Nottinghamshire win, Durham promoted and Lancashire slump again
With just two rounds left, the Championship remains knee-knockingly close. Nottinghamshire became the third of the big three to collect a win, rolling over Hampshire by 54 runs at Trent Bridge, to leave just five points between Somerset in first and Warwickshire in third.
Olly Stone, whose end-of-season wicket glut must have caused a selectorial second-look, and bowling like a thoroughbred on a morning canter, finished with six for 28, and 25 wickets at 12.48 in his last four matches, as Hampshire were dismissed for 123. Scott Currie was undefeated on 44.
Warwickshire, who play Essex at Chelmsford and then Leicestershire at home, have on paper the easiest run in; while Somerset travel to Headingley to play Yorkshire before entertaining Surrey, and Notts must go to Hove to play Sussex before taking on Yorkshire at Trent Bridge.
There was champagne at Chester-le-Street where Durham, the far the best team in Division Two by a country mile, won promotion and were confirmed Div 2 Champions. Middlesex kept them hanging for a while, with a sensational big-biffing maiden century from on-loan wicketkeeper Harry Duke, but Brydon Carse (four for 116) was too much for Naavya Sharma and after hugs and whoops, Durham walked up the dressing room steps and into Division One. “There was so much disappointment last season,” said head coach Ryan Campbell, “that last day feels like yesterday. I’m pretty proud of the club as a whole, we didn’t panic ... I think everyone was sick of my whiteboard at one point.”
At Old Trafford, bottom of the table Gloucestershire celebrated belatedly finding their mojo, a second win on the bounce. It took them just 31 minutes to rattle through Lancashire’s remaining four wickets, with the headbanded JT Langridge, who bowled like a dream, walking off with the match ball and five wickets in just his second first-class game. Somerset may want their loanee back. Rocky Flintoff was last man out for 65 and his clean-hitting cheered up a few zipped up fleeces in the crowd.
The game at Hove between Sussex and Surrey meandered to a draw while there was a thriller at Derby, where promotion-chasing Kent failed to bat out a draw by just 15 balls.
Goodnight!
A deliciously thrilling final to this round of matches, well played Kent’s lower order, and well toiled Derbyshire. But the biggest handshake goes to Durham, an outstanding side who never sat back, and rocked their way to promotion and the Division Two title with games to spare.
For the rest, two rounds to go, five points between the top three. Somerset dreaming of the beginning of the possible. We’ll be back on Tuesday, to count it down. Thanks for your company, have a lovely evening – and enjoy Mohammad Abbas!
Next week's fixtures - starting Tuesday Sept 15, 10.30am
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex v Warwickshire
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Hampshire
The Oval: Surrey v Glamorgan
Hove: Sussex v Nottinghamshire
Headingley: Yorkshire v Somerset
Division Two
Chester-le-Street: Durham v Worcestershire
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Middlesex
Canterbury: Kent v Lancashire
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Derbyshire
Division Two Table - Durham are champions!
1 Durham 230
2 Northants 175
3 Kent 173
4 Middlesex 135
5 Derbyshire 135
6 Worcestershire 133
7 Lancashire 100
8 Gloucestershire 82
Final scores
Division One
Sophia Gardens: Warwickshire 391 BEAT Glamorgan 69 and 65 by 257 runs
Grace Road:Somerset 363 and 316-5dec BEAT Leicestershire 157 and 145 by 377 runs
Trent Bridge: Notts 377 and 104 BEAT Hampshire 304 and 123 by 54 runs
Hove: Sussex 393 and 167-3 DRAW with Surrey 321
Headingley: Yorkshire 390 BEAT Essex 171 and 113 by 106 runs
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 300 and 352-8dec BEAT Kent 219 and 252 by 181 runs
Chester le Street: Durham 252 and 374 BEAT Middlesex 203 and 330 by 93 runs
Old Trafford: Gloucestershire 212 and 169 BEAT Lancashire 134 & 142 by 105 runs.
New Road: Northamptonshire 289 and 96-4 BEAT Worcestershire 200 and 182 by seven wickets.
Derbyshire BEAT Kent by 181 runs with 15 balls left!
It did! Randell with a third wicket, five for Aitchison, and a stirling performance by the Kent’s lower order which couldn’t quite save the day. Kent must slide below Northants as we move into the last two games.
Derby: Derbyshire 300 and 352-8dec BEAT Kent 219 and 252 by 181 runs.
Will the headband win it?
Twenty balls to go at County Ground. The indefatigable Aitchison v the Bangladeshi duo of Mahmud and Khaled.
Updated
Seven overs left and Kent still holding out..
