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1 hour ago
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Key events
Somerset will have to face an in-form Kuldeep Yadav at Headingley, after his career-best ten for 120 turned the match against Essex last week.
“The first innings there was not much turn. It wasn’t a rank turner, Headingley is not known for that, so I was just trying to make the batters make mistakes. Then in the second innings I was trying to use the footmarks to bring the ball from outside to the stumps. That was the plan, and using more angles to make the batters uncomfortable.”
“Who says county cricket is dead?”, asks Glamorgan obsessive Stephen Moss, who has gone to The Oval. “There are crowds waiting for the gates to open! And deep mystery as Ingram and Dickson are on the scorecard, but weren’t in the squad released last night by Glam. Disinformation?Let’s see who takes the field.”
Weather watch - mixed
The Met Office warns: Bands of rain will move across England and Wales today, gradually clearing the warm and humid air and turning fresher. Sunshine and heavy scattered showers in the north with blustery winds.
No news on Leicestershire's pitch
The regulator is still chewing it over, and the ECB have no control on any timing for this.
Points system
For those who like to add up as they go along:
There are 16 points for a County Championship victory, a draw or tie brings eight points for each side. Any points scored in the first innings are added to this.
First-innings points are awarded only in the first 110 overs and retained whatever the result of the match.
Batting Points
250 to 299 runs - 1 point
300 to 349 runs - 2 points
350 to 399 runs - 3 points
400 to 449 runs - 4 points
450 runs or over - 5 points
Bowling Points
3 to 5 wickets taken - 1 point
6 to 8 wickets taken - 2 points
9 to 10 wickets taken - 3 points
If a match is abandoned without a ball being bowled, each side scores eight points.
If the match is abandoned due to an unfit pitch, the home team don’t get any points and lose any bonus points. The visiting team receive eight points plus any bonus points already achieved.
Also a reminder: Sussex were deducted 12 points because of their financial situation. Kent deducted five points for slow over-rate. Gloucestershire & Worcestershire deducted two points for slow over-rate.
Division Two table - two games to go
1 Durham 230 CHAMPIONS AND PROMOTED
2 Northants 175
3 Kent 173
4 Middlesex 135
5 Derbyshire 135
6 Worcestershire 133
7 Lancashire 100
8 Gloucestershire 82
Division One table - two games to go
1 Somerset 189
2 Notts 185
3 Warwicks 184
4 Sussex 154
5 Yorkshire 142
6 Surrey 137
7 Glamorgan 127
8 Essex 124
9 Leicestershire 116
10 Hampshire 92
Fixtures
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex v Warwickshire
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Hampshire
The Oval: Surrey v Glamorgan
Hove: Sussex v Nottinghamshire
Headingley: Yorkshire v Somerset
Division Two
Chester-le-Street: Durham v Worcestershire
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Middlesex
Canterbury: Kent v Lancashire
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Derbyshire
Preamble
Good morning, and welcome to the penultimate match of the season. I can’t believe I just typed that, but evidence is there, dewy grass, shelled conkers, the tired sun dropping by 7pm. And we’ve got a drop-kick thriller on our hands – just five points between the top three – Notts going for two in a row, Warwickshire hoping to cause a rumpus and Somerset dreaming, still dreaming, of that first holy pennant. In Division Two, Durham have been crowned, but just two points separates chasers Northants and Kent, while Hampshire’s relegation can be confirmed this week.
We’ll be keeping an eye on events at Headingley, Chelmsford, Hove, Canterbury, Wantage Road, Grace Road and all round the grounds. Come on in, the water’s lovely.
