The current round of County Championship fixtures, now into its final day, has been massively impacted by the weather, but two games which are hugely important to the outcome of the championship both have chances of outright results.
TOP V BOTTOM
Surrey would have expected their game against Northamptonshire to be an easy one given the positions of the two sides, but Northamptonshire have played very well. After scoring 357 they dismissed Surrey for 185, an advantage of 172. With the match into its final day and nothing less than a win good enough for Northamptonshire they enforced the follow on. Burns and Sibley are currently holding out for Surrey, with the score 52-0 in the 36th over of their second innings. Surrey will head the table going into the final round of games, the question being how much by.
ESSEX V HAMPSHIRE
Essex, Surrey’s only challengers, are locked in battle with Hampshire. Essex led by 113 on first innings, and launched an all out assault in their second innings, declaring at 153-8 to set Hampshire 267 to win. Hampshire are currently 29-3, Harmer two wickets and Sam Cook one. Hampshire are at liberty to approach this anyway they please – they will finish somewhere in the middle of the table whatever they do, while Essex have to keep pushing for wickets.
ONE CONFIRMED RESULT
The match at Old Trafford has been officially confirmed as a draw – Lancashire were 277-7 in the only innings that the weather allowed to happen.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
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