Here it is, the final day of Championship cricket this season, and what a day in the second division as the title race came to a thrilling finish. There was also some late action in the first division to round off the competiton.
County Championship
Day 4
Derbyshire v Hampshire - Derbyshire win by 6 wickets
Ham - 272 & 198
Der - 275 & 197-4
All six Derbyshire bowlers took wickets in the second innings as Hampshire were bowled out this morning, setting a target of 196. Madsen and Borrington added 45 but fell together as Hampshire tried to keep themselves in the game.
Khawaja (72*) then picked up where he left off in the first innings by going to a quick fifty. Two more wickets did fall in the day, but Hampshire failed to threaten, their minds were probably more on the CB40 final tomorrow. Whiteley finished the season with some exciting cricket, worthy of the gripping finale to this competiton. With five 6s he hit 38 in 30 balls to take Derbyshire to the win.
With their bonus points this took them level with Yorkshire for one of the tightest finishes to the second division in years. Derbyshire, though, take the title due to more wins. This is the first time Derbyshire have been promoted since the Championship was split into two divisions in 2000. They also get the welcome boost of £135,000. Congratulations Derbyshire!
Points: Derbyshire 21, Hampshire 5
Essex v Yorkshire - Yorkshire win by 239 runs
Yor - 312 & 252-8d
Ess - 177 & 148
Essex were decimated in the morning session as, already promoted, Yorkshire tried to snatch the title from Derbyshire. Patterson (4 for 34) and Rafiq (5 for 50) ran through the line up and only Shah was able to defy them as he went to 71 not out.
Having completed their victory Yorkshire sat down to wait and see if Hampshire could stave off defeat to Derbyshire, but of course they didn't and Yorkshire had to settle for second.
Points: Essex 3, Yorkshire 22
Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire - Match drawn
Not - 155 & 469-8d
War - 204 & 282-8
Meanwhile in the first division there was a late finish at Trent Bridge as Nottinghamshire chased a third place finish. Surprisingly they batted on in the morning as Franks went to 86* and Fletcher 42*. Together they took the lead up to 420
The hosts then set about trying to knock over Warwickshire before the close. It was Fletcher who made the early inroads as he picked up three quick wickets to leave the visitors on 32-3. They recovered slightly however to take the score up to 135-5 before an excellent partnership developed between Woakes (80) and Blackwell (44). The added 89 but more importantly used up a lot of overs.
Just as the game began to head for a draw however, Nottinghamshire fought back with 3 wickets for 11 runs to put themselves back ahead. Wawickshire could have been forgiven for giving up the game and heading off to London for the CB40 final but they kept playing hard right to the finish as Barker (44*) and Wright (19*) saw off the final overs to end the game in a draw.
Points: Nottinghamshire 6, Warwickshire 7
Leicestershire v Gloucestershire - Leicestershire win by 2 wickets
Glo - 234 & 296
Lei - 295 & 237-8
Gloucestershire batted well in the morning as they added 42 for the final wicket and made Leicestershire's task much harder. The target was 236.
The openers gave the hosts a good platform but on 106-3 the game was still in the ballance. A superb partnership however swung the game firmly in Leicestershire's favour. Eckersley scored 63 and Cobb 65 (in 51 balls) as the lifted the total to 205. Suddenly though Gloucestershire fought back taking 4 wickets for 2 runs as Leicestershire slipped to 218-8. The game could go either way and with both sides trying not to finish bottom their was a real battle to be fought. White (14*) and Buck (6*) proved the stronger as they knocked off the remaining runs to complete a victory for the home side.
Points: Leicestershire 21, Gloucestershire 4
Lancashire v Surrey - Match drawn
Sur - 367
Lan - 142-2
After all the rain this was always going to end in a draw and today was a tame, end of season, type day with a few runs and few wickets to be seen. Surrey went on to 367 after de Bruyn was out for 125. Jewell made 70, while Procter finished with an excellent 7 for 71.
Smith (83) and Procter (36) put on 110 for the first wicket before they were both removed.
Lancashire, as we already knew, are relegated to the second division after many people were predicting they would be defending their title from last year. Surrey meanwhile, survive to fight another season in the first division.