I’m going to write up now while keeping half an eye on events at Derbyshire – two wickets needed, 21 overs left.
Division One Table - two games to go
1 Somerset 189
2 Notts 185
3 Warwicks 184
4 Sussex 154
5 Yorkshire 142
6 Surrey 137
7 Glamorgan 127
8 Essex 124
9 Leicestershire 116
10 Hampshire 92
A wicket at long last at Derby! Stewart can barely drag himself off, lbw Andersson for 65. The umpire raises the finger with a flourish. Kent 218-8.
Sussex DRAW with Surrey
The curtains close on this quiet corner of the Championship.
Hove: Sussex 393 and 167-3 DRAW with Surrey 321
Sussex (14pts) drew with Surrey (13)
Have just amended those Durham stats below which were from the wrong year! Also wanted to throw in the red-haired disruptor – 19 wickets at 21.78 and 463 runs at 52 for Ben Stokes.
And so it goes on at Derby. Kent’s hatches battened. Grant Stewart (59) and Bertie Foreman (16)‘s partnership now worth 68 in nearly 25 overs. Kent 213-7.
Ah Babar. Time for me to grab a quick cup of tea.
Well played this Durham side, who were far too good for Division two almost from the off but never took their feet off the accelerator. They are promoted with nine wins from 12 games and not a single defeat. David Bedingham threw down 1029 runs at 73.5; McKinnney has made 916 at 53.88, while Matthew Potts has snaffled 58 wickets at 17.18, Ben Raine 44 at 19.70.
Updated
Durham beat Middlesex by 93 runs and are PROMOTED to Division One!
Next ball does it! Sharma nibbles and Robinson collects. Four wickets for Carse, hugs all round for the Durham players, whoops from the crowd. Durham applaud HArry Duke off, unbeaten on 100, then walk up the stairs to the dressing room and Division One.
A hundred for Harry Duke!
Duke goes big again and there’s a confusion of fielders which results in McKinney lying flat on his tummy and the ball racing over the rope. An enraged Carse beckons in the fielders with Duke on 99. Duke keeps his head, grabs a quick single and that’s his first first-class century. He pulls off his helmet to reveal Sir Lancelot hair and raises his bat. Well played!
Updated
Now six! Hooked over a leaping Rhodes on the rope who is now scrabbling under the stand. Duke has 95, 99 to win.
Sharma survives another over and Carse hands the umpire his jumper. Duke has a dirty swipe at his first ball but misses. Seven fielders on the rope. A bouncer.
Harry Duke is bashing Carse about like a pinball machine, three fours in the over. He races to 89, but Sharma has the strike. And Raine has the ball.
Tea time-ish scores
Division One
Sophia Gardens: Warwickshire 391 BEAT Glamorgan 69 and 65 by 257 runs
Grace Road:Somerset 363 and 316-5dec BEAT Leicestershire 157 and 145 by 377 runs
Trent Bridge: Notts 377 and 104 BEAT Hampshire 304 and 123 by 54 runs
Hove: Sussex 393 and 141-3 v Surrey 321
Headingley: Yorkshire 390 BEAT Essex 171 and 113 by 106 runs
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 300 and 352-8dec v Kent 219 and 175-7 Kent need 259 to win
Chester le Street: Durham 252 and 374 v Middlesex 203 and 306-9 Middx need 118 to win
Old Trafford: Gloucestershire 212 and 169 BEAT Lancashire 134 & 142 by 105 runs.
New Road: Northamptonshire 289 and 96-4 BEAT Worcestershire 200 and 182 by seven wickets.
Sharma survives two balls and gives Duke the strike with a single. Duke, pounds two fours and then steals the strike. And it isn’t tea. But it is at Derby where Kent are seven down.
The new ball is six overs away at CLS, though I’d be surprised if Middx last that long…
Sharma now has one over to face before tea . The bowler? Carse.
Some take-that from Harry Duke who pounds Ben Raine back over his head for four.
Parky does a sprinting loop of joy, punches the air, after removing Tom Helm, lbw for 32. Middx 289-9. The end of an excellent 79-run partnership with Duke.
Tea is approaching – Kent and Middlesex survive. At Hove, Chahar has removed Haines, and Sussex 140-3 potter along.
Now Harry Duke has fifty under his belt, he’s happy to take on Carse and decline the singles, five dots in that over and then four tumbling back past Carse in hia follow through. Midd 285-8
And here comes Brydon Carse…
This all feels a bit like waiting for the inevitable at CLS. When does Carse come back on?
