Roundup
Northamptonshire secured promotion to Division One with all bar their toenails after Durham lost their two remaining wickets in the first eight overs of the day at Wantage Road, Brett Hutton finishing with five for 59. Northants need a maximum of four points from their final game, away against fellow hopefuls Gloucestershire, to sniff the sweet air of Division One for the first time since 2014.
Glamorgan pushed gently at the gate marked hope by beating Leicestershire by 291 runs at Sophia Gardens. Promotion is still possible, but only if they thrash Durham at Chester-le-Street next week and the result at Bristol goes in their favour. Any Leicestershire thoughts of batting out the game faded after Hassan Azad was lbw to Michael Hogan for 16, and faded further when Mark Cosgrove set off in haste for a run that was not there.
As the sun gazed down on a perfect September day, Lancashire wrapped up the defeat of Middlesex by 104 runs, though not without the odd scare as Martin Andersson’s career-best 83 took the match well into the final session.
Middlesex were set 270 but had a disastrous start, losing three wickets for one run in eight balls. Tom Bailey took two of those wickets and finished with five for 41, the fifth five-wicket haul against Middlesex of his career. With the trophy presented and Bob Dylan’s Hurricane blaring out of the home dressing room, the celebrations got started in earnest. “It’s so good to have remained unbeaten and to lift the trophy with a game to go,” said the captain, Dane Vilas.
At Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire suffered their cruellest defeat of the summer, at the hands of Warwickshire, in particular Dom Sibley. After totting up 489 in their first innings, they had stumbled in their second innings, but added another 155 in the morning thanks to Joe Clarke’s second century of the match – setting Warwickshire 271 in 51 overs. But Sibley, who had been on the field for almost the whole four days, ground on to his second century of the game – and surely a place on the tour of New Zealand. Nottinghamshire, still winless, now go to T20 Finals Day tomorrow in the hope of at least some sustenance from a miserable season.
At Headingley, Kent crushed Yorkshire by 433 runs, setting up in terms of runs their largest win, the losers’ heaviest defeat and the fourth heaviest defeat in County Championship history. Darren Stevens claimed his fifth wicket of the innings, his 50th championship wicket of the season and became the second-oldest player to score 200 and take five wickets in an innings after WG Grace, something that attracted some gentle ribbing.
We’ll have Tanya’s roundup online shortly. For now, that’s the end of our live coverage from the penultimate round of fixtures. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Warwickshire beat Notts by eight wickets!
A painful defeat for relegated Nottinghamshire is confirmed, with Sibley taking a century as they cruised to 271-2, winning by eight wickets. Notts made 498 in the first innings – and still lost.
I must write up now - do keep an eye on Trent Bridge for possibly the biggest Notts-up yet.
And we have a third century-in-each-innings player of this round - Dom Sibley follows Sam Billings and Joe Clarke with the daddy of them all: 215 not out followed by 107 not out and counting. Warwickshire need 64 more from 11 overs. If they do it, Sibley is the reason why.
And with Bob Dylan’s Hurricane blaring out of the Lancashire dressing room, and Liam Livingstone throwing a bucket of ice over the balcony, the celebrations get started in earnest. The trophy was awarded by a smiling Ian Lovett, the ECB chairman, Dane Vilas said all the right things and Paul Allott got soaked in champagne. Happy, happy players.
Job done. 👊@CountyChamp Division Two Champions 🏆
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) September 19, 2019
🌹 #RedRoseTogether pic.twitter.com/99eXgNob4Z
Updated
But before I do, Warwickshire sure know how to punish a team when it is down. Warwickshire 158-1, need 113 to win. Sibley 83 not out.
Lancashire beat Middlesex by 104 runs
Vilas changes tack and signals for Saqib Mahmood. Andersson drives at his third ball, only to chop on for a career-best 83. Tom Bailey leads the team off and there are handshakes all round. Division Two champions Lancashire are still unbeaten - with just the one game to go. Middlesex lie eighth, eight points above Worcestershire and with an interesting winter ahead.
The Division Two trophy will be awarded shortly in front of the pavilion, I’m going to mooch over and have a look.
Those quiz answers, care of Ken Grime and Harriet Monkhouse, who can still read the small print in Wisden.
All counties have spent time in both Divisions One and Two.
The three counties to have spent a record 16 seasons in Division One are Warwickshire, Yorkshire and Lancashire.
And Somerset have had the longest uninterrupted spell in Division One - 12 years.
