took a five-wicket haul in Sussex's first innings. He was comfortably the pick of Leicestershire's bowlers and even managed to trap Steve Smith (3) lbw.
In a game which ultimately ended in a final-day stalemate, the 19-year-old stole the headlines with centuries in both of Somerset's innings at Old Trafford. Rew made 105 the first time around before sharing an unbroken 192-run stand with Kasey Aldridge in which he scored an unbeaten 118. The leading run scorer in this season's County Championship exudes great control when he takes to the crease for someone so young. His self-assurance and talent made him appointment viewing in a match which ultimately faded.
The most exciting game in the latest round of County Championship fixtures was at Chester Le Street where Durham needed 33 runs with two wickets remaining on the final day. Brydon Carse knocked off the winning runs and they won by a single wicket, but it was Raine's unbeaten 50 which underpinned the late charge.
Under pressure, Raine played calmly and rotated the strike with Matthew Potts, frustrating the Yorkshire bowlers. This mature and level-headed knock followed an excellent performance with the ball where Raine took three wickets in the first innings and four in the second, when he dismissed Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow, having trapped the in-form Adam Lyth lbw with the first ball.
Ben Raine led Durham to an unlikely victory against Yorkshire (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Surrey beat Middlesex to add another victory to their County Championship title defence and Worrall's burst of 5 for 48 in Middlesex's first innings was crucial in the final analysis. The Australian is one half of a rather formiddable opening bowling partnership with the rapid Kemar Roach (who may feel aggrieved not to have been included in this team of the week purely because of his artistic rearrangement of Mark Stoneman's off stump) which will strike fear into opening batsmen across the Championship.
Worrall also played a handy 32 off 31 balls to help further extend Surrey's lead over Middlesex's first-innings score of 209. He will prove to be a key part of a Surrey side looking to claim back-to-back titles for the first time since 2000.
Another key figure in the thriller at Chester Le Street, Potts not only took eight wickets in the game but played a critical innings of 25 which helped see Durham home. Potts bowled magnificently in the first innings taking 4 for 49 at an economy rate of 2.23 as he accounted for Yorkshire's top order.
Along with fellow team of the week member Raine, Potts batted calmly under pressure. He bravely took the attack to Jordan Thompson and managed to keep out George Hill until the Yorkshire seamer caught him lbw with just two required before Carse knocked off the winning runs.
The small Essex travelling contingent at Edgbaston were only able to watch on as the Pakistan seamer took the game away from them on the second day at Edgbaston. Firstly, it occurred with the bat rather than the ball. Essex clawed their way back into the game, taking six quick wickets for 46 runs which left Warwickshire with only a slender first-innings lead when Hassan came to the crease. A 70-run 10th wicket partnership with Oliver Hannon-Dalby, in which his partner scored 53, restored Warwickshire's control.
In his preferred role as chief seamer, he bowled wonderfully in Essex's second innings, taking 4 for 48 and dismissing Alastair Cook to help made it three wins in five games at Edgbaston.
Four-wicket hauls in both innings for Chris Rushworth helped Warwickshire dismantle Essex at Edgbaston (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
The conditions at Edgbaston were ideal for Rushworth to continue his fine start to the season. The skies were overcast and the pitch was fast-moving and unpredictable which allowed the seamer to have tremendous success against Essex's top order. He took a remarkable 4 for 28 in the first innings, dismissing Cook, Dan Lawrence, Matt Critchley and Michael Pepper before taking 4 for 62 in the second where he accounted for Lawrence and Pepper again and also Nick Browne and Doug Bracewell.
Rushworth is the leading wicket-taker in the County Championship so far this season and is an integral part of the Bears' talented seam attack which will cause any county side problems this summer.
The South African took 5 for 16 as Nottinghamshire skittled Northamptonshire out for 72 as the visitors won by an innings and 25 runs at Wantage Road. Paterson looked unstoppable in his opening spell as he dismantled Northamptonshire's vulnerable top order with accurate bowling.
Paterson has the safe hands in Notts' slip corden to thank as they clung on for all five of his second innings wickets. Now third in the Division One table, they'll be looking to Paterson to guide them to future victories.
Honourable mentions: George Hill, Kasey Aldridge, Daryl Mitchell, Matt Henry, Craig Overton, Adam Finch, Matt Taylor, Tom Scriven, James Sales, Timm van der Gugten, Brett Hutton, James Fuller, Michael Neser
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