Tom Helm almost removes Will Rhodes’ head after cracking the ball to him on the bounce. He sways like Torvill and Dean at the beginning of Bolero.
Kent, I’m afraid to say, have lost their seventh wicket, Chris Benjamin all deliberate defence but beaten. Randell again. Kent 150-7.
I enjoyed this by Andy Bull on Ollie Robinson:
It looks quite nice at CLS, friendly fluffy clouds, rusty autumn sunshine, short sleeves in the field, as Helm and Duke have added fifty for Middlesex’s ninth wicket. Parkinson (3-38) rolls into over 16.
A Country diary with a twist:
It’s another man with a headband causing the damage. Halfway through the afternoon session, Brett Randell gets a ball to spit and surprise Ekash Singh, who sprays a catch to backward square leg. Out for a very good 59. Kent are six down.
I have just realised that the Duke currently irritating Durham is Yorkshire’s Harry Duke who in 2021 became the youngest player since Tendulkar to make a List A century for Yorkshire. And the same one who was Jordan Cox’s deputy in England’s 2020 u19 WC. For those as behind the times as me, he’s joined Middlesex on loan to replace the injured James Cracknell. Middx 225-8.
Apologies Tim Maitland for missing this epic earlier.
“With only five games active and Lancashire poised to bitterly disappoint yet again (they did, ed) you’re clearly going to need something to occupy your mind and I think yesterday’s damp squib of a final day of the Duleep Trophy Final is your answer.
”First I should explain why this even matters. If our beloved long form of the game is going to survive in a world of goldfish-length attention spans and make-it-about-me spectator events, ironically one of the longest-lasting sports is going to have to figure out how to reach a satisfactory crescendo: a final with an actual result.
”I won’t insult the intelligence of your readers by explaining the Duleep Trophy, but to recap for the tiny minority of OBOers/County Championship blogees who aren’t already completely au fait with events in Chennai, East Zone, thanks to skipper Ishan Kishan’s 270, scored a mammoth 708 all out then bowled South Zone out for 336.
”At this point, we’ve become conditioned to expect a thrilling, rapid-fire response from East to leave themselves a chance to claim the last 10-wickets, the silverware and the glory. This is not what happened. Because drawn matches in the Duleep Trophy are decided by the higher first innings, East indulged in parking the bus on such an epic scale even Jose Mourinho would have blushed, batting out the rest of the five day game until everyone had lost the will to live.
”Clearly an unsatisfactory outcome. You can read about it here:
“But before we mock the BCCI, we should at least give them credit for attempting to find a solution to the problem of the draw in the final of a game of proper cricket. It compares well with the ICC’s ostrich-head-in-the-sand approach to the problem in the World Test Championship Final, which is to declare both sides the winners.
”The competition regulations are here for anyone whose life is not already boring enough.
“None of this should be construed as an invitation for whoever at the ECB is in charge of ruining the County Championship to introduce play-offs and a mid-November final played in three hours of natural daylight and galoshes. Yet that is the direction most sports have gone in search of relevance and the World Test Championship proves that the ICC at least understands that. The question is, how do you decide a draw after five days?
”Personally, I have no idea. Although, as the ICC already orders a sixth day to be available should their final be spoiled by the weather, it would be a small yet logical step to also make that day available to force a result.
“I realise that this is akin to throwing a metaphorical hand grenade into a crowded room. Enjoy the carnage!”
"We feel we can come back no matter what scores are on the board"
Olly 6-28 Stone after Notts rolled over Hampshire: “This was like old-school Trent Bridge wickets with pace and carry, playing better by the end. We feel 100% that we can come back no matter what scores are on the board so, after making only 104 with the bat, we scrubbed up and got down to it.
“One person will come through. This was probably one of the better games I’ve had in my career but where I got the reward today it was others last week and will be others next. We all knew coming in that this week was massive and the way the crowd got behind us was outstanding. As a group someone comes through. The old cliche is that catches win matches and how that showed today, two of the superb vital catches in this game came from our twelfth men (Sam Seecharan on Thursday, Ben Martindale on Friday).”
Home to find Kent still five down, Durham creeping closer to promotion and Tom Haines on the way to fifty in the seaside and skittles game at Hove.
Time for me to stop watching the Old Trafford sprinklers and cycle home. Back shortly.
That’s not quite down and out for Hampshire, but looking very much that way, and their fate, and Leicestershire’s could be confirmed next week at Grace Road. As for Notts – they’re four points behind top of the table Somerset in second, Warwickshire one point behind Notts in third.
A reminder of what’s to come at the top of the table:
Warwicks play Essex (Chelmsford) and Leicestershire (Edgbaston).
