In the two big matches of the week, 'twere Yorkshire and Worcestershire who prevailed, and so two of the big prizes have been decided with a few weeks still to go.
Congratulations first to the White Roses, who gave closest rivals Nottinghamshire a fearful thumping at Trent Bridge to clinch the Championship pennant. Even without Joe Root and Gary Ballance for much of the summer, their blend of largely homegrown talent, young and old, has proved irresistible despite a dodgy start to the season. The job was done with a typical mix of contributors, from Adam Lyth's sixth Championship century to Ryan Sidebottom's second innings 6-30, a 99 from Ballance, 95 from Tim Bresnan and six more wickets snapped by Mr Headband Jack Brooks. Joe Root made only 11 but he captained the side in place of Andrew Gale to round off a mostly pleasing season for the 23 year-old Sheffielder.
Warwickshire also won by an innings - against Northants - to be favourites for the runners-up position. Their fourth wicket partnership of 370 was the cornerstone. Jonathan Trott may have lost his England central contract but he has delivered some useful end-of-season runs for his county. Nevertheless his 164 was eclipsed by Sam Hain's maiden double-century. The teenager is in fine four-day form at the moment and must surely get to represent England and put his Aussie past behind him! Another 19 year-old Ben Duckett was the bright spot in Northamptonshire's eleventh defeat of a miserable campaign. He scored 126 runs to go with last week's century.
Sussex advanced to fourth after beating Lancashire in a game that at lunchtime looked certain to be drawn. Chris Jordan and Stuart Magoffin claimed some quick wickets, then Ed Joyce and Craig Cachopa led the dash to reach the 251 target in the 47th over. Lancashire now look to be heading into Division Two. They must win their final match and hope Middlesex lose their last two. They were helped by Durham overcoming their rivals at Lord's. This in turn makes the middle table very congested. Scott Borthwick's first day 176 proved decisive while all the bowlers chipped in with wickets. Pity Tim Murtagh, though; he grabbed a ten-for yet still ended up on the losing side.
Northamptonshire have long been doomed but now we know they will be replaced by Worcestershire. Their momentum had been temporarily disrupted but today they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Needing just 217 to win and seemingly cruising at 131-2, Surrey threw away the match, and their chances of promotion, by collapsing to 189 all out. As in the first innings, it was Jack Shantry who did much of the damage, taking 4-44. With a crazy maiden hundred the previous day and ten wickets in total, he was the toast of New Road. Whatever the angle of his elbow, Saeed Ajmal's 63 wickets earlier in the season cannot be forgotten either.
Essex retain a mathematical chance of overtaking Hampshire for the remaining promotion spot after beating Kent by nine wickets in three days. On day one, Sam Northeast scored 117 out of his side's 198, but James Foster's 108 and excellent bowling by David Masters and Graham Napier left Kent reeling. Glamorgan lifted themselves two places after a low-scoring triumph at Cardiff. Seamers Allenby, Hogan and Wagg produced the goods as only Wes Durston showed any fight for Derbyshire on the third day. Big signing Cheteshwar Pujara scored just 7 and 0 on his county debut.
Only one match ended drawn, and only because batsmen were utterly dominant. Gloucestershire racked up a massive 646 in only four sessions, including a career-best 264 in only 274 balls by skipper Alex Gidman. Along with South African wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, he compiled a stand of 393, beating by far the club record set back in the halcyon pre-war days of Wally Hammond! To their credit, bottom-placed Leicestershire also accumulated 565. Don't know when they last boasted three centurions in the same innings but Ned Eckersley, Niall O'Brien and Greg Smith each reached three figures. The draw was made certain by 104 not out from the other Gidman, Will.
Next week's games are unlikely to decide very much, although a win for Hampshire at home to Kent will give them a massive advantage over Essex going into the concluding round of fixtures, when late-September weather may have a say in who wins or loses. Nobody wants that.
