1. Notts cut by Surrey’s know -how
The confrontation arrived early in the sun-drenched South London, when Surrey and Nottinghamshire struggled for the first place in the County Championship in the final round of competitions. They did not abandon fans and, but hope, gave a break to those who consider more radical changes in the championship format.
At the kind of pitch it became oval in the 2020s – early enough for the bowlers, and then flattened after a few days – a competition that is worth the weight in the weather, pretty better than elsewhere in the country.
After the two pace attacks were confronted, the game quickly continued with Notts Vooruit, but serial champions Surrey had faith to come from behind. At the fall of the sixth wicket of the visitors in the second innings, their lead was a very tablet 147 and Matt Fisher had nine scalp with strength to add. Entered Lyndon James (47), Liam Patterson-White (58), Brett Hutton (42) and Josh Tongue (22).
Rory Burns had to tolerate opponents who scored the late order runs that have driven his own team so often, but he would still have been sure to walk to the fold with 315 to chase. He ran even bigger at the start of day four after he and Dom Sibley had beaten 66 the goal in the previous evening. But the old script was not to play.
The champions were still favorites on 244 for five, but the single over Van Spin in the four innings was a game check. Tom Curran, just started engine, was stunned by Kyle Verreynne of Patterson-White. Two points later then Lawrence left for a round 50. Tong closed the resistance and held the game ball up while Nottinghamshire became 15 points clear, reduced to 14 after an overview fine.
Nottinghamshire -Gastheer Warwickshire on Trent Bridge on Wednesday, knowing that a victory will give them their first title since 2010; Surrey has a must-win-and-so-so-looking trip to Southampton.
2. Orgel stops Somerset
It is even more a dog fight on the other side of the table. As so often happens in sport, the last opponents Hampshire had to see 36 hours after a bit of a mauling in the explosion final Somerset. Both XIs were changed, but scars are scars.
The spirits would have improved with five Somerset wickets in the bag before three figures were on the cans, but Tom Abell found a partner in Kasey Aldridge and their 221-run position gave the home team a hold that they should never give up.
Shot in just over 50 overs by Jack Leach (what a plus he is for his province), Hampshire must be tired of the fold to follow, grateful for the first day leaching.
An old -fashioned graves was required and, to their enormous honor, that is exactly what the batters have delivered. Nick Gubbins lasted almost four hours for his 37, Ben Brown more than two and half for his 36 and Felix Organ a heroic self -acquiring 94 minutes for his four. Hampshire wriggled for free.
Both clubs have had subtractions this season, Somerset’s four points extinguish their vague hope for a late run in front of the pennant, but Hampshire’s seized eight leaves them two above the trouble. Surrey, who needs a victory, is another, not so welcome view that the city is rolling.
3. Winning pays off in division two
Hands up Who had Leicestershire and Glamorgan to finish second to protect the two -division promotion?
Their six and five wins, respectively, surpassed all their rivals, with only Middlesex’s four above two. After a few years when there have been too many peers in the second flight, positive cricket has been rewarded and although it will be much more difficult to repeat in 2026, I hope that both provinces will retain their approaches.
4. If it is not broken, don’t repair it
This column has long argued that there is not much wrong with County Cricket that cannot be solved by a bit of luck with the weather, rigorous cost control and a vague sympathetic calendar.
A glance at the division One table is sufficient evidence to make the point. In the last week, Nottinghamshire of Surrey (and, yes, I am aware of their player recruitment policy) it could win and one of Sussex, Essex, Yorkshire, Hampshire or Durham could join Worcestershire in Division two. And that is without any subjures levied by the blazers.
Rather The Flashman PapersThe championship needs contextual footnotes to fully appreciate it, but it is worth the effort. What is determined before 2026, it must retain the scale of his canvas if we want to see its beauty in all its glory.
5. Orr shows its courage
Gray Skies and a very disappointing crowd greeted the players while they took the field on Trent Bridge for the one -day cup final. The semi-final was three weeks earlier, so I could not have been alone in looking up the team-worcestershire against Hampshire on the train to Nottingham. Great sport, even only good sport, creates its own sense of occasion and a well -informed and dedicated audience, soon gave their side of the bargain.
Under low slate skies, Hampshire made 237 out of 45 overs, twice interrupted by rain. It was difficult to know if it was a good score or not, Ali Orr hit their two sixes and added 10 four – two more than the rest of his colleagues put together. His 110 out of 130 balls are well compared to their 111 from 142, making the DuckWorth-Lewis-Stern adapted target of 188 out of 27 overs difficult to assess as table or difficult.
Algorithms reserved, credit the credit on the Worcestershire -Bowlers, whose changes in pace and professionally nagged Yorkers enabled them to admit 24 runs of the last five overs, giving their batters the edge at the turn.
6. A moving presentation for Worcestershire
Fantastic things from the Hampshire – replacing field player Tom squeeze, who – alert to the possibilities at Third Man – dived forward to catch a shot by Gareth Roderick. Fielders are often happy to withdraw and take the ball on the bouncing to prevent the border, but pertaked early, ran hard and got his reward. More players must do the same.
A thriller originated in the darkness, while DLS delivered a huge finish in this way and it waved. Hampshire supporters can disagree after they were reserved for the second Saturday in a row on Saturday in a row. Worcestershire continued to swing for the stands and struck them often enough.
Ethan Brookes, with 57 out of 34 balls, and Matthew Waite (16 out of five) were the heroes, but in essence it was a victory for the brave. Worcestershire won the six-count eight to two with four batters who clean up the ropes to Hampshire’s One. That was despite losing wickets to the big shots – say what you like to just make it around, it’s not how it is played nowadays and innings like this show why.
Two other heroes deserve a mention. First, the ground staff who was tireless for a long day and used wet lids in the dirtiest weather. We don’t thank them enough.
Second, the parents of Josh Baker, the cricket player of Worcestershire who died in 2024 and was repeated on the shirts of his team, the JB33 Foundation About the heart of every player. The parents were there to celebrate with the players and to lift the trophy after Henry Cullen, Josh’s great friend, hit the winning points. Sport is really the most important thing that doesn’t really matter.
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