And that’s Bailey’s ninth five-fer, five of which have been against Middlesex. Stick that in your stat-bag BLT-ers! Middlesex down and nearly out 154-9.
And another... Sowter pushes forward to Parky and is smartly snapped up by Keaton Jennings at slip. 143/8
Middlesex slipping away quickly now - a fourth wicket for Bailey as Roland-Jones gets stuck in front of his stumps and is lbw. 143/7.
And, from Tim in Leeds, an email:
I’m sure Sam Billings is the first person to score a century in each innings in the County Championship at Headingley. Shai Hope was the first to do so in first-class cricket at the ground, in the famous West Indies victory in 2017. Billings not only joins him, he has achieved something that none of the glorious pantheon of Yorkshire (pudding) batters could, probably because of uncovered pitches, how tough things were in their day, and the price of rhubarb. Tell the young folk of today that, and they won’t believe you. They won’t !
Hee Hee!
The tea-cakes did it! Harris caught behind off Bailey for 38. Middlesex 136-6.
Further tea-time quiz questions
Three counties have spent a total of 16 seasons in Division One. Who are they?
Which county has had the longest uninterrupted spell in Division One?
Lancashire have been relegated four times since the division of the Championship in 2000: 04, 2012, 2014, and 2018. Each time they’ve bounced back straight up.
Questions:
Which county has never been in Division One?
Which county has never been in Division Two?
Tea-time scores - Game On!
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 498 and 260 (Joe Clarke 112) v Warwickshire 488 and 82-0 (Sibley 48 not out )WARWICKSHIRE NEED 189 RUNS TO WIN IN 36 OVERS.
Old Trafford: Lancashire 259 & 347: Jennings 97, Livingstone 68; Cummins 4-77 Middlesex 337: Simpson 167*, Sowter 52; Bailey 5-78, Parkinson 3-49 and 126-5. MIDDLESEX NEED 144 TO WIN IN 36 OVERS
And that is tea! Well played Middlesex.
Just the two live matches left now, this sunny final afternoon of the penultimate round. Here at Old Trafford, Andersson and Harris have put on 55, doubling the score since Simpson fell just after lunch. - 159 needed, 40 overs left. All a bit sleepy. And at Trent Bridge, Rhodes and Sibley are going strong. Warwickshire are 69-0, needing another 202 to win off 38.
Updated
Glamorgan beat Leicestershire by 291 runs
Glamorgan’s fourth Championship win of the season. Six wickets for Samit Patel. Glamorgan travel up to the Riverside with a small, but pefectly formed, chance of promotion - 16 points behind Gloucestershire. Poor Leicestershire - next year maybe.
Updated
Leicestershire lose two in two to Andrew Salter and Glamorgan are just one wicket away
ANOTHER// Davis plays a horrible swipe and Salter is on a hat-trick 🔥🔥🔥@leicsccc 125/9 in the 68th over
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) September 19, 2019
Griffiths is the last man in #GoGlam #GLAvLEI pic.twitter.com/JopsLh68V7
Darren Stevens
“I’ve just seen that (stat on WG Grace), only because Mitch (Claydon) was taking the mickey saying we look pretty similar!
“I was very tired this morning, and I was praying for that early wicket. Luckily it came. To be fair, I was pretty done in after that spell last night, 13 overs.”
(His performance) “I can’t really put it into words. If you’d have asked me at the start of the season, I would have said that I’ll have a decent year, but not like this.
“It was a bit frustrating early season with a few catches going down, and it didn’t really happen with the bat. Then, the last part of the summer has been pretty special. A lot of hard work’s gone in, and it’s starting to pay off now.”
And Saqib Mahmood get another go, from the James Anderson end, after his first over went for 16.
Here at Old Trafford, lovely scenes, one of the scoreboard operators, Colin Levenston, has just completed his fiftieth season on the numbers, and was taken down to the dressing-room and given a bottle of champers, a card and a few words from Paul Allott.
And with a lofted off-drive off Parky, Andersson makes his first first-class fifty. Middx 90-5, 180 needed, 53 overs left, the sky cloudless, the sun out, the wicket not particularly deteriorating.
Even if Glamorgan win, Northants will only need four points from their final match at Bristol to be sure of a return to Division One for the first time since 2014.
