BOB WILLIS TROPHY TEAM OF THE WEEK: Thriller heroes Ackermann and Hudson-Prentice waltz their way in, but who else joins them?

TEDDIE CASTERTON: On the back of the first round of Bob Willis Trophy action, The Cricketer considers puts forward those who performed best - a tough call after some memorable performances

Ben Slater (Leicestershire)

On loan from Nottinghamshire, the opening batsman set the tone for what was to follow, as Leicestershire – his temporary county – upset the 2019 form book in beating Lancashire. His 172 was a fine effort; he was part of expensive stands with both Hassan Azad and Colin Ackermann, setting up what would become a memorable victory for Paul Nixon’s side.

Chris Dent (Gloucestershire)

While his team struggled, Dent demonstrated what true consistency looks like with two scores of 92 and 67 in Gloucestershire’s loss against Worcestershire. His patience at the crease was testament to his character and what it means to be an opening batsman.

Nick Gubbins (Middlesex)

With the highest score of the week, his 192 consisted of twenty boundaries, including 19 fours and a six. Gubbins set up Middlesex’s victory from the start. With his team reaching 347 for only the loss of six wickets, Gubbins managed to score well over half the runs and over three times as many as the next top-scorer. He demonstrated his class in the next innings as well, top-scoring once more with 60.

Colin Ackermann (Leicestershire)

A true captain’s innings, chasing down 150 inside 16 overs. Ackermann took Lancashire to the cleaners, hitting ten fours and a six in just 41 balls. An unexpected ending that saw the Bob Willis trophy turn into a spectatorship for explosive cricket. Ackermann had hit 94 in the previous innings with eleven boundaries to back it up. With Leicestershire chasing a memorable win, he dictated the innings and showed truly what a strange game cricket can be.

^{Chris Dent has long been one of the circuit's most consistent performers}

Leus du Plooy (Derbyshre)

In the grand scheme of a phenomenal chase, the left-hander’s first innings century should not go unnoticed. While he made only seven in a successful pursuit of 365 on the final day at Trent Bridge, his 130 had earlier kept his Derbyshire side in the game. Bowled out for 239 in an innings that showed few signs of what was later to transpire, he was one of only two men to pass 18; his hundred came at a decent rate and only finished when he was last man out, having put on 80 for the tenth wicket.

Adam Rossington (Northamptonshire)

In what seems like a good week for county captains, Rossington did not disappoint. Impending doom for Northamptonshire trailing by 227 on first innings saw Adam Rossington come to his team’s rescue. He showed tremendous grit and determination in scoring 135 runs, while more importantly swallowing up 399 balls and staying out at the crease for a whopping 497 minutes. It is safe to say that Rossington alongside his teammate Luke Procter saved Northants from a heavy defeat.

Tim Bresnan (Warwickshire)

Showed not only that he can still impress with the ball, but also that he remains capable of scoring hundreds when needed. With a knock of 105 runs including 12 fours and a six, Bresnan helped his team achieve 369. He made sure to back this up with an impressive spell of 26 overs whilst only going for 37 runs, taking three wickets along the way.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice (Derbyshire)

Demonstrated his ability with the bat in scoring an unbeaten and skilful 91 not out to guide Derbyshire to their record-breaking chase of 365 with just a single ball to spare. With his team’s chances looking bleak at 234 for 6, Hudson-Prentice turned the game on its head, sharing fifty partnerships with Mattie McKiernan and Michael Cohen to steer Derbyshire to victory.

^{A century on his Warwickshire debut for Tim Bresnan}

Jamie Overton (Somerset)

With the pre-match announcement of his move to Surrey, Overton began the final summer of his Somerset career with a bang. Not only did he show his class in Glamorgan’s first innings, helping to restrict them to just 131, taking two wickets for just 16 runs during his short spell, he exploded into action in their second innings, adding a five-wicket-haul in just 17 overs. The impressive nature of his bowling managed to take the wicket of Glamorgan captain Chris Cooke, who made 82 out of his team’s meagre 166, allowing his team to seal victory.

Joe Leach (Worcestershire)

Taking his team to an eight-wicket win over Gloucestershire, Leach took his hammer to the tail of his flailing opposition, taking four wickets in just five overs. With what looked like a game set for a draw, Leach took matters into his own hands to finish off the tail quickly, so that his team could score the remaining 110 runs in just 26 overs.

Ollie Robinson (Sussex)

What more is there to say? Robinson, as so often, led the Sussex charge in a 94-run win over Hampshire inside three days. Taking out key batsmen Felix Organ, Joe Weatherley and skipper Sam Northeast, he ended with eight wickets in the match.

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