Points: Lancashire 5, Surrey 7
Tables
Division 1
|
Team |
Played |
Points |
| 1 |
Warwickshire |
16 |
211 |
| 2 |
Somerset |
16 |
187 |
| 3 |
Middlesex |
16 |
172 |
| 4 |
Sussex |
16 |
167 |
| 5 |
Nottinghamshire |
16 |
163 |
| 6 |
Durham |
16 |
157 |
| 7 |
Surrey |
16 |
139 |
| 8 |
Lancashire |
16 |
106 |
| 9 |
Worcestershire |
16 |
96 |
Division 2
|
Team |
Played |
Points |
| 1 |
Derbyshire |
16 |
194 |
| 2 |
Yorkshire |
16 |
194 |
| 3 |
Kent |
16 |
170 |
| 4 |
Hampshire |
16 |
153 |
| 5 |
Essex |
16 |
145 |
| 6 |
Glamorgan |
16 |
131 |
| 7 |
Northamptonshire |
16 |
130 |
| 8 |
Leicestershire |
16 |
130 |
| 9 |
Gloucestershire |
16 |
126 |
Just one day left for most teams, and for some the season is already over as three games were won and lost today. Here is what happened.
County Championship
Day 3
Somerset v Worcestershire - Somerset win by an innings and 148 runs
Wor - 212 & 152
Som - 512-9d
Somerset completed a comfortable victory that condemns Worcestershire to the bottom spot and confirms themselves as number 2.
Compton batted on this morning and finished the innings unbeaten on 155, which means he will be this years' highest run scorer, in the Championship, with 1191 runs to his name. Somerset declared with a lead of exactly 300.
A few players made starts for Worcestershire but failed to go on as wickets ticked over. Kervezee scored 76 but was the last man out as the tail collapsed (the last 6 batsmen made 10 between them). Rehman collected 5 for 36 as he took 14 wickets in the match, a new career best.
Points: Somerset 23, Worcestershire 2
Durham v Sussex - Durham win by 5 wickets
Sus - 211 & 180
Dur - 227 & 167-5
Sussex will finish no higher than fourth after losing to Durham in three days.
30 from Brown helped the visitors up to 180 but the target was only 167, which never seemed like enough. Rushworth finished with 5 for 38.
Hatchet did pick up three wickets and Panesar 2 but 58 from Richardson and 45 by Stokes helped Durham up to their target before the close of play.
Points: Durham 20, Sussex 4
Glamorgan v Kent - Glamorgan win by 7 wickets
Gla - 390 & 61-3
Ken - 170 & 280
Kent lost wickets in clusters but 50 from Nash and a strong 81 by Jones took their combined scores past that of Glamorgan's. Eventually however they were bowled out leaving the hosts just 61 to win.
Bad light caused a halt in play after Kent had picked up three wickets and Glamorgan stumbled. However when the players came back out the hosts cruised to an easy win that pulls Kent out of the promotion race and hands the two top spots to Derbyshire and Yorkshire.
Points: Glamorgan 23, Kent 3
Essex v Yorkshire
Yor - 312 & 252-8d
Ess - 177 & 28-2
Yorkshire slipped to 111-6 but recovered with a partnership worth 110 by McGrath (68) and Rafiq (75*). Eventually they declared setting Essex a tough 388 to win. The hosts then lost 2 wickets before the close to all but hand the game to Yorkshire with a day still to go.
The title is not yet decided however after Derbyshire had a good day, and by my calculations the two sides could finished tied for first place, should they both win.
Derbyshire v Hampshire
Ham - 272 & 142-6
Der - 275
Derbyshire batted well in the morning as they went past Hampshire's score (just). Whitely finished not out on 57*, helping the hosts to a second, and possibly crucial, batting point.
It was what happened next however that swung the game and brought Derbyshire right back into the title chase. Carberry and Adams were both removed with the score on 16 and regular wickets continued to fall throughout the evening. Shafayat was the only man to offer stern resistance with a slow, but unbeaten, fifty.
Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire
Not - 155 & 444-8
War - 204
Spectacular batting by Nottinghamshire saw them put on 395 runs in the day for just 8 wickets. Warwickshire, whose minds are on the CB40 final on Saturday won't win but the hosts will try to bowl them out tomorrow to claim third place in the first division.
Edwards scored 53 (his highest knock of the season) before Mullaney lashed out, hitting 94 in 119 balls with four 6s. Then, in the eveing session, Franks hit 76* to take Nottinghamshire past 400 and the lead up to 395.
Lancashire v Surrey
Lancashire won the toss and decided to field
Sur - 324-5
Play finally began at Old Trafford today, but it was the Londoners who dominated proceedings. Burns scored 73 at the top of the order before a small fight back left Surrey on 178-5. Du Bruyn though hit a magnificent 105* and with Jewell (57*) added an unbeaten 146 for the 6th wicket.
Leicestershire v Gloucestershire
Glo - 234 & 254-9
Lei - 220-5
Leicestershire added a further 75 for the last 5 wickets this morning as they took a lead of 61. Gloucestershire then survived the day, just, to end the day 193 ahead.
Housego hit 62 in the afternoon, while White picked up 4 for 40, including two in two balls as Leicestershire look to avoid the wooden spoon, and hand it instead to their opponents, Gloucestershire.