Somerset play Yorkshire (Headingley) and Surrey (Taunton).
Notts play Sussex (Hove) and Yorkshire (Trent Bridge).
Notts BEAT Hampshire by 54 runs!
Trent Bridge: Notts 377 and 104 BEAT Hampshire 304 and 123 by 54 runs
A brilliant catch at backward point by Ben Martindale seals the deal. Game on!
The unstoppable Stone six for 28 and nine in the match. Currie unbeaten on 44.
Nottinghamshire 22pts; Hampshire 4.
Updated
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Sophia Gardens: Warwickshire 391 BEAT Glamorgan 69 and 65 by 257 runs
Grace Road:Somerset 363 and 316-5dec BEAT Leicestershire 157 and 145 by 377 runs
Trent Bridge: Notts 377 and 104 BEAT Hampshire 304 and 123 by 54 runs
Hove: Sussex 393 and 46-1 v Surrey 321
Headingley: Yorkshire 390 BEAT Essex 171 and 113 by 106 runs
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 300 and 352-8dec v Kent 219 and 91-5 Kent need 343 to win
Chester le Street: Durham 252 and 374 v Middlesex 203 and 179-6 Middx need 245 to win
Old Trafford: Gloucestershire 212 and 169 BEAT Lancashire 134 & 142 by 105 runs.
New Road: Northamptonshire 289 and 96-4 BEAT Worcestershire 200 and 182 by seven wickets.
In a break with this September’s clatter of wickets, batters round the grounds are suddenly finding their feet/boots.
Ekash Singh has biffed a couple of sixes, he and Chris Benjamin are having some Indian summer fun against Derby. But at 85-5, Kent have a long way to go.
Fifty for Geddes!
After a partnership of 67, a breakthrough at Chester le Street. Ryan Higgins caught off Callum Parkinson for 31. Middx 166-5. Geddes still there on 50. Looks like Middx will make it to lunch.
Updated
Lancashire coach Steven Croft: "We're not learning from our mistakes"
Beleaguered Lancs coach Steven Croft (I feel for him, the whole thing must be pretty miserable): “Very disappointing, obviously to lose at home, and the manner as well.
“I think within that loss there was some really good stuff. I thought the effort from the bowlers was brilliant. “Jimmy (Anderson), Baldy (George Balderson), and Mitch (Stanley) at the end running in, with a minimal break between those innings as well.
“It’s pretty clear we’re not getting the batting right at the minute. It’s not through lack of effort. The disappointing thing is we’re not learning from our mistakes, really. We’re not firing as a unit, whether that be experienced players or inexperienced players.”
Updated
Currie (39) and Lumsden (13) have reduced the Hampshire chase to 69 which is not beyond the realms of possibility with a fair wind and a bit of luck.
Ashes to ashes – the reason why there is no Ashes Test in the north next year.
Five wickets for Ben Aitchison!
What a season he’s having – 57 wickets and counting, behind only Matthew Potts in Division Two. He is currently holding five for 24, having whistled out all of Kent’s top five. Kent 54 for five.
Updated
A victorious James Bracey on their five-wicket loan.
JT Langridge: “I thought his ball to Hurst was one of the best I’ve seen all season. I think he’s just a natural wicket-taker. He’s got good assets.
“He’s tall, he swings the ball as well. So I think that makes him a huge threat with the new ball. And he’s got wicket-taking deliveries that will get very good batters out which is a really good trick to have. We’ll try to hang onto him but I’m not sure Somerset are going to allow us to have him for too long, sadly.”
Updated
Six wickets for Olly Stone
I briefly forgot about Notts, who have almost tidied Hampshire up already. Olly Stone, bowling like a chestnut thoroughbred on a morning canter, has three including a brilliant catch by Mitch Hay. Watch and wonder here.
And now Middlesex slip and slide, four down, Max Holden scooped up at slip by long-legged Ben. Middx 103-4.
Meanwhile, at Derby, Kent are falling foul of an on-song Ben Aitchison. Kent 28-4.
Updated
A-whooping and a-hollering from the Glos dressing room, that’s two wins on the bounce after they turned over Derbyshire last week. Well played, it’s hard to turn that ship around.
Gloucestershire BEAT Lancashire by 105 runs!
Rocky Flintoff smacks Langridge with gumption, just like dad would have done, for four, but the next ball is collected by long off and that is that. The gap between the two bottom teams shrinks to 18.
Five wickets for the impressive JT Langridge in his second first-class match. Three for the very useful Kishore. A cracking 65 for young Rocky Flintoff. And that’s that, done and dusted in 31 minutes.
