Autumn rains may have arrived a tad early, but there was still some drama in the penultimate round of County Championship fixtures. Surrey’s smooth march to the title was surprisingly disrupted at The Oval by basement side Northamptonshire, for whom Karun Nair – who boasts a Test ‘triple’ for India - struck 150 and Jack White took 4-45 to make the home side follow on. Come the last day, openers Burns and Sibley stopped the rot by batting out the final four hours or so without trouble.
Essex have only a mathematical chance of overhauling Surrey after an all-or-nothing final-day declaration against Hampshire failed to pay off. Adam Rossington and Tom Prest swapped centuries and Essex’s Matt Critchley was caught off Dawson’s spin for 99 before the stakes – and scoring rates – were raised on Friday. Hampshire were set a target of 267 in about 60 overs and at 32-4 looked set to capitulate. However, the experienced duo of James Vince and Liam Dawson turned disaster into triumph, putting on 184. Critchley nabbed them both but Ben Brown took them over the line with time running out.
At the other end of the table, 42-year-old Tim Murtagh followed his retirement announcement with eight wickets for Middlesex at Lord’s. However, it was all in vain because Warwickshire have the in-form Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who claimed eight of his own. The lanky Yorkshireman is no spring chicken himself but has led the line admirably all season. Danny Briggs became the second spinner this week to be dismissed on 99 and Will Rhodes made 102 as the Londoners struggled to gain a foothold in the match. In the second innings, Sam Robson carried his bat for 107 but Warwickshire wrapped up the victory by eight wickets, leaving Middlesex in the relegation zone.
They can still overtake Kent, who were second-best to Somerset, for whom Lammonby and Goldsworthy reached three figures, until the Taunton weather saved their bacon. At Old Trafford, only 84 overs were possible but the draw made little difference to the mid-table. Next week, Surrey should clinch the five points required at Southampton, although Hampshire have the incentive of snatching second place from Essex. Northants are down, but Kent (against Lancashire) just need to match Middlesex (at Nottinghamshire) to remain in Division One in 2024.
Joining them will be Durham and, almost certainly, Worcestershire. IN between rain delays, the two played out a single-innings draw this week, Scott Borthwick top-scoring with 134 not out. A resurgent Leicestershire have a theoretical chance of promotion but there was no real opportunity to narrow the gap by defeating Yorkshire at Grace Road. Derbyshire failed to break their season’s duck at home to Sussex but Brooke Guest did equal Derby’s record of seven catches in the first innings. Gloucestershire are also winless, and Sussex are in their way next week, just as Glamorgan are Derby’s barrier. Most of the season’s honours have been decided but don’t rule out some late-September excitement.
Team of the Week:- Lammonby (Som), Robson (Mid), Borthwick (Dur),
Vince (Ham), Nair (Nor), Guest (Der +), Critchley (Ess), Briggs (War), Conners
(Der), Murtagh (Mid), Hannon-Dalby (War)
