Week 15 Vitality County Championship Review

A damp ending to the Championship sees Lancashire relegated and Yorkshire back at the top table

Hopes of a tight finish in the relegation and promotion battles was partly thwarted by the weather, but Lancashire’s failure to gain any batting bonus points in their first innings and Yorkshire’s dominance of their game against Northamptonshire meant that outcomes had been decided by the end of day three. Yorkshire therefore join Sussex in being promoted to Division One, the south coast side confirmed as Division Two champions, while Lancashire are relegated from Divison One alongside Kent.

The reactions of players and supporters of the clubs involved confirms the importance of red ball cricket to both parties. However it continues to be sidelined by the ECB and supporters who turned out for the final day of Championship cricket would have had plenty of layers on. The interest is exemplified by the number of people tuning in to the on line broadcasting by counties and it will be interesting to see how many counties follow Leicestershire’s lead in putting this facility behind a paywall. These are tough times economically for the majority of counties and if this is seen as a potential income stream they could come together and agree a package that gives cricket supporters access to all the counties.

On the field, any chances that Lancashire had of survival were dependent on winning their game with plenty of bonus points accompanied by a positive result in the game between Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, both teams knowing that a draw would keep them up. The weather scuppered any hopes of the latter, and Lancashire’s first innings total of 177, in reply to Worcestershire’s 180, fell short of what they needed with regard to bonus points and relegation was confirmed before the end of day three. Only 26 overs had been possible on day one and no play on day two and when Worcestershire’s second innings started at the end of day three, only one over was bowled before bad light stopped play. On day four they were in trouble at 78/6 before a 55 run stand between Adam Hose (41) and Matthew Waite (37) halted the slide. Logan van Beek chipped in with 44 and Joe Leach finished unbeaten on 30, in his last appearance for the Pears before he retires, play ending at tea because of bad light with Worcestershire on 223/9. Anderson Phillip took four for 77 to go with his five for 65 in the first innings, but it was not enough to save his side. The draw meant Worcestershire finished in sixth place, their highest position in the County Championship since it was split into two divisions in 2000.

Only 15.2 overs had been possible on day one at Trent Bridge and by the end of day two Nottinghamshire had reached 324/6 from 82.4 overs. 19-year-old Freddie McCann continues the excellent start to his career, making 130. The regard in which he is held is shown with him coming in at three and this was his second century in just five first class games. Wicket keeper/batter Kyle Verreynne, who had been brought in as part of Notts bid to avoid relegation, went to his century on day three, finishing on 148 not out, as the Outlaws reached 487. Warwickshire then ended day three on 143/4, by which time Division One status in 2025 had been confirmed for both counties. Sam Hain finished the game on 153 not out and Ed Barnard made 81 as Warwickshire had reached 373/7 when bad light ended play.

Somerset have had two weeks they will want to forget, finished off by another defeat, this time to Hampshire who in the process confirmed their second place in Division One. This game took much the same course as the meeting between Somerset and Surrey, with 15 wickets falling in the 81.5 overs possible on day one at Taunton. Somerset chose to bat first and were immediately under pressure with the ball moving around. In Kyle Abbott and Mohammad Abbas, Hampshire have a potent new ball attack and it was only an excellent 63 from Tom Kohler-Cadmore that allowed Somerset to reach 136. Poor light meant Somerset were then required to bowl spin from the 11th over, but Jack Leach responded with three for nine and Hampshire finished day one on 62/5. It would have been worse had Kasey Aldridge held on to an edge off the bat of Toby Albert. Aldridge had similarly dropped Keaton Jennings on nought last week, when he went on to make a vital 56. He put down Albert again on 52 and the misses proved expensive as Albert ended as top scorer, with 77 out of 196. Hampshire were also indebted to some lower order runs from Ben Brown (35) and James Fuller (25). Five more wickets for Kyle Abbot meant Somerset could only muster 180 in their second innings, the biggest partnership of 55 put on by Lewis Gregory (59) and Jack Leach (33*). This left Hampshire needing just 121, but Somerset’s hopes were raised when Gregory removed Albert and Nick Gubbins with the first two balls of the innings. He would have had a hat-trick if Aldridge had not shelled another catch, this time low at second slip off James Vince. Vince went on to make 48 and Liam Dawson saw Hampshire home with 44 not out. This was the first Championship game Shoaib Bashir and Leach have played together this season and with Bashir going wicketless, it brings into question how much they need him if Archie Vaughan continues to take wickets.

Since their loss to Worcestershire, Essex have racked up two innings victories and came out strongly against champions Surrey. Surrey gave Dan Worrall a well earned rest, but Tom Lawes removed Robin Das in the second over. However it took another 59 overs before they gained a second success as Dean Elgar (182) and Tom Westley (135) put on 253 for the second wicket. Only 28.3 overs had been possible on day one and day two was washed out, but Essex finally declared on 508/8, Matt Critchley also reaching a century. The Surrey openers came out to bat in the evening session on day three and Dom Sibley saw them through most of the final day, completing his third century of the season. The players finally shook hands with Surrey on 267/7.