Another day ticks by and rain spoiled some of it. Still it may help to drag out those games which are a bit one sided. Hopefully though it won't ruin the close contests.
County Championship
Day 2
Essex v Yorkshire
Yor - 312 & 44-3
Ess - 177
Yorkshire moved into a strong position on day two, despite some late wickets, and are now even closer to promotion and the division 2 title.
The hosts took their first innings past 300 in the morning, before Napier knocked over the final wicket to finish with 5 for 65. Essex though soon lost wickets of their own. The top four amassed 29 runs between them, but ten Doeschate came to the rescue with 62. He had little support however as no one else went past 20 and Essex were bowled out, still 135 runs behind.
Before the close, though, there was time for Napier to snaffle three more wickets leaving Yorkshire on 44-3.
Glamorgan v Kent
Gla - 390
Ken - 170 & 33-2
An unusual day saw runs in the morning from lower order batsmen, but little else from anyone else. Allenby extended his excellent knock to 125 not out, while Glover scored 55 as the pair put on 128 for the ninth wicket.
Glover then picked up the first wicket but Kent scored well as they went to 96-1 and 137-2. Then however the game turned firmly in Glamorgan's favour as Croft and Reed ran through the rest of the batsmen. Seven wickets fell for fifteen runs, and the last four of those fell for just two runs. Croft wrapped up the innings to finish with 5 for 31, while Reed, who took two wickets in two balls at one point collected 3 for 39.
The huge defecit of 220 has put Kent's promotion chances in serious doubt and Wagg then added to their misery with two late wickets to leave them on 33-2.
Derbyshire v Hampshire
Ham - 272
Der - 167-5
Most of the play in Derby was washed out, but 71 not out from Khawaja and 58 by Palladino has inched the hosts up to 167-5. They will hope to get as close to Hampshire's score as possible and stave off defeat, which might be enough to secure promotion.
Somerset v Worcestershire
Wor - 212
Som - 451-7
Suppiah fell early in the morning for 75 after the first wicket stand had gone to 153. The second wicket was even bigger as Trescothick went to an excellent hundred and Compton built a patient innings. The pair added 154 before Trescothick was caught for 146. The middle order struggled, although Trego made 45 in 45 balls, but Compton also went to three figures and finished not out on 114. Somerset's lead at the end of day two is already 239 and they may look to extend that further in the morning to add more pressure on Worcestershire.
Durham v Sussex
Sus - 211 & 112-5
Dur - 227
Mustard made 45 and lifted Durham past 200, after they had started the day on 131-6. A few more late runs also put them slightly ahead of Sussex on first innings scores. The visitors then lost Nash for 0 but Wells (51*) helped the score up to 46, before a collapse at the end of the day set Sussex back again. Thorp and Stokes took two wickets each to leave Sussex on 69-5. At the close their lead is only 96.
Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire
Not - 155 & 49-0
War - 204
More bad weather restricted play at Trent Bridge, but Nottinghamshire kept the game even with some better batting. Blackwell (37) added a few more runs in the morning before being caught, but late runs took Warwickshire just past 200 and into a lead of 49.
Ironically Nottinghamshire then posted exactly 49-0 to leave the game perfectly even going into day 3.
Leicestershire v Gloucestershire
Glo - 234
Lei - 220-5
Smith made 77, but fell with the score on 155-5 and Leicestershire still in some trouble. Thakor, however, has so far added 68* to take the hosts to within 14 of Gloucestershire's total after two days.
Lancashire v Surrey
No play due to rain
We come to it again, the end of another season. Today begins the final round of Championship matches, and many teams are merely playing for pride after last week sorted out a few of the winners and losers. Still there's plenty of exciting cricket to come this week ahead of the CB40 final. Here's what happened today.
County Championship
Day 1
Derbyshire v Hampshire
Derbyshire won the toss and decided to field
Ham - 272
Der - 50-3
Derbyshire begin this week in first position in Division 2, but they could still miss out on promotion with Yorkshire and Kent pushing them hard. The hosts though got going well in the morning, reducing Hampshire to 26-3 with Palladino picking up all three wickets. Adams fell not long later, but then Vince and Ervine combined to put on 136 for the fifth wicket and lift the visitors towards 200. Ervine was bowled for 61 but Vince went on to a splendid century that helped Hampshire post a reasonable score.
That soon looked like being a good score as Derbyshire also slipped to 14-2. A third wicket fell just before the close but Khawaja is not out on 27 overnight.