Old Trafford: Gloucestershire 212 and 169 BEAT Lancashire 134 & 142 by 105 runs.
Gloucestershire 19 points, Lancashire 3.
Updated
No seasons-end delights for Crawley, who gets an outside edge from Aitchinson for four. And now Compton in Aitchinson’s next over. Kent 12-2.
And tumbleweed starts to move about OT as a ninth wicket falls. This time Kishore, as Stanley props forward and dabs the ball in the air for Dhariwal at silly mid off. A weary Anderson strolls out and bumps gloves with young Flintoff.
A fourth wicket for the endearing Langridge who is doing his prospects no harm at all in this match, pinning Noman’s pad to stump. Lancs 137-8.
The scoreboard waits for Noman, who sweeps Kishore for six into a sad-looking reduced party stand.
Noman Ali gets in the way of a bouncer from Langridge and we pause for a helmet change. Meanwhile there are wickets at Hove (Thomas gone for 44) and from the first ball of the day at Chester le Street where Nathan Fernandes is undone by Kasey Aldridge.
There is rain in the Manchester air but unfortunately for Lancashire not enough to keep them off the pitch. Balderson falls third ball of the day to that man Langridge. Lancs 122-7.
Updated
A heart-warming read and lovely pics from Billy Munday and Tom Jenkins at yesterday’s Knight-Stokes Cup.
Roundup: Somerset's dog days may soon be over
In a round of staggering collapses, batting sides continued to strap on their roller skates and head to the ice rink. At Grace Road, Leicestershire were rumbled for 145, a 377 run-victory that puts Somerset back on the top of the table, that longed-for first title still in reach.
Somerset set Leicestershire 523 to win after waiting for New Zealand signing Henry Nicholls to reach his first Championship century. Craig Overton (four for 33) and Jack Leach (three for 30) then stormed through Leicestershire’s defences. The most entertaining moment for a loyal crowd was when a runaway husky frolicked on the pitch.
At Trent Bridge, defending champions Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 104 by a rampant Hampshire attack. Seventeen-year-old Manny Lumsden, bowling with fire and bounce, sprung out five for 36, including top scorer Joe Clarke for 37. Hampshire, set 178, were soon batting on a see-saw of their own against Olly Stone (three for 15) and Dillon Pennington (three for 18). They had stumbled to 61 for six when bad light brought temporary respite.
At Headingley, Essex fell foul of Kuldeep Yadav, whose six for 50 has almost ensured Yorkshire’s Division One spot next season. At one stage Essex were 26 for five following on, but Paul Walter’s 48 and George Bell’s 28 ensured they passed 100. Kuldeep can tuck career-best match figures of 10 for 120 into his wallet. Sam Cook, who arrived late, unwanted at the Test, didn’t bowl a ball.
Northamptonshire took 20 points from their six-wicket victory over Worcestershire, leapfrogging promotion challengers Kent. They had a more difficult day at the County Ground against Derbyshire, who have set the visitors 434 to win after half centuries for Brooke Guest, Luis Reece and the in-form Martin Andersson.
Elsewhere, an unbeaten maiden first-class 50 from Rocky Flintoff gave Lancashire a glimmer of hope for their first win since April. They trail Gloucestershire by 128 runs with four wickets remaining.
Scores on the doors
Division One
Sophia Gardens: Warwickshire 391 BEAT Glamorgan 69 and 65 by 257 runs
Grace Road:Somerset 363 and 316-5dec BEAT Leicestershire 157 and 145 by 377 runs
Trent Bridge: Notts 377 and 104 v Hampshire 304 and 61-6 Hants need 117 to win
Hove: Sussex 393 v Surrey 294-7
Headingley: Yorkshire 390 BEAT Essex 171 and 113 by 106 runs
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 300 and 352-8 v Kent 219 and 3-0 Kent need 431 to win
Chester le Street: Durham 252 and 374 v Middlesex 203 and 55-2 Middx need 369 to win
Old Trafford: Lancashire 134 and 120-6 v Gloucestershire 212 and 169 Lancs need 128 to win
New Road: Northamptonshire 289 and 96-4 BEAT Worcestershire 200 and 182 by seven wickets.
Preamble
Good morning! The rain is not going to save Gloucestershire or Lancashire today, so tune in for a cascade of wickets/tight run chase here at Old Trafford. Elsewhere, Notts have Hampshire where they want them, as do Durham over Middlesex. Kent somehow need to see out the day against Derbyshire after promotion rivals Northants knocked over Worcestershire. And there’s gentle meandering to coo over at Hove. Play starts at 10.30am, do join us.