Another great week..... not going to list all the individual performances but different people putting their hands up at different times is key to successful seasons and it’s a privilege being a part of a growing side and such a talented group, big final week coming up! 👊🏻 https://t.co/hOkAccIS23
— Ollie Rayner (@Ollie2rayner) September 19, 2019
Hmm Leicestershire have lost three for eight including a run-out - I mean, how? Looking at positives, they’ve found a cracker in Azad, and persuaded him to sign a new TWO-YEAR contract. And they won one match.
Leicester 115-7 need 309 to win.
Ah, here’s the run-out.
WICKET// Brilliant work from Root but where is Cosgrove going!!! 😮😮😮
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) September 19, 2019
Huge wicket and @leicsccc are 110/7 🔥
Wright is the new man in #GoGlam #GLAvLEI pic.twitter.com/KsBJWyLrAr
Updated
Notts are all out for 260, Joe Clarke last man out for 112. Warwickshire will have 58 overs to get 271. That was really quite impressive by Notts, I expected them to be all out well before lunch. Bit late to find your backbone mind you ...
Kent beat Yorkshire by 433 runs
In terms of runs, Kent’s biggest ever win; Yorkshire’s heaviest defeat. The fourth heaviest defeat in Championship history. Darren Stevens claimed his fifth wicket, and his 50th Championship wicket of the season; became the fifth 43-years-plus player in history to score over 200 and take ten wickets in a first-class match; the second oldest player to score 200 and take five wickets in an innings. Yorkshire drop to fifth, Kent leapfrog them to fourth.
Back a little late after sitting in the sun for a few overs. I can report that on September 19 two fans are sunning themselves shirtless in the fierce glare of the north’s rays. John Simpson was lbw to Parky’s fourth ball after lunch and Andersson now has his highest first-class score. Elsewhere... ah, Yorkshire.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Headingley: Kent 482-8 dec & 337-7 dec:Billings 122*, Robinson 97 Yorkshire 269 & 115-8: Tattersall 39*; Stevens 5-20. Yorkshire need 436 to win.
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 498 and 246-8 Joe Clarke 107 not out v Warwickshire 488.
DIVISION TWO
Northants: Northamptonshire 217 & 315: Procter 86, Levi 60; Raine 4-93Durham 131 & 232: Eckersley 67*; Hutton 5-59. Northamptonshire win by 169 runs.
Old Trafford: Lancashire 259 & 347: Jennings 97, Livingstone 68; Cummins 4-77 Middlesex 337: Simpson 167*, Sowter 52; Bailey 5-78, Parkinson 3-49 and 55-4
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 435 and 251-5dec v Leicestershire 263 and 101-5. Leicestershire need 323 to win.
And that’s lunch; Simpson and Anderson walk off into the shadows after yet another miserable morning for Middlesex’s batsmen. Scores to follow.
Come on Yorkshire, nearly at three figures - 94 for 8. Stevens five for 20.
While at Trent Bridge Joe Clarke has got his second century of the match - 103 not out - the second player of the round after Sam Billings.
Just noticed that Dawid Malan has completed a pair in this match, and there goes Robson lbw to Onions for 14. Middlesex 40-4 and with Robson and Malan gone, little hope left.
Just trying to think about Somerset rather than Middlesex - who have now lost three wickets for one run in eight balls - and their chances of winning the Championship at last; and am reminded of Lancashire’s charge for the title in 2011. They also had to go to Taunton and win in the last match of the season, plus hope that Warwickshire didn’t win at The Rose Bowl against relegated Hampshire. Paul Edwards, who was there, remembers James Hildreth’s magnificent hundred on the first day, Gary Keedy’s only direct-hit run-out of his career, and the fact that at the end of day three everyone thought Warwickshire had it in the bag. The result brought “unseemly hugs in the back of the pressbox” and memories of “trying to do interviews on the outfield while Mark Chilton, who hadn’t played, was bouncing around the Lancashire supporters singing we you Hampshire we do. If it was like that winning away, it will be carnage if Somerset win next week.”
And there goes Malan for a two ball duck, caught by a diving Bailey off Onions. Middlesex 3-3. The Middlesex president watching from the box, is not happy.
Bailey looks like an athlete, long legs, lean, untucked shirt. He sprints in, straight as an arrow, and Malan ...leaves it, somewhat dangerously, and Lancashire fans continue to wait for the first Lancashire hat-trick against Middlesex.
Updated
Tom Bailey - two in two balls. Hat-trick ready... Middlesex 2-2.
Leicestershire have put on an unbeaten 18 for the last wicket, though Azad going for 16 would seem to ruin any hopes of them saving the game. Two for Carey, two for Hogan and Samit into the attack....
