Last week of County Championship

This season has gone so quick!

Yorkshire Div One winners

Lancashire vs Middlesex - Lancashire pretty much relegated. They could win and still go down.

In Div 2 Worcestershire are promoted. Comes down to the last game to find the other.

Hampshire travel to Glamorgan 10 points above Essex, who host Worcestershire.

Nervy times! (for me, anyway)

We can still go up!!!    C'MON ESSEX!!

I'll go for wins for Hants and Essex.

Hants' all round strength should be too much for Glamorgan. Feel they'll hold their own in Division One next year.

Worcs missing Ajmal and recently lacking some consistency although they did come back very well to win against Surrey. Conditions could suit Masters and co - that's why I take Essex to come out top in this match although suspect they've left it too late for promotion.

Oh no...

Worcestershire lose 3 early wickets
Hampshire lose in form Will Smith + now Liam Dawson

Worcestershire bowled out for 84

Nipping about a bit this morning it seems....

Only the 41 wickets fallen!!

Jimbo - Vince and Ervine steering Hants into calmer waters. Currently 164/5. That's probably around par or slightly better in today's conditions which seem good across the country for Olly's favourites, the wobbly men. A fivefer at Essex for Ryder against Worcs proving the point. My tip Masters having to settle for a tidy couple.

Guildford

Vince brings up his century off 135 balls. What an important knock. What a season it has been for him. England can't keep ignoring him, surely?
Him and Ervine vital here

Jimbo - great effort by Vince and Ervine with a century each. "Vital" as you said - particularly as no else topped 35. All out now for 350 odd but 4 batting points safely in the bank. A long way to go but your boys are ahead in their match.

Essex massively on top against Worcs and already looking well set for the win. However, I can only see Essex getting 4 batting bonus points at most - that just might make a difference.

Good performance by Lancs against Middlesex but I think the Red Rose ship is already sunk.

Essex 272/7 off 93 overs. Although they're miles in front of Worcs in this match, they may end up with only 2 batting points. Maybe 3. 4 unlikely. 5 near to impossible.

That's all good for Hants who have Glamorgan struggling at 80/3 and so have already pocketed 1 bowling point this morning.

Lancs continuing to surprise my odds and do well against Middlesex. However, they are going to need 350 off 110 overs and the 4 batting points that go with that to avoid the drop even if they win. A step too far, I reckon.

Guildford, good day for Hampshire so far, but we seem to have 'good starts' then fail to kill a team off. Hopefully that isn't the case in this game.

Jimbo - yes, I understand that. See that Allenby is currently digging in against you. He always strikes me as a pretty ordinary cricketer but is surprisingly effective.

Jimbo - by my rough and ready calculations, Hants are virtually in the Promised Land.

Glamorgan 134/6 meaning Hants have 2 bowling points.

Essex 310/7 off 110 overs meaning they have 3 batting points but can't get any more.

Provided Hants don't lose their current match, I don't believe there's any way that Essex can now get enough points to catch them.

Meanwhile, the Lancs ship is taking on water. 116/3 off 41. That required 350 within 110 overs looks a long way off.

Whoops! May have been ordering the champagne on your behalf too soon in my last post, Jimbo! Apologies.

Now believe you need a 3rd bowling point to ensure Essex can't overtake you. Do you know what happens if Hants and Essex end the season level on points?

guildfordbat wrote:Jimbo - yes, I understand that. See that Allenby is currently digging in against you. He always strikes me as a pretty ordinary cricketer but is surprisingly effective.

He makes a strong case to captain my medium paced dobblers team

Olly - good call on Allenby. He's an annoying b*gg*r when playing against your team.

Whilst I'm here - maybe a player to keep an eye on for next season (although not for any dobbers team) is Derbys' Ben Cotton. He's just 21 and a right arm seamer. Saw him make his CC debut last week at the Oval. He only took 3 match wickets but I was impressed by his control and temperament, never seemed overawed. I note that he took 4/20 against Leics today.

Guildford, if they end up with the same points then Essex get promoted as they have had more wins.