Essex v Yorkshire
Yorkshire won the toss and decided to bat
Yor - 284-8
A good day for Yorkshire saw them score runs down the order to go to .. by the close. After a good start for the visitors Essex fought back leaving the score on 166-6. Rafiq(49*) and Sidebottom however (37) added 60 for the 8th wicket to put Yorkshire back on top and a step closer to their promotion target.
Glamorgan v Kent
Kent won the toss and decided to field
Gla - 334-8
Any help Kent were hoping to get from the pitch failed to appear as Glamorgan went to 55-1 and 127-2 with 59 from Bragg and then 63 from Walters that lifted the score to 175-3. Kent worked their way back into the game but couldn't remove Allenby as he scored quickly to go to a fifty and beyond.
Three more wickets left the Welsh side on 252-8 but Allenby continued to take the attack to Kent and went to a superb century, helping Glamorgan past 300.
Kent will hope tomorrow proves better for them as they chase a promotion place.
Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire
Warwickshire won the toss and decided to field
Not - 155
War - 139-6
With Warwickshire already crowned as Champions this game is mostly being played for pride, but Nottinghamshire will also be trying to finish higher up the table and collect some prize money.
They opened with Kelsall, playing his first Championship match, but the young batsman was dismissed third ball for 0. The morning went downhill from there for the home side as Warwickshire ripped into the top order. None of the top six made it to 20 but after lunch Franks scored 44 to take Nottinghamshire past 150; the visitors though were well on top.
Nottinghamshire struck back quickly however, removing Westwood for 1. Maddy added 41 while a couple more wickets went at the other end, but then Carter picked up 3 wickets for 0 runs in 14 balls to leave Warwickshire reeling on 95-6. Clarke and Blackwell tried a different approach going on the attack and hitting several glorious boundaries before the close.
Somerset v Worcestershire
Worcestershire won the toss and decided to bat
Wor - 212
Som - 142-0
Worcestershire are already relegated but Somerset are trying to finish as high as possible in the first division. Worcestershire went to 74-0 but a devastating spell from Rehman chipped away all afternoon as he was the only bowler to take a wicket. The visitors slipped to 113-4 but 40 from Kervezee helped them to 165 before Rehman took three more wickets for just 9 runs.
Rehman's one man show was ended when Russell was caught off the bowling of Trego, but Rehman came back to finish off the innings and take 9 for 65.
Somerset then set out to show once again why they are one of the best batting sides on the county circuit. Trescothick and Suppiah know each other inside out and batted out the afternoon and into the evening session. Both went to fifties and took the total past 100. The day ended with both batsmen still there, on 66 and 73 respectively, and Somerset firmly in the driving seat.
Durham v Sussex
Durham won the toss and decided to field
Sus - 211
Dur - 131-6
Sussex, another side hoping to finish up the table in Division 1 found batting difficult this morning, but fought back to finish the day slightly ahead.
Early wickets left the visitors on 19-2 before three wickets for twelve runs left them on 67-5. Werners (50) and Brown (76*) put on 106, however, before the tail was blown away and the south coast side had to settle for a well below par score.
Revenge came quickly, as Magoffin took 3 wickets and left Durham in a similar position on 65-4. Stoneman scored 52 but he was the sixth batsmen to fall as two more wickets went quickly.
Leicestershire v Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to bat
Glo - 234
Lei - 94-3
This is well and truly a game where neither team has anything to play for bar pride and experience. Gloucestershire batted first and scored steadily, losing occasional wickets before a stand of 96 for the fifth wicket. Marshall made 47 and Cockbain 48, but both went in quick succession and the visitors slipped to 234 all out.
In reply Leicestershire lost wickets on 9, 50 and 80, but Smith finished 47* as the hosts try to overhaul Gloucestershire's first innings total.
Lancashire v Surrey
No play due to a wet outfield
The final day of the penultimate round of matches brought .. more results inculding a truly astonishing one at Hove. Meanwhile the second division is set for a thrilling finish next week as three teams now are playing for the title and promotion.
County Championship Cricket
Day 4
Sussex v Somerset - Somerset win by 5 wickets
Sus - 221 & 308
Som - 134 & 397-5
I know, I couldn't believe it either. Last night most people would have handed the win to Sussex, but I did note that this was Somerset, the team with easily the most fight and 'never say die' attitude in English County Cricket.
Beginning the day on 155-4 and with two new batsmen at the crease things didn't look good for Somerset. Hildreth and Barrow (40) put on 80 for the fifth wicket however and reduced the defecit to 166. That wicket was Magoffin's fourth but it would also be his, and Sussex's, last.
Hildreth played steadily but refused to be tied down, while his new partner tried a different approach; attack!
