Another Robson, another tug-of-war?

Australian born-and-raised batsman Angus Robson, brother of England’s newest opener and Test century-maker Sam, has continued his fine form in the County Championship for Leicestershire.

Robson top scored in both innings against Surrey, making 75 and 81 despite his side losing by 10 wickets.

The 22-year-old is yet to pass three figures in first-class cricket but now has seven half-centuries this County season and is averaging 40.06 from nine matches.

Like his brother, the younger Robson likes to build an innings slowly and accumulate runs square of the wicket rather than try to dominate the bowling, although he is prepared to use his feet when required.

But unlike his brother, he is yet to declare his allegiance to a particular country and there is still a chance we could one day see a Robson in each change-room of an Ashes series.

Elsewhere, veteran Australian opener Phil Jaques has hit his second century of the County season to help Nottinghamshire to a seven-wicket victory over Somerset.

The left-hander made 113 off 138 balls and was part of an opening stand of 203 that put the game firmly in Nottinghamshire’s grasp as it went on to take a first innings lead of 297.

Somerset fought back well but thanks in part to some tidy bowling from Australian Test speedster Peter Siddle, who will return home in mid-July, Nottinghamshire only needed 110 runs in the final innings for a well-earned victory.

A shock comeback was briefly on the cards when it stumbled to 2-0 in the first over, before Jaques took control once again, making 42 not out to lead his side home. 

Nottinghamshire have now drawn level with Yorkshire at the top of the County table, and the Australian opener is starting to talk up his side’s chances of an unexpected title.

Whether his side can live up to those expectations will depend heavily on the consistent opener piling on more runs – Jaques already has 738 at an average of 46.12 – and the club finding a bowler to lead the attack when Siddle departs.

Aaron Finch looks set to have a say in the title race as he continued to impress when facing the red Duke ball, scoring his first County ton for Yorkshire as they beat Warwickshire by an innings and eight runs.

The limited-overs specialist didn’t give the nervous 90s a chance to take hold as he raced up to and past triple figures with 14 runs off four balls. Finch was eventually out for 110 runs off 146, which included nine fours and three sixes.

In four County matches the Victorian has scored 255 runs at an average of 51, putting the disappointing 148 runs at an average of 14.80 that he scored in the last Bupa Sheffield Shield season well and truly behind him.

It remains to be seen whether the national selectors will consider him for longer forms of the game until he delivers big scores regularly.

John Hastings is also making the most of a relatively sunny UK summer, performing with bat and ball as he helped Durham defeat Sussex by 309 runs.

The big Victorian made 51 in Durham’s first innings, which included a towering six over long on. He followed that up with a steady 2-52 that was overshadowed by England Test discard Ben Stokes claiming 7-67.

Hastings was the star in Sussex’s second innings as he bowled a fiery spell and took 4-47 to see Durham take the points.

Doug Bollinger and Marcus North had their usual roles reversed early in the match between Kent and Derbyshire when Bollinger helped Kent’s tail wag with a quick-fire 19 off 24, including a couple of sixes off North’s off-spinners.

But the West Australian soon got the better of his countryman when he had Bollinger stumped.

Chasing Kent’s first innings total of 333, Derbyshire floundered and were all out for only 115 as Bollinger took 2-20. North tried to keep the middle order together with a typically patient innings but was eventually bowled for 18.

Derbyshire put up more resistance in its second innings, reaching 256 after being forced to follow on. North put his head down again, this time making 16 before being trapped in front of his stumps to continue a miserable run, during which he has averaged just 18.50 from eight innings for Derbyshire.

Bollinger was unlucky during a few good spells and finished with 0-51 for the innings, before his team was able to tick off the 41 runs needed without loss.

Usman Khawaja missed out on an ideal opportunity to play himself into form and the national selectors’ minds when he was out lbw for one run on a flat track.

The next two batsmen in, Ashwell Prince (257no) and Steven Croft (156), certainly took advantage of the favourable conditions and Lancashire went on to declare at 6-650.

Northamptonshire were never in the hunt, making 180 and 270 to lose by an innings and 200 runs.