County cricket final day: Middlesex and Kent battle to avoid drop, and more – live
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Key events
And in a last-ditch attempt to save themselves, Middlesex have declared – leaving Notts 207 to win. Three cheers for Sam Robson, 105, and find of the season de Caires, a run-a-ball 49, but I don’t fancy Middlesex’s chances.
“Hello Tanya,” hello Christopher Sharp! “I am a Kent supporter and have been for 50 years. My grandfather Richard Lowe played for Kent in 1926 and he did the hat-trick for Cambridge University against Oxford. I do the scoring for my club Staplehurst and I hope Kent stay up and possible win.”
Christopher, it all looks very possible – what with Lancs only leading by 91 runs and now seven down. Bohannon still there, 19 not out, but he’s only got Bailey, Blatherwick and Morley for company. Though Kent’s batting is more than capable of messing this up at the last.
Made the train, now reliant on CrossCountryWifi. A couple of emails have dropped:
“Updated my Gloucestershire diary today,” writes Matt Winter. “Simply said, ‘bugger’. “
I’m going to run for a train in the lunch break – hopefully back on line at Southampton Airport Parkway!
Lunchtime scores
Southampton: Hampshire 219 and 172 BEAT Surrey 207 and 132 by 52 runs
Canterbury: Kent 494 v Lancashire 327 and 226-5 Lancashire lead Kent by 59 runs
County Ground: Northamptonshire 369 BEAT Essex 211 and 119 by an innings and 39 runs
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 and 177-5 Middx lead Notts by 159
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 273 DRAW with Somerset 215 and 90-2
DIVISION TWO
Chester-le-Street: Durham 457-8dec v Leicestershire 143 and 100-8
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 301-5dec and 8-0 v Derbyshire 450-8dec and 234-2dec Glamorgan need 376 to win
Hove: Sussex 202 and 505-7dec BEAT Gloucestershire 195 and 173 by 339 runs
Headingley: Yorkshire 262-6dec and 26-1 v Worcestershire 389 and 232-2 dec Worcs need 334 to win
Sussex beat Gloucestershire by 339 runs!
And while I was looking the other way, a thrashing for Gloucestershire in what has been a miserable season with not a single win, and a what-might-have-been one for Sussex. Three wickets for Currie and Hunt.
Hove: Sussex 202 and 505-7dec BEAT Gloucestershire 195 and 173 by 339 runs
Let’s take a look at the Middlesex-Kent axis.
Middlesex currently suffering from end of term nerves: 136-5, lead Notts by 117, which surely isn’t enough. Robson still there though, on a run-a-ball 71. They, remember, need a win.
Lancashire have just lost three quick wickets -for five runs – including Wells for 117, and lead Kent by 37. Kent are fine with a draw, unless Middlesex win.
Down on the sunny outfield, Surrey are celebrating with the shiny golden trophy, the pennant and their families. Dan Worrall wants a photo with his daughter and partner, Tom Lawes with his parents. A very dapper and low key Richard Thompson, chairman of the ECB and formerly of Surrey, in white trousers and polished chelsea boots, hands over the cup. Surrey are wearing special souvenir caps, baseball style, with XXII (Championship wins) on the back, which arrived this morning, ordered by Alec Stewart.
Hampshire beat Surrey by 52 runs!
Sudharsan tries to sweep, and gives Liam Dawson his 49th wicket of the season. And that is that, the Champions thrashed in their last outing! I’m going to go and watch the presentation of the trophy on out field.
Poor Sudharsan, diligently watching from the other end, Roach tries a cover drive and edges to Vince again, prowling at second slip. Surrey 126-9.
In the relegation battle, Middlesex need to win and Kent not, for Middlesex to avoid the drop. This was Tom Helm last night:
“We are going to have to go at them. We are going to have to set them a score to have a chance to bowl them out and stay in the division.
“I can’t put a number on it – that’s a bit above my pay grade. It’s going to be a really exciting day, there’s a huge amount to play for.”
A giant strides off the pitch, after being well and truly stumped after a daft dance down to Liam Dawson. Surrey likely to end this season as they ended the last, being handed a right thrashing. Surrey 125-8, need another 60.
I’m going to miss watching Mohammad Abbas slink into bowl, the sun on his back. He has Clark caught by Vince low at second slip in the first over of the day.
I know the BBC have done one, but let’s attempt a CCLive! team of the season. If you either email me, or drop your team BTL, I’ll collate them together after lunch and come up with an XI. Just off to get coffee – both machines at the hotel were broken (the horror!).
Surrey: worthy Champions
Scores on the doors
Southampton: Hampshire 219 and 172 v Surrey 207 and 112-6 Surrey need 73 to win
Canterbury: Kent 494 v Lancashire 327 and 126-0
County Ground: Northamptonshire 369 BEAT Essex 211 and 119 by an innings and 39 runs
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 and 10-0
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 273 v Somerset 215 and 90-2
DIVISION TWO
Chester-le-Street: Durham 457-8dec v Leicestershire 143 and 13-0 CLOSE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 301-5dec v Derbyshire 450-8dec and 68-0
Hove: Sussex 202 and 505-7dec v Gloucestershire 195 and 113-5 Gloucs need 400 to win
Headingley: Yorkshire 262-6dec v Worcestershire 389 and 18-2
Preamble
Good morning from a sunkissed Rose Bowl for this, the final day of the season. Out on the pitch, the Champions are in a huge huddle in their royal blue; Hampshire are kicking a ball and bowling in their grey, the shorts and wooly hat combo returns.
Around the woods this morning, the bracken is turning, the blackberries are shrunken – time for us to turn towards the coming autumn. Just one thing to decide today, and that’s the future of Middlesex and Kent in 2024. Play starts at 10.30am, see you here!
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