Trego began launching the ball out of the ground from the word go. Hildreth went past 50 but Trego was soon closing him down. The pair of them took Somerset to 300, at which point Sussex would really have begun to feel the nerves. Then as the runs kept coming they lost the plot althogether. Hildreth inched up to a splendid century and finished ahead of Trego who smashed four 6s in his 89 not out from 72 deliveries.
The victory was completed before tea which means they hit 242 runs in two sessions. Hildreth and Trego added an unbeaten 166 in just over 25 overs. The game will go down as one of the best this season and maybe the best ever in Somerset's history as it moved them to second in the table, although only for a few hours when Middlesex also won.
Points: Sussex 4, Somerset 19
Surrey v Nottinghamshire - Surrey win by 195 runs
Sur - 269 & 304
Not - 227 & 155
Nottinghamshire showed none of Somerset's fighting prowess however as they collapsed dramatically after lunch. Surrey wrapped up the victory that will keep them in the first divison next year and condemns Lancashire to relegation.
Night-watchman Gurney, didn't survive the first over but Edwards and Wessels battled hard to keep Nottinghamshire in the game. On a dry, spinning wicket it became a war of attrition between the bowlers and the batsmen. Together they saw off well over an hour of cricket in the morning and put on 51 for the second wicket but eventually Wessels was trapped plumb in front for 16.
Voges has had a torrid time with the bat in this latter part of the season but he too fought hard up to the final over before lunch, which was bowled by Pietersen. The part-time spinner used his extra height and bounce to remove the Australian and leave Nottinghamshire in trouble.
Sure enough, after lunch, the Surrey bowlers tucked into the visitors' line up with Batty finishing with 4 for 30. Nottinghamshire had no reply and subsided to a defeat that drops them to fourth in the table.
Points: Surrey 21, Nottinghamshire 4
Middlesex v Lancashire - Middlesex win by 109 runs
Mid - 446 & 129-2
Lan - 448
An incredible last day saw seventeen wickets fall and last years' champions relegated from the first division. Middlesex have come from nowhere to storm into second place with their final match of the season.
Chapple picked up 5 wickets including that of Malan for 95, while Rogers made 86. They helped Middlesex past 300 to set 304 for Lancashire to chase. Not long into their second innings however Lancashire will have heard of Surrey's victory over Nottinghamshire and will have known that they could do no more to stave off relegation. Up to that point several batsmen had made starts but failed to go past 35, but afterward they collapsed in a heap. Crook took 5 for 48 and Patel wrapped up the innings to finish with 4 for 72.
To be fair to Lancashire they were giving the chase a go (they had to win to survive one more week) and this expansive cricket will have been a big cause in their demise. As for Middlesex however they leap from the middle of the table to second, stunning all those now below them, although it is likely the will slip next week when everyone else plays their final matches.
Points: Middlesex 22, Lancashire 6
Kent v Derbyshire - Kent win by 222 runs
Ken - 261 & 342-8
Der - 200 & 181
Derbyshire hung on for as long as they could today, but it was all in vain as Kent stormed to a victory that keeps them in the promotion race.
The visitors made it to 57 this morning before losing their second wicket and later passed 100 with only three wickets down. However three more wickets then fell for 6 runs and the game was almost over. Somehow Derbyshire stuck it out well into the final session, adding another 72 runs, mainly thanks to Poynton who was unbeaten on 27 from 122 balls. Stevens though, wrapped up the match to finish with 4 for 37.
Derbyshire remain in first place, but have it all to do next week if they want to be promoted and win the title.
Points: Kent 21, Derbyshire 4
Hampshire v Essex - Essex win by 122 runs
Ess - 180 & 475
Ham - 229 & 302
Hampshire showed some spirit but their promotion chances have gone as they fell well short of Essex's target. Starting on 73-3 Adams and Dawson extended their partnership past 100 as both of them edged closer to centuries. Eventually Dawson was caught and bowled for 90 with the partnership broken at 160. Adams went on to reach his hundred but not before most of the wickets had fallen as no one else was able to support him and Hampshire slowly fell apart.
An exciting last wicket stand reduced the defecit to 122 with Adams finishing unbeaten on 139, but thee game was up long before.
Points: Hampshire 4, Essex 19
Tables
Division 1
|
Team |
Played |
Points |
| 1 |
Warwickshire |
15 |
204 |
| 2 |
Middlesex |
16 |
172 |
| 3 |
Somerset |
15 |
164 |
| 4 |
Sussex |
15 |
163 |
| 5 |
Nottinghamshire |
15 |
157 |
| 6 |
Durham |
15 |
137 |
| 7 |
Surrey |
15 |
132 |
| 8 |
Lancashire |
15 |
101 |
| 9 |
Worcestershire |
15 |
94 |
Division 2
|
Team |
Played |
Points |
| 1 |
Derbyshire |
15 |
173 |
| 2 |
Yorkshire |
15 |
172 |
| 3 |
Kent |
15 |
167 |
| 4 |
Hampshire |
15 |
148 |
| 5 |
Essex |
15 |
142 |
| 6 |
Northamptonshire |
16 |
130 |
| 7 |
Gloucestershire |
15 |
122 |
| 8 |
Leicestershire |
15 |
109 |
| 9 |
Glamorgan |
15 |
108 |
WARWICKSHIRE ARE 2012 COUNTY CHAMPIONS!!
