Week 14 Vitality County Championship Review

Surrey make it threee in a row, while Sussex are back in Division One

There was plenty to play for in the penultimate round of Championship games and the winners were Surrey and Sussex, the former securing the Championship title for the third successive year and Sussex promotion to Division One. It was further disappointment for Somerset, following their loss to local rivals Gloucestershire in the Blast final, their hopes dashed by struggling Lancashire. Kent will be playing in Divison Two next season, while wins for Lancashire and Nottinghamshire means that Lancashire remain favourites to join them.

The top three in Division Two all secured wins meaning Sussex are guaranteed a top two finish. Yorkshire and Middlesex are battling for the second promotion place, the former holding the advantage, particularly with Middlesex facing Sussex in the last round and Sussex still wanting to top the Division.

With the change back to the Dukes ball there were no draws in this round of games, with six of the nine matches finishing inside three days, one inside two. The debate about the use of the Kookaburra ball will continue, but draws can be pretty exciting too. There was also a distinct lack of Australian overseas players on show as they have been recalled by their state sides.

Surrey were up against Durham, who had won two out of their previous three games. Put into bat, Durham posted 262 thanks to an unbeaten 78 from Colin Ackerman; Dan Worrall again in the wickets at four for 39. Surrey were then under pressure at 169/5, Bas de Leede finishing with four for 106, but Ryan Patel posted a career-best 134 and guided them to 415. Worrall took three quick wickets as Durham fell to 18/4. Emilio Gay, playing the first game for his new county, made 48 and Ackerman again hung around with the tail, finishing 40 not out, but a total of 177 meant Surrey needed just 25 runs to win. Sam Curran picked up four for 23. Surrey then knocked off the 25 they needed without incident.

Meanwhile Somerset’s title hopes were ended by struggling Lancashire. On a seamer friendly pitch, 21 wickets fell on day one. Lancashire were inserted and Keaton Jennings with 56, was the only batter to pass 16, four wickets each for Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory. They were all out for 140, but Somerset could only manage six more, George Balderson and Tom Bailey taking four wickets apiece. Day two was a lot tougher for the bowlers, the moisture having left the pitch and the Lancashire batters prospered, particularly Luke Wells who reached 130. There was a significant moment when on five, George Balderson played a ball that ended in Craig Overton’s hands at slip and with Balderson clearly out of his crease, Overton threw down the stumps only for the batter to be given not out, the umpire appearing to have taken his eye off proceedings. Balderson went on to make 47 and Lancashire’s 398 left Somerset requiring 393 to win. Somerset’s issues at the top of the order conitnued, Andrew Umeed only managing to take the number of balls faced in the game to three. Archie Vaughan (68) and Tom Lammonby (49) put on 105 for the second wicket, but that was the only significant partnership and they were all out for 224, Luke Wells taking four for 36. This was Lancashire’s third win of the season and gave them a faint hope of avoiding relegation.

Hampshire moved above Somerset when they completed a 235 run victory over Worcestershire on the morning of day four. Kyle Abbott wrapped up the Worcestershire second innings with figures of five for 36 to take his wickets tally to 46 for the season, including four fifers. The home side chose to bat first at Southampton and Nick Gubbins took full advantage of favourable conditions with an unbeaten 201, while Liam Dawson added 109 in a total of 462. Surrey’s Amir Virdi, who is on loan to Worcestershire and was overlooked by Surrey last week when they brought in Shakir Al Hasan, took five for 133. In reply, only three Worcestershire batters reached double figures, although Gareth Roderick made 94 and Ethan Brookes 132 as they posted 273. Liam Dawson took five for 88 and Mohammad Abbas four for 27. The follow on was not enforced and Hampshire then made 204, Dawson with 51 and Virdi taking another four wickets. The Pears were left needing 394, but apart from 57 from Jake Libby, never threatened the total and were all out for 158.

Essex completed their second successive innings win, this time against Warwickshire. The Bears have had a poor Championship season and this was one of their worst performances. Up against probably the best opening attack in the country they were soon 18/3. Will Rhodes (29) and Michael Burgess (17) were the only batters to reach double figures and they were all out for 78, Shane Snater picking up five for 13. Essex were indebted to Snater when they came to bat. He top scored with 69, Essex having been in some trouble at 50/5. They finished on 232 and then had Warwickshire 3/4. Danny Briggs made 51, but they were dismissed for 114, Jamie Porter taking six for 36 and Essex triumphed by an innings and 40 runs. Porter is the leading wicket taker in the competition with 55 at 19.29.

