Not surprisingly for late September, the weather put a downer on proceedings right across the UK, affecting both the England-Australia ODI decider and the conclusion of the County Championship. For some, the damp squib meant extra tea and computer games in the pavilion followed by batting practice wearing thermals. On the other hand, there were relegation and promotion issues to be decided.
With so many days lost to rain, only two results ere possible. At Taunton, wickets tumbled like dominoes, with Hampshire coming out on top by five wickets. For Somerset, Jack Leach enjoyed a good finish to the summer but Kyle Abbott’s reliable pace yielded figures of 9-74, enabling Hampshire to displace Somerset in the runners-up position. I suppose it’s better than ending the year with our traditional trio of second-places, having already lost both domestic finals.
Essex and serial champions Surrey played out a tame draw at Chelmsford. Four batsmen helped themselves to centuries, the biggest (182) from the blade of Dean Elgar, who in the process swept past the 1000-run mark. Further north, the Durham-Kent contest was limited to two days, sufficient only for both counties to rack up three batting bonus points, a rare achievement for Kent in 2024. Alex Lees top-scored with 144.
The week began with Nottinghamshire requiring batting bonus points and Lancashire to fail in order to stay up and consign the latter to Division Two. The Red Roses duly crumbled to 177 against Worcestershire while centuries from Freddie McCann and South African ‘keeper Kyle Verreynne took Notts past 350 and safety. Verryenne played only four innings but signed off with an average of 248! Opponents Warwickshire had not been out of the woods but Sam Hain’s unbeaten 153 completed the rescue mission. Lancashire’s woeful first-innings batting this season cost them dear. As for Worcestershire, Joe Leach retired having contributed to his side’s highest finish since 2011.
Sussex bowed out as Division Two champions but it was heartbreak for their visitors Middlesex. Losing the first two days’ play, Sam Robson led the way with a lightning 113 but James Coles and Jack Carson ripped through the rest of the card. Sussex closed the door on their promotion ambitions on the final day, Coles and captain John Simpson sharing an unbeaten stand of 226 to deliver a draw. Meanwhile, Yorkshire celebrated the knowledge of their rivals’ misery by racking up a total of 726-7 declared, almost 600 ahead of Northants’ paltry effort. Huddersfield-born James Wharton’s second first-class ton was a biggie: 285 in 319 balls, including ten sixes. As a result, the two Roses counties swapped places for 2025!
Derbyshire finished bottom, despite Wayne Madsen crunching another 105 runs, his sixth career century against the Foxes. The Severn derby hsd little riding on the result so credit to the skippers of Glamorgan and Gloucestershire to embrace the opportunity to make a game of it in the likely two days possible. Innings forfeits made it a single-innings shoot-out. The Welsh batted first, declaring at 381-4 upon Chris Cooke reaching three figures but Gloucester capitulated tamely, Andy Gorvin and Ben Kellaway each taking three wickets. Both teams will be hoping for an improved four-day campaign next year but at least Glamorgan have the Blast trophy to build on.
Look out for my county review and Team of the Year shortly….
Team of the Week:- Lees (Dur), Elgar (Ess), Wharton (Yor), Westley
(Ess), Hain (War), Cooke (Gla +), Coles (Sus), Gregory (Som), Gregory (Som), Abbott
(Ham), Leach (Som), Phillip (Lan)