Everything else feels a little superfluous to that, but two other games also reached conclusions today, as well as several other interesting or thrilling moments. We have to start however with Warwickshire.
County Championship Cricket
Day 3
Worcestershire v Warwickshire - Warwickshire win by an innings and 202 runs
Wor - 60 & 209
War - 471-8
Warwickshire romped to victory and the title by bowling out Worcestershire for 209 in their second innings. The match was all but over at lunch on day 1 when the hosts were bowled out for 60 but Warwickshire dominated every moment of the game by compiling 471 yesterday. Worcestershire showed some fight in the evening going to 100-2 overnight.
Only four had been added this morning however when Mitchell was bowled for 42 by Barker, who shortly after had Kervezee lbw for 19. Ali began to put bat to ball but wickets continued to fall through the morning. After lunch the tail also failed to wag, as Wright picked up four wickets and Ali was left not out on 72.
To win in two and a half days is huge and mirrors Warwickshire's very successful season. They've won the Championship with a match to go, which only a couple of weeks ago seemed unlikely. They've won 6 matches and lost just 1, but more importantly have consistently picked up bonus points, and currently have 42 of both batting and bowling points, the highest of any team.
Congratulations to Warwickshire on their first Championship win in 8 years and comiserations to Worcestershire who are relegated to the second division.
Points: Worcestershire 1, Warwickshire 23
Yorkshire v Glamorgan - Yorkshire win by 8 wickets
Gla - 272 & 182
Yor - 344 & 111-2
A few runs from the lower-middle order helped Glamorgan post a target above 100 but it was never going to be enough as Yorkshire charged to victory and the top spot in second division (at least temporarily).
Allenby was the top scorer for the Welsh side with 48, while Patterson took 4 for 47. Lyth then hit 50 from 60 balls but he followed Root (11) as they both fell lbw with the score on 63. Jaques (28*) and Ballance (19*) however saw the home side over the line and into a great position for promotion.
Points: Yorkshire 22, Glamorgan 5
Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire
Glo - 220 & 311
Nor - 100 & 224
Gloucestershire completed their win over Northamptonshire after setting the visitors an improbable 432 to win.
Hall finished well with 5 for 50 in Gloucestershire's second innings as he took the last three wickets all with the score on 311, and the last two in two balls.
Peters was caught fourth ball though to dampen Northamptonshire's spirits again and despite fifties from Sales and Hall wickets fell steadily. Norwell matched Hall's earlier efforts and finished with 5 for 51 as Northamptonshire finished their season on a sour note.
Points: Gloucestershire 20, Northamptonshire 3
Sussex v Somerset
Sus - 221 & 308
Som - 134 & 155-4
Early in the evening session this game was spicing up but four wickets for four runs has all but finished off Somerset.
Sussex began the day on 186-2 and took their total up to 230 before Nash was caught for a splendid 124. Then followed, if not a collapse then at least a steady stream of wickets as batsmen came and went. Thomas was the more successful bowler picking up 5 for 68, but some late runs lifted Sussex past 300 and helped set Somerset a target of 397.
Trescothick and Suppiah are highly talented and experienced batsmen and as it was Somerset you knew they weren't going to lie down, and sure enough they battled away together for most of the late afternoon and evening, scoring slowly but regularly. They went to fifty and then a hundred, both of them bringing up half centuries in the process and started to put a few nerves in the home dressing room.
Suddenly though everything changed as first Trescothick was clean bowled by Panesar for 71 and then Suppiah was caught behind by Prior for 70 as two wickets fell for nothing. Magoffin, who'd taken that second wicket then got on a roll and clean bowled Jones for 1 before having Kirby caught by Nash for 2. Somerset were 151-4 and now faced an even bigger challenge than they started with. All their hard work had been undone and Sussex were able to leave the field with confidence. How much different would it have been if Somerset were 155-0 overnight!
Surrey v Nottinghamshire
Sur - 269 & 304
Not - 227 & 0-0
The morning once again brought wickets while the afternoon didn't as another similar day at the Oval ensued. Fletcher removed Ansari early but after some watchful batting it was White who pulled Nottinghamshire back into the game, taking wickets with the score on 50, 75 and 92, the last of which was Pietersen for 22.