At Chester-le-Street, no play had been possible on the first two days and Durham were put in to bat when play got under way on the morning of day three. Alex Lees led from the front posting 144 and alongside half centuries from Emilio Gay (52) and David Bedingham (66), Durham reached 360. Matt Parkinson took six for 109, including that of his brother Callum, caught and bowled for 1. Runs from Jack Leaning (84), Joe Denly (63) and Joey Evison (77) saw Kent through the final day, reaching 353/8 when play was called off.

In Division Two, any real hopes Middlesex had of overtaking Yorkshire and gaining promotion were ended by the rain at Hove, with the first two days washed out. When play did get underway Middlesex had only one thing on their mind as, put into bat, they tried to put put pressure on Sussex. They made 271 from 44.3 overs, Sam Robson’s 113 coming from 103 balls, while James Coles took four for 61 and Jack Carson three for 46. Sussex’s innings was understandably less frenetic and the aquisition of the first batting bonus point, just after lunch on day four, secured them the Division Two title. Centuries from Tom Haines (105) and Jack Coles (132*) meant Sussex finished in control of the game on 459/4 and fittingly John Simpson was at the crease when play ended, unbeaten on 87. As well as leading his new county back to Division One, Simpson has made 1197 Championship runs at 74.81 and with the return of Jayden Seales next season, Sussex look well resourced for Division One.

For Yorkshire it was just a matter of accumulating enough bonus points to stay ahead of Middlesex. They picked up three bowling bonus points when they dismissed Northamptonshire on day three, no play having been possible on day one and just 40 overs on day two. Northants made 147 thanks to 64 not out from George Bartlett, while Ben Coad was back at the top of the wicket taking table with four for 51, giving him 56 for the season at a ridiculous 15.80. With Middlesex having registered just one batting bonus point in their game, Yorkshire needed three batting bonus points to confirm promotion and this they did thanks to centuries from Adam Lyth (147) and James Wharton (285), before the close of play on day three. Wharton’s innings was the first score in excess of 250 for Yorkshire since one by Lyth back in 2014. Yorkshire had no inclination to chase the win and carried on batting well into day four, eventually declaring on 726/7, the highest total by any side this season. Northants were left to face 13 overs before the players shook hands, reaching 71/2.

The one win in Divison Two was in Cardiff where some positive captaincy produced two forfeitures and left Gloucestershire needing 382 to secure the win. They had a possible 82 overs on day three and whatever could be squeezed in around the rain forecast on day four. No play had been possible on day one and Glamorgan were put in when play started at midday on day two. A new opening partnership of Will Smale (41) and Asa Tribe (70) put on 69, before the ever reliable Colin Ingram (84) added 129 with Tribe for the second wicket. There was then an unbeaten 172 run partnership between Sam Northeast (64) and Chris Cooke (101*) and Glamorgan declared on 381/4. Northeast went past the 1000-run mark, although this was the first time he had reached 50 at Sophia Gardens this season. Gloucestershire’s batters never got to grips with the chase, perhaps feeling there would be enough time on day four to catch up. Joe Phillips, in his fourth Championship game, made a patient 64, but wickets kept falling around him. James Bracey contributed 49, but he was the last wicket to fall as Gloucestershire were dismissed for 189 in 68.3 overs. Ben Kellaway and Andy Gorvin each took three wickets. The win moved Glamorgan above Gloucestershire into sixth place, both counties with the consolation of their white ball successes.

No play had been possible on the first two days at Leicester and when they finally got underway it was Sol Budinger who led the way for the home side, his 87 the second half century in two games since his reestablishment at the top of the order. Liam Trevaskis was promoted to three and made 57 as Leicestershire reached 280. The Derbyshire innings started on the morning of day four and they enjoyed one of their better batting days of what has been a poor season. They finished on 252/3, David Lloyd making 73 and Wayne Madson unbeaten on 105.

Surrey remain the dominant force in county cricket, but it is hard not to feel sympatrhy for Somerset who came so close in all three competitions. Surrey are beatable and Hampshire, Somerset and Essex will all feel capable of toppling them next year. Both counties promoted last year have survived relatively comfortably, while Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire will be looking for stronger showings in 2025.

Sussex have come of age under John Simpson and he has clearly been the signing of the year. Paul Farbrace also came up trumps with Daniel Hughes and Jayden Seales, both of whom are returning next season. Yorkshire also have a squad capable of competing in Division One, although one never knows what catastrophe will befall them next. Matthew Fisher is a big loss, while there is no news about Dawid Malan’s future.

Final standings

Division One

Division Two