The Cricketer reflects on round seven of the 2023 LV= Insurance County Championship season by nominating a standout XI after the seventh week of fixtures...
Durham's opener put his side in a strong position to win their game against Gloucestershire as his unbeaten hundred meant that the home side had to chase 425 to win.
Jones scored quickly, his 121 coming from just 148 balls, as he hit 11 fours and five sixes in an innings which would not have been out of place in a one-day game. The knock continued Jones' fine start to the County Championship season as he looks to maintain his strong average of 51.64.
Strengthening his bid to be involved for Australia at some point in the next few months is Marcus Harris. Whilst Gloucestershire ultimately lost after they failed to chase Durham's target of 425, Harris scored an unbeaten, resilient 122 as wickets fell around him.
This came after he made a neat 52 in Gloucestershire's first innings. In the second, the Australian was at the crease for a total of 306 minutes and was able to hold his head high even as his side fell to defeat.
Nottinghamshire's No.3 helped to take the game away from Essex in Nottinghamshire's first innings. Montgomery shone as he made 177 in a seemingly unassailable innings.
Essex could not find a way to get Montgomery out as he drove and cut with confidence, though he was dropped early on. Eventually Matt Critchley trapped him lbw, but not before Montgomery's score had put Nottinghamshire in a commanding position in this contest which ultimately ended in a draw.
Michael Jones has been in fine form for Durham (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
The highest score in the County Championship this weekend was made by Glamorgan's No.5 as Kiran Carlson scored 192 runs on his way to Glamorgan posting a second innings total of 737 against Sussex.
Along with Marnus Labuschagne, who made 138, Carlson played Sussex's spin attack well as he managed to score at a consistent rate, driving well through the off-side. 192 is the Glamorgan captain's career best and Carlson revelled in the applause as he left the field after falling eventually to Ari Karvelas.
Worcestershire were bowled out for 83 in their first innings of their encounter with Leicestershire. But after impressive bowling from Joe Leach and Matthew Waite, the Foxes lead by 270 going into Worcestershire's second innings, and the hosts had half a chance.
Nonetheless, Adam Hose came in when Worcestershire were 40 for 3 and looking set for defeat, but he began playing punchy shots down the ground and scoring quickly. Along with the steady Gareth Roderick, Hose's 84 from 117 balls put Worcestershire in a great position to get something from the game and Brett D'Oliveira ensured the Pears won a thriller. Hose's brave knock took his side from a position of probable defeat to a fine victory.
If you can believe it, Sussex seem to have another player on their hands capable of scoring big runs in red-ball cricket. Nineteen-year-old James Coles took all the attention away from the shuffling Steve Smith, who was adjudged lbw again, as he made an excellent 138.
This put Sussex in a good position as they posted 481, with a lead of 358 in their first innings against Glamorgan. Coles played with an assurance beyond his years as he timed the ball perfectly throughout his innings, scoring 21 fours in total.
Matt Montgomery made a fine hundred for Nottinghamshire (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
After scoring a well-made 63 from 107 balls in Hampshire's first innings against struggling Northamptonshire, Liam Dawson took 6 for 61 as the home side cruised to victory.
After making a measly 56 in their first innings, Northamptonshire were made to follow on and Dawson accounted for six of their batters on a pitch which started to turn in the third innings. Dawson's accuracy and persistence paid dividends and he will be looking to carry this form into Hampshire's white-ball matches.
Glamorgan's third century-scorer of their second innings, Michael Neser scored 123 off 198 balls as Glamorgan batted on to make the highest second innings score made in England and the second-highest total ever made by the Welsh county.
Neser will have done his outside chance of being included in Australia's Ashes side no harm with this impressive knock and looked delighted as he pummelled a ball bowled by Steve Smith for six to bring up his hundred.
Another key component of Hampshire's dismantling of Northamptonshire, Keith Barker was scintillating as the away side were dismissed for 56 in their first innings.
Ending up with 4 for 13 as his figures, the skilful left-arm seamer had Northamptonshire's batters in all manner of strife as he trapped left-handers Sam Whiteman and Ricardo Vasconcelos lbw before forcing Rob Keogh to nick off and bowling James Sales. Barker also made a very handy and unbeaten 38 in Hampshire's innings.
Tom Lawes starred for Surrey (Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)
Surrey's seamer was the pick of their bowlers as they comfortably beat Kent by 10 wickets at The Oval. Lawes, having taken three wickets in Kent's first innings, nabbed a five-wicket haul in the second innings.
Among his victims were England's opener Zak Crawley, Sam Billings, who failed to trouble the scorers in both innings, and Joey Evison, who batted well in Kent's first innings.
The New Zealand left-arm spinner took two five-wicket hauls as Durham triumphed over Gloucestershire. Finishing with match figures of 10 for 209, Patel was imperious as he took key wickets in Gloucestershire's middle order in the first innings and skittled out the tail in the second.
He will be looking to build on this performance when the County Championship returns and Durham seek to keep their place at the top of Division Two.
Honourable mentions: Matt Henry, Graham Clark, Marnus Labuschagne, George Bartlett, Craig Overton, Sean Abbott, Matthew Waite, Alastair Cook
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