The sun is shining and Tom Bailey takes the new ball...
Devastatingly sad. Please seek help if you need it.
A breathtaking film showing the 215 young lives lost to suicide since the start of this year's Ashes. Please watch and share. #thelostashes #WSPD #mentalhealth #theashes #theoval pic.twitter.com/3zL9faKaXx
— Opening Up Cricket (@OpeningUpCC) September 19, 2019
Updated
And after a morning swiping runs, Croft is bowled for 40, which leaves Middlesex 270 to win in 84 overs. Rather unlikely, you’d think - against what Gary Naylor, amongst others has called the best bowling attack in the country - but perhaps there is one more turn up still on the books.
Northants have beaten Durham by 169 runs
Durham lasted just half an hour until Rushworth edged Sanderson to slip and Northants are nearly up!
Notts - argh. Now six down. Joe Clarke, who started the season with a hundred and a 97 not out at Trent Bridge, may end it in similar fashion. Currently 68 not out after a first-innings century. Just a shame about the small chasm in between.
Your forties, re-imagined
Oldest player to score a double-century and take 5 wickets in an innings in a first-class match:
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) September 19, 2019
46y 303d WG Grace 288, 5-87 Glos v Som Bristol 1895
43y 142d DI Stevens 237, 5-13* Kent v York Leeds 2019
38y 342d EH Bowley 280*, 6-31 Sus v Glos Hove 1929
Updated
A fifth Durham wicket for Hutton and just one more needed for Northamptonshire to have all but their toe-nails in Division One.
83.1 | Hutton has 5⃣! 🔥 Bang in front and Northamptonshire need 1 more...
— Northamptonshire CCC (@NorthantsCCC) September 19, 2019
Durham 221/9. pic.twitter.com/2F9Y3DLjww
And as Matt Parkinson goes to his highest first-class score - now 14 - Yorkshire lose their first wicket - 49 for seven. Not the most inspiring way to end the season - though who can stand in front of Darren Stevens in autumn of 2020 mode? Not Tim Bresnan, caught behind for a duck.
Stevens 12-4-13-5.
I suspect “strongly considering” means “have already decided.”
England strongly considering giving wicketkeeping gloves to Jos Buttler for the tour of New Zealand, leaving Jonny Bairstow needing to prove his worth as a specialist batsman https://t.co/jKWaVBQUsk
— Tim (@timwig) September 19, 2019
Updated
Sussex finding flowers amongst the stones of Division Two: a fabulous year for Ollie Robinson.
Not he result we wanted this week, but it was another five-fer for @ollierobinson25 yesterday - his sixth of the season 👏
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) September 19, 2019
He now has 63 wickets and counting! 💫 #gosbts pic.twitter.com/t9ElZ9Magw
Parky starting the day with gumption, two banging fours - “Amongst,” said Ken Grime, “the best shots he has ever played.”
Start of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Headingley: Kent 482-8 dec & 337-7 dec:Billings 122*, Robinson 97 Yorkshire 269 & 44-6: Kohler-Cadmore 19; Stevens 4-12, Milnes 2-9. Yorkshire need 507 to win.
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 498 and 105-5 v Warwickshire 488.
DIVISION TWO
Northants: Northamptonshire 217 & 315: Procter 86, Levi 60; Raine 4-93Durham 131 & 212-8: Eckersley 54*; Hutton 4-54. Durham need 19o to win.
Old Trafford: Lancashire 259 & 289-8: Jennings 97, Livingstone 68; Cummins 4-50Middlesex 337: Simpson 167*, Sowter 52; Bailey 5-78, Parkinson 3-49.
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 435 and 251-5dec v Leicestershire 263 and 32-2. Leicestershire need 392 to win.
Preamble
Good morning from Old Trafford where the heavy roller has just been pushed off the pitch and the players are hitting one last slip catch, bowling one last ball. After five months, we are nearly there, this is the final day of the penultimate round.
After yesterday’s pyrotechnics from Kyle Abbott and Simon Harmer, the title-decider goes to Taunton for a shoot off. Essex, Hampshire, Derbyshire and Worcestershire all won, which leaves us Lancashire fighting to keep their unbeaten record on the day the Second Division Trophy will be presented, Notts trying to win a game and Yorkshire in with a fight to still be batting by lunch. Expect Northants to polish off Durham quickly and Glamorgan to keep their dreams alive by bowling out Leicestershire. Northants and Gloucestershire could finish the day in Division One.
Updated
