County Cricket 2024

[Wowbagger]

A very good partnership for the 5th wicked by Essex has seen them to within 42 runs of their target. Still not in the bag, but looking hopeful.

[Wowbagger]

An absolutely superb rearguard action by Essex sees them defeat Warks by 4 wickets. That's one hell of a result considering Warks had a first innings lead of 235. You have to feel rather sorry for Critchley: he got to 99no but was at the non-striker's end, with Essex needing 5 to win. There were then 2 leg byes. Harmer his the last ball for 4, so that was that. Essex 330-6 in the second innings.

[Peter]

There is indeed fascinating stuff going on!  Critchley got a golden duck in his first innings, as did Kent's Crawley - who followed up with a double hundred.  And there's more to come ... !

[Wowbagger]

Yes - Kent are gradually extending their lead v Somerset, but if they lost their last two wickets straight away, I'd expect Somerset to score the 135 to win by the close. But the bigger that lead becomes, the harder Somerset's job will be.

Meanwhile, is there any prospect of Durham overhauling Lancs? That's a big total they are chasing...

[Wowbagger]

Durham lose a wicket! Bedingham out for 103. Durham need another 162 with 6 wickets left. Still a tall order.

Kent, meanwhile, plod on. 163 ahead, 2 wickets left. Somerset might find this a challenge...

[Peter]

My "more to come" wasn't related to the outcome, which looks certain to be defeat for Durham, although they made a fight of it.  But it's the second game in short order in which a captain has scored a hundred against his former club: after Hameed for Notts. against Lancashire, we now have Keating for Lancashire against Durham.  What is even more unusual, I expect, is that two batsmen scored a hundred in both their innings(es) in this match, Keating for Lancashire and Bedingham for Durham.  What is becoming rapidly less usual is that they are both South African.  Loads of quiz possibilities in this match!

Edit to add:  A fine win for Lancashire who get 22 points.  It seems a little hard on Durham, who were the only side to get over 400 (though the only side to get under 300, too) and to have scored 3 centuries to end up with only 3 points.  And we are still no nearer knowing whether Stokes should follow Jurgen Klopp into retirement.

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

Surrey - 114 points
Essex - 96 points
Somerset - 92 points
7 teams between 53 and 68 points - i.e. one win.

Looks like a big battle to avoid relegation.  And Surrey could be hard to catch.