So with just one round of matches to come, Durham duly wrapped up the 2013 County Championship, their third in six seasons. Whilst they have lost one game more than Yorkshire, Durham boast an attack frequently capable of bowling sides out twice and so they have an impressive ten wins to their name. Their latest triumph was typically built upon a first morning mauling. Nottinghamshire, with five international batsmen, were dismissed for just 78. The home county were also in trouble but, once captain Collingwood and Phil Mustard joined forces to put on 119 for the seventh wicket, the result was never in doubt. Onions, Rushworth and Harrison took 15 wickets between them, while Ben Stokes atoned for his second-ball duck by claiming 3-55 in the second innings.
Rain may have snatched well over a day's worth of play, but Yorkshire made sure of the runners-up spot by overcoming rivals Middlesex by 80 runs. Out of four full innings at Headingley, only Andrew Gale's men managed to pass 200. Jack Brooks' aggregate return of 7-67 was the most impressive, and Ryan Sidebottom continued to impress. In the remaining game, Surrey racked up 400 in the first innings over 2 days, thanks to centuries by Solanki and Davies. With the weather threatening further, Gareth Batty and Varun Chopra agreed a declaration/forfeit to make a result more likely. A draw would not be enough to save Surrey from relegation and, with Warwickshire struggling at 19-2 in search of 281, the gamble looked likely to pay off. However, the rich boys from The Oval were humbled by Ateeq Javid (119 not out) and Chris Woakes (79 not out) and they are heading down. Ponting, Smith, Amla, Pietersen, Solanki, Dernbach, Tremlett, Meaker, Davies? Not good enough!!
Next week, Derbyshire must beat Warwickshire to avoid joining Surrey in the second tier next season. Even if they do so, they're not necessarily safe. Somerset and Nottinghamshire meet at Trent Bridge with the losers facing a very real threat of the drop. However, should both accumulate maximum bonus points, Derbyshire will probably tumble through the trap door despite winning more games than Chris Read's star-studded side. Somehow, it's reassuring in these days of super-wealthy football clubs killing off competitions before they've started that the big-name cricket counties can be relegated.
It happened to Lancashire last season but their rain-affected darw with Gloucestershire ensured they were definitely bouncing back up. Luke Procter's 106 and a sixth half-century in seven first-class innings by Luis Reece had the Lancies in the box seat most of the game. Behind them, Northants need only five points from their last game at Worcester to take the second promotion place after playing out a draw against Kent. James Middlebrook starred with 6-78 and a hundred with the bat.
Essex were thwarted by the weather, having the better of their game wih Glamorgan. David Masters was mean as ever early on, then centuries from Mickelburgh and Owais Shah and a Bopara blitz took them past 400 and an optimistic declaration. However, Glamorgan batted comfortably for the draw which leaves them second from bottom. Essex may look back to their heavy defeat by Northants in April which, as results panned out, proved to be a '40-pointer'! Below them, Leicestershire finished their campaign with a zero-point return from their encounter with Hampshire. Vince and Dawson struck good hundreds then two innings forfeits set up a typical Leicester collapse. No county has finished a season with such a paltry tally (79) since bonus points were introduced. Matthew Hoggard walked off into retirement to a standing ovation and probable relief that he doesn't need to suffer another season like it again!
