Henry races to MVP top spot

New Zealand born Henry blew away the opposition with remarkable match-winning figures of 12-73, earning the seam bowler 58.93 MVP points.

Two devastating bowling spells saw Henry take both openers in consecutive innings, including South African debutant Aiden Markham for a first day pair.

Despite Henry’s brilliance, the highest individual score of the week was claimed by Worcestershire all-rounder Ed Barnard who amassed a staggering 64.19 points.

Although the Pears were defeated by Somerset, Barnard took 11-89 in the match, scored a total of 95 runs and was only dismissed once to produce an MVP score that will be difficult to top in 2018.

The MVP formula provides a more rigorous analysis of player performances than traditional batting and bowling averages. Points are accrued across all disciplines and are adjusted within the context of the game with bonus points for captains and players who are on the victorious side.

Designed by the players, the MVP Rankings identify the match-winners and key influencers of matches throughout the domestic season with the overall winner rewarded with a £10,000 prize.

Surrey started their 2018 campaign with a win at home to Hampshire in Division One of the County Championship. Academy graduate Ollie Pope was the star at the Kia Oval, recording his highest ever first-class score of 145, resulting in the youngster scoring 37.07 points and being awarded the Man of the Match.

After rain cancelled the first round fixture between Yorkshire and Essex, both sides would have been relieved to finally get their season underway.

Champions Essex defeated Lancashire in a tight affair with PCA Rep Jamie Porter taking nine wickets and scoring 42.77 MVP points in a 31-run victory at the Spitfire ground.

Yorkshire were also victorious as they cruised to a 164-run victory at home to Nottinghamshire. Ben Coad ended the match with figures of 10-130, his second 10-wicket match haul in first-class cricket, that saw him finish with 46.01 points.

Meanwhile, in Division Two Warwickshire bowler Ryan Sidebottom helped his side to a comfortable victory over Northants by an innings and 48 runs.

Despite several high-quality performances for the Bears it was Sidebottom who claimed the highest MVP score of 41.74 points after finishing with match figures of 10-96.

Derbyshire finally ended their long awaited first County Championship home victory since September 2014 after a 101-run victory over Middlesex.

Luis Reece starred for the home side with an unbeaten 157 that allowed Derbyshire to declare on 333-3, setting the visitors an unlikely 440 to win.

Reece’s MVP score of 42.82 points puts him as the highest placed Derbyshire player in the rankings in 19^th place.

Glamorgan travelled to Bristol to get their 2018 season up and running with their six-wicket victory over Gloucestershire going deep into the final session of the match.

James Bracey’s 120 not-out set up a tense finish with the youngster scoring 34.07 MVP points, but it was Glamorgan’s South-African Marchant De Lange who produced a match-winning display taking eight-wickets and recording a first innings unbeaten half-century as he ended with 40.13 points.

The only second round fixture that produced a draw was played out between Sussex and Leicestershire in a very even contest.

PCA Personal Development Scholarship Award winner Luke Wells ended with the highest MVP rankings score of 45.31 points after the Sussex opener scored an unbeaten century to add to his first innings bowling figures of 4-81.

Colin Ackerman and David Lloyd also scored high on the MVP Rankings scale with their own respective centuries, but with only 21 wickets taken in the match neither side could end victorious.

To view the MVP Rankings standings, click here.