Du Bruyn and Roy however combined to alleviate the danger and together they put on 72 to take Surrey's lead past 200. Wood picked up his first Championship wicket by having Roy (41) caught by Voges, but Surrey continued to take the game away from the visitors as Wilson joined du Bruyn and they added another 90.
White returned to have du Bruyn lbw for 78, before Wood followed up by having Wilson caught for 57. Four runs later he then forced Meaker to edge behind for his third wicket.
More late runs lifted Surrey past 300 however before they were all out. They have set Nottinghamshire 347 to win and after Gurney saw out the final over of the day they have all of day four to try and chase that total.
Middlesex v Lancashire
Mid - 446 & 129-2
Lan - 448
Lancashire have tried their best today to stay in with a chance of survival, but it seems the Lords track is too good for a result.
Incredibly in a score of 448 the highest individual score was 78 by Brown while four other players also scored fifties.
Robson then fell with the score on 5 and Denly was clean bowled for 16 as the northerners tried to turn the tables in this high scoring match. Rogers (57*) and Malan (37*) however saw out the rest of the day adding 85, to leave the game heading for a draw. There will have to be a mind-blowing bowling performance tomorrow by one of the teams if there is to be a result on this wicket.
Kent v Derbyshire
Ken - 261 & 342-8
Der - 200 & 30-1
Derbyshire could only watch in despair as Kent took this game further away from them, and at the same time took big strides towards them in the table. At the start of this round Kent were the outside chance at promotion contenders, but assuming they can finish off Derbyshire tomorrow they will right up there with the others.
Nash made 62 while Powell finished 59 not out, but they were overshadowed by a fantastic innings from Northeast. Hitting fourteen 4s and two 6s he went to 165 and helped Kent from 59-3 overnight to a total above 300, before being caught. In the end Kent set Derbyshire a wopping 404 to win and then removed Madsen fourth ball for 0 to further weaken the visitors' chances and increase their own.
Hampshire v Essex
Ess - 180 & 475
Ham - 229 & 73-3
Things got worse today for Hampshire, as while Yorkshire and Kent head towards the top of the table the south coast side look like missing out this round and being left behind in the title race.
Shah was the one to watch this morning as he crunched the ball around the field moving Essex past 250 and into a lead of more than 200. He was eventually out for 161, out of a total of 281 then. Another wicket fell but ten Doeschate and Foster launched Essex on past 400. Ten Doeschate muscled 69 in 61 balls with two 6s, while Foster made 61 from 70 balls. Wheater then came out and added 42 in 36 balls and finished unbeaten as yet another chase target topped 400, this one was the biggest of all the matches on 427!
Hampshire needed to survive to the close, while also making a dent in that score but only succeeded in losing three wickets for five runs, before 36* by Adams lifted them to 73-3 overnight.
So day two of the penultimate round of Championship matches and the differences between the first and second divisions is growing, by which I mean, the first division is all but sown up, while the second is hotting up to a thrilling finish.
County Championship Cricket
Day 2
Worcestershire v Warwickshire
Wor - 60 & 100-2
War - 471-8
It seems only fair to begin again with this match. Warwickshire continued the victory charge while Worcestershire are all but relegated, and all that with a game still to go for both teams.
A new day failed to help Worcestershire as the struggled on, just as unsuccessfully as yesterday. Warwickshire had gone to 279 before Russell finally had Troughton caught for 54. Chopra was already well on the way to turning his century into a huge score and a double hundred was well on the cards.
Johnson could only add 1 and Clarke 11, but Blackwell smacked a run-a-ball 84, before Barker also hit out for 40, to up the run rate. Before that though Chopra came unstuck when he was bowled for a superb 195.
Having settled for 471 Warwickshire then got on with the job of winning the match and probably the title too. Hughes was handed a duck to get the second innings off to an even worse start than the first. At last though the hosts showed some spirit as Mitchell and Pardoe put on 76 together. Pardoe was caught for 35, but Mitchell is not out on 42 as Worcestershire live to fight another day.
Sussex v Somerset
Sus - 221 & 186-2
Som - 134
If any team could catch Warwickshire it has to be Sussex and today they turned a poor situation into a crushing one. Somerset began the day on 30-1 and with 31 from Trescothick they eased up to 68 before he went lbw. Then the tables turned as a collapse led to three wickets for three runs.
A partnership of 35 seemed to have rescued the situation but then the visitors' tail was flattened as Hatchet and Panesar both picked up three wickets, leaving Somerset stranded on 134. What had looked like being a close game on day 1 now looked very one sided.
Somerset fought back by having Joyce caught for 7 and, 34 runs later, Wells caught for 20. Nothing more could they manage however as Nash and Goodwin took the game far out of Somerset's reach with a partnership currently worth 139.