At the bottom of Division One, Kent suffered their eighth defeat of the season, this time to Nottinghamshire, who are in a relegation battle with Lancashire. Haseeb Hameed (56) and Ben Slater (160) put on 196 for the first wicket and Jack Haynes with 62 guided Notts to 433. Kent were then dismissed for 225, Joey Evison top-scoring with 76, while Farhan Ahmed continued the dazzling start to his career with four for 37. Following on, Tawanda Muyeye made 60 in a total of 230, leaving Notts needing just 23 runs for the win. This they achieved in 3.3 overs and Kent were guaranteed Division Two cricket next season.

Sussex confirmed their promotion to Division One with an innings and seven run victory over Gloucestershire, completing the job before lunch on day three. Jayden Unadkat has proved an admirable replacement for Jayden Seales and his four for 32, alongside three wickets apiece for Ollie Robinson and Tom Clark (three for 17 his best first class figures) led to Gloucestershire being dismissed for just 109. Sussex are now without Daniel Hughes and their reply of 311 was thanks to runs from John Simpson (61) and Jack Carson (61), Zafar Gohar taking six for 76. Gloucestershire needed 202 to make Sussex bat again, but despite 61 from Chris Dent, they fell just short. Unadkat was again in the wickets with three for 39, while Henry Crocombe took four for 22. The win means that Sussex can finish no lower than second.

Middlesex also had a comfortable win against bottom placed Derbyshire. The Derbyshire batting has been pretty woeful this season and they were dismissed for 173 in their first innings, Toby Roland-Jones taking five for 34. 115 from Mark Stoneman and 68 from Mark Holden got the Middlesex innings off to a solid start and 80 by Joshua de Caires helped take Middlesex to 358. In the Derbyshire second innings another five wicket haul from Roland-Jones took his tally to 52 for the season and condemned Derbyshire to an innings and 66 run defeat, all out for 119. The win moved Middlesex temporarily above Yorkshire and keeps them in the promotion battle.

Yorkshire travelled to Cardiff and having been put into bat, took advantage of some wayward Glamorgan bowling to post 361, George Hill top scoring with 90 and James Wharton making 63. Glamorgan were indebted to 82 from Colin Ingram as they reached 239, four wickets each for Ben Coad and Matthew Fisher. They then set about building a lead to allow them time to bowl Glamorgan out. Adam Lyth (55) and Finlay Bean (57) made a fast start against some lose bowling at the end of day two, but a better bowling effort on the morning of day three, particularly from James Harris, who finished with five for 73, meant Yorkshire were bowled out for 273. With 151 overs potentially left in the game, Glamorgan were left needing 396 for the win. They never threatened as their recent batting problems continued, Asa Tribe (58), James Harris (49) and Kiran Carlson (41), the only batters to offer resistance. Yorkshire won by 186 runs, Coad taking another four wickets to join Roland-Jones as the top wicket takers in Division Two. Yorkshire move back above Middlesex. leading them by 15 points and now sit 20 points behind Sussex.

Leicestershire chose to bat first at Northampton and reached 203, Sol Budinger making 56. Yuzvendra Chahal was in the wickets again with four for 82 and Yorkshire supporters will be relieved to hear that he is returning home prior to next week’s game. 135 from James Sales helped Northants to 383, Ian Holland taking four wickets. A maiden first class century by Scott Currie and 57 not out from Sam Wood in just his second first class game, batting at 10, took Leicestershire to 316, while Chahal finished his stint with Northants with another five wicket haul.

There are now just two significant outcomes to be decided. The final relegation spot from Division One and the second promotion spot from Division Two, although Yorkshire can still pip Sussex as champions of Divison Two. Lancashire face Worcestershire at New Road, the Pears now clear of the relegation battle, while the other two under threat, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, meet at Trent Bridge. Warwickshire need five points and Nottinghamshire 10 to guarantee survival, even if Lancashire come away with maximum points.

Yorkshire need 10 points from their last game at home to Northamptonshire to guarantee promotion, but look unlikely to overhaul Sussex who need just five points to confirm the top spot. Realistically Middlesex will have to win and Yorkshire lose for the London side to go up.

Congratulations must go out to Surrey and Rory Burns, who has captained them to their last four Championship titles. Undoubtedly they have more resources than most, but given the number of players they regularly lose to the various England squads, it is still a superb effort to come out on top.

Current Championship tables:

Division One

Division Two