Hampshire decide against forcing the follow on, interesting decision....

That man Allenby strikes

Cheers, Jimbo. Therefore (and assuming Essex don't blow it) you have to win - right?

With a 185 lead on first innings and more than 2 days left, you're undoubtedly in a very strong position. However, my old school tendencies still come out and so I would have enforced the follow on.

guildfordbat wrote:Cheers, Jimbo. Therefore (and assuming Essex don't blow it) you have to win - right?

With a 185 lead on first innings and more than 2 days left, you're undoubtedly in a very strong position. However, my old school tendencies still come out and so I would have enforced the follow on.  

Yes mate, we have to win. Was hoping Worcestershire would put up some sort of a fight. However if Essex do win and we do, i think we go up as champions with Worcestershire in 2nd place.

Would have gone for the follow on as well. Maybe they are thinking bat on and use Tahir a lot in the 4th innings

Adams falls for 91. Top innings from the skipper. Run rate 4 an over. Still 2 days to go with a lead of 350+ - good position. Still nervous

Jimbo - understand the nerves but you're in an incredibly good position. To win, Glamorgan will need to score the highest innings total of the match - that's always very tricky to achieve 4th time out. To draw, Glamorgan will need to hold out for around 5 sessions - again extremely difficult.

Just hope it doesn't rain!!

That's my concern Guildford! Rain forecast for Friday I believe.

20/20 mode tomorrow morning and declare quickly

An intriguing and potentially decisive first hour coming up at Old Trafford.

Lancs start the day on 259/6 from 96 overs. They must score 41 runs off the next 14 overs without losing more than 2 wickets to earn 3 batting points and deny Middlesex a 3rd bowling point. Then if Lancs go on to win, they stay up and Middlesex gp down.

Got that?

Yessssssss, Div 2 champions! Brilliant win

Hants beat Glamorgan inside 3 days and join Worcs in Division One next year despite the latter being trounced by Essex.

Deserved promotions for both sides. I think Hants will hold their own next season. Not so sure about Worcs but I wrote them off as promotion contenders at the start of this season so am not the one to judge.

Meanwhile, Lancs got their 3rd batting point and denied Middlesex their 3rd bowling point courtesy of the ability and willpower of Chapple. Lancs are certainly not yet safe from the drop (they have to beat Middlesex to send them down instead) but continue to fight on ....

Congrats Hampshire and jimbo, also our large Worcester contingent!

Congratulations to the two promoted sides. Impressive late season form from Essex and Derbyshire auguring well for next season perhaps.

Right back at you, Olly!

On a side note, Vince finishing with over 1500 runs, still hasn't played for England in any format....

Despite Lancs winning the battle of the bonus points yesterday, they still have to be favourites for the drop. To win and stay up, they're going to have to take the last 6 Middlesex wickets and then score what could be above 200 whilst hoping the rain stays away and the light stays good.

Lancs are not without a chance but it will be very difficult. If they are in Division One next season, they'll certainly have earned the right to be there. Meanwhile, I suspect the light may be Middlesex's best friend today. A shame if so.

Middlesex effectively 125-5 but rain takes the players off after Morgan falls for 45.

Lancs running out of time.

Middlesex now an effective 171-7

Middlesex 264/7, leading by 176. 52 overs left.

Lancs remain my favourites for the drop but not over yet by any means.

Good and sensible positive intent being shown by Roland-Jones. Far better an approach than that of Dexter and Simpson who seemed content to solely try and bat out time.

200 from 40 on a day 4 pitch would be fun to say the least

All but over for Lancashire now

Some odds of 11/8 were given for the draw between Lancashire and Middlesex at the start of the day; practically giving money away!

Olly - yes, brave effort by Lancs but ultimately just too much to do. From the bits I saw on tv, Kerrigan looked pretty ordinary. Even if the 4th day track wasn't able to give him anything, his bowling appeared too slow and lacking in guile.

Splendid last day resistance by Roland-Jones, Harris and Murtagh. However, questions should be asked of how such a talented squad ended up in a relegation dog fight.