Nash went to a splendid 106*, while Goodwin has amassed a rather more steady 51*. Tomorrow they will bat on and barring an absolute miracle will post a total in excess of 400. The lead currently stands at 273.
Surrey v Nottinghamshire
Sur - 269
Not - 227
Nottinghamshire also had a chance of putting some pressure on Warwickshire today, but Surrey had one of their best days for a while as they fought their way into the lead.
The hosts added another 27 this morning, taking the final wicket partnership to 38 and their total from a below par score to a respectable score. Gurney finished with 4 for 37.
Nottinghamshire's innings then followed a bizarrely similar line to that of their oppositions. 17 was on the board when Wessels was adjudged lbw and ten runs later the out of form Voges was clean bowled. Hales, who leave tonight to join the England T20 squad, then took the total to 41 before he was brilliantly held by Linley, who lept high to his right at second slip and clung on. Taylor and Mullaney then both fell lbw for 12 and 15 respectively leaving Nottinghamshire on 60-5 (not so far from Surrey's 83-5).However, like Surrey, they then fought back with a partnership of 92 between the ever reliable Read and Sam Wood making his debut with the bat. Read batted slowly but Wood showed no sign of nerves as he eased to 45.
He was caught with the score on 152 and when White went soon after Surrey were back on top. Phillips added a stocky 14, but it was Read (85*) who took the visitors past 200. They were bowled out just before the close 42 runs adrift.
Middlesex v Lancashire
Mid - 446
Lan - 236-3
Lords seems to have become a batting paradise. Middlesex continued to attack in the morning as they eased past 400, although not before Dexter had been caught behind for 125 off the bowling of Chapple. And it was Chapple who wrapped up the innings, finishing with 5 for 86.
Smith and Proctor batted without any sign of pressure or the threat of relegation and added 95 before they were both dismissed together. Smith having gone to 55. Any chance of a collapse however was seen off by Horton and Prince who then scored 130 together taking Lancashire past 200. Horton was caught behind by Simpson for 64, but Prince contined unbeaten to the close on 57*.
Kent v Derbyshire
Ken - 261 & 59-3
Der - 200
So into the second division where the race for promotion is getting better by the day. A few weeks ago Derbyshire looked to have the title sown up but now their in danger of matching Northamptonshire's efforts last year by bottling it at the crucial moment.
Having been 32-1 overnight 64 from Madsen might have helped them up to a good score, sadly he had no help from anyone else as Kent drove into the middle order. The visitors slid to 130-8 before a desparate 45 from Poynton lifted them up to 200 and a potentially vital batting point before he was the last man out.
Kent then added a further 58 to their lead as they took hold of the match, but Derbyshire came back with three wickets for one run, leaving Northeast stranded on 26* at the close.
Yorkshire v Glamorgan
Gla - 272 & 27-2
Yor - 344
Yorkshire were the side to really take big strides towards upsetting Derbyshire today as they came back at Glamorgan and moved ahead in this contest. A superb 95 from Lyth and 55 from Gale took the hosts to 200-4 but decent knocks from some of the middle and lower order helped Yorkshire overhaul the Welsh side's total and go past 300.
Things then got worse for the visitors as they tried to see out the remaining overs. 14 not out by Bragg helped them up to 17-0 but two wickets in two balls from Patterson knocked them back again and put Yorkshire in a great position at the half-way stage of the match.
Hampshire v Essex
Ess - 180 & 217-2
Ham - 229
The other side still in the title race is Hampshire but they struggled today as Essex showed no signs of rolling over. Four early wickets meant the hosts slipped from 165-4 overnight to 185-8. A determined 43 from Ervine lifted them past 200 and up to a 49 run lead however and they were still on top in the contest.
Westley was caught for 15 but Mickleburgh and Shah batted better than anybody today (which is saying a lot considering all the great efforts by various players and sides) to put on 193 for the second wicket. Mickleburgh was slow but gave little away and was disappointed to give it away when he was caught for 73. Shah though had already gone to a fine hundred and moved onto 124 not out before the close as Essex moved 168 runs clear.
Hampshire are still very much in the game but they will need to bowl very well tomorrow to turn the match back in their favour.
Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire
Glo - 220 & 286-6
Nor - 100
Northamptonshire's collapse of last night ended this morning as they added just 27 more to take them to triple figures, but leave them with a defecit of 120.
Gloucestershire lost two wickets with the score on 2 but good knocks from Housego, Gidman and Marshall lifted their total past 100. It was Cockbain however, who has really flowing as he thumped boundaries all around but was nipped out for 99 with the score on 246. Their lead however is already enormous and probably insurmountable.
