Jake Ball makes MVP top spot his own

Jake Ball, who came second in the PCA Player of the Month vote, continues to impress for Nottinghamshire, who have also made top spot their own in the Division 1 County Championship standings with victory over Hampshire by 203 runs.

Ball was supported well by his teammates with the wickets shared between himself, Stuart Broad and Harry Gurney. Captain Steven Mullaney also produced a fine display scoring 130 in his second innings.

Despite Notts dominance, it was Hampshire’s Hashim Amla who was named PCA MVP Man of the Match scoring 44.69 MVP points as the South African recorded a first innings half-century and second innings century.

Last season’s County Champions Essex played out a spectacular three-day game with Yorkshire at Chelmsford with the visitors ended victorious. After being bowled out for 50 runs, Yorkshire looked out of the contest, however, Steven Patterson’s second innings figures of 6-40 earned his side victory and 37.50 MVP points to be named PCA MVP Man of the Match.

Patterson had some tough competition, with Sam Cook, Peter Siddle and Harry Brook all producing their own fine moments, but it was Patterson’s match-winning spell that saw him score the highest.

At Old Trafford, Dane Vilas treated the crowd to a County Championship highest score of the season as the South African recorded a majestic 235 not out.

There were centuries also recorded by Lancashire’s Keaton Jennings and Somerset’s Marcus Trescothick and George Bartlett, but it was Vilas who ended out on top scoring 46.69 MVP points as the sides played out a draw.

The second Division 1 fixture to produce a draw was between Surrey and Worcestershire as both sides batted with distinction at The Kia Oval.

Rory Burns was the pick of the players after his first innings score of 193 helped him earn 42.91 MVP points.

The MVP formula was designed by the players to identify the match-winners and key influencers of matches throughout the domestic and international season.

An innovation which provides a more rigorous analysis of player performances than traditional batting and bowling averages.

Durham seamer James Weighell produced a spectacular second innings bowling performance to take his side from the brink of defeat to a 46-run victory with career best figures of 7-32.

The victory was the first in Durham’s history after being made to follow with Weighell tearing through the Leicestershire line-up to earn 48.20 MVP points.

Meanwhile at Edgbaston, Jeetan Patel inspired Warwickshire to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Derbyshire with the seamer helping himself to 10 wickets and in return 48.86 MVP points.

Patel now sits comfortably as the highest placed Warwickshire player in the MVP standings.

Kent continued their promising start to the 2018 campaign with their second victory in three matches, this time defeating Glamorgan by six wickets.

Darren Stevens bowled his way to the forefront of the MVP standings after his first innings performance saw him finish with figures of 6-26.

Stevens was offered competition from Matt Henry who sits third overall in the MVP standings, however, after achieving 41.95 MVP points it was the English seamer who was named MVP Man of the Match.

Oliver Robinson produced one of the finest spells of the County Championship season so far as his side Sussex defeated Middlesex at Hove in a tense finish by three wickets.

Robinson took 7-58 in a devastating first innings performance where he dismissed the five top order batsman.

Robinson’s performance earned him 49.92 MVP points and places him in the top ten of the overall standings.

To view the overall MVP standings click here.