County Championship Round 20 Discussion Thread

[Shelsey93]

The final round of matches is here!

Everything in Division One is decided, but the Division Two promotion race remains wide open.

The matches which matter are:

At Derby, Derbyshire v Hampshire (Live on Sky Sports)

At Chelmsford, Essex v Yorkshire

At Swalec Stadium, Glamorgan v Kent

As it currently stands the race is in the hands of Derbys and Yorks. But any slip up and Kent could slip in.

[Guest]

Yorkshire are 60-1 against essex

Napier with the wicket for essex...only 11 overs bowled and young Tom craddock into the attack.

[Guest]

derby's tactics are astonishing..

they have hants 125-4 and they are trying to BUY a wicket through David Wainwright and some strange fields...they have a green pitch and a inform Palladino and growenwald...and yet they are trying to buy a wicket through spin

IN OTHER NEWS: Yorkshire are 129-3 against essex Napier has all 3 wickets

[hampo17]

Thought exactly the same CF, early doors Palladino was causing all sorts of problems so I have no idea why they didn't give him a burst after lunch, instead they let Hampshire take control.

Hampshires slim chance of promotion has been taken away now after Yorkshire got the bonus point.

[LondonTiger]

Still all in the balance in the D2 promotion race.

Awful middle session for Yorkshire, with Jacques and Hodd gifting their wickets.

Dreadfull end to the day for for Kent and Derbyshire means all 3 sides seem to be trying their hardest not to be promoted.

[Shelsey93]

All 3 teams having mixed days today.

Derbyshire didn't press home an early advantage and then lost a wicket too many in the evening session.

Yorkshire also hadn't an early advantage that they didn't exactly make count.

Meanwhile, Kent can consider themselves to have had a pretty poor day after insterting bottom side Glamorgan, but have at least taken 8 wickets and so should complete full bowling bonus points tomorrow.

[liverbnz]

Still pretty much in the balance for all 3 teams. Yorkshire have 14 overs to get themselves some more batting points, whilst Kent have 12 overs to get themselves 1 wicket and the final bowling point. I'd say Derby are slighty worse off after yesterday's action, although they do have the advantage of there game being further on and of course being top of the table.

On another note, have Durham ever been punished for the wickets they produce. There always seems to be very low scores at CLS but does it ever get reprimanded?

[LondonTiger]

Rafa out 299-9, coudl do with the extra batting point.

[Shelsey93]

Gladly I think they've stopped penalising teams for pitches unless they are genuinely unsafe or making a mockery of FC cricket.

The wicket at Old Trafford for Lancs v Worcs where even part-time spinners were taking hatfuls of wickets even went unpunished (it must have been close) and I think that's a good thing for the county game.

[LondonTiger]

Yay 3rd batting point secured.

Meanwhile Glamorgan push on past 350 in a match Kent have to win.

[LondonTiger]

good morning for yorkshire. Secured 3rd batting point and a bowling point.

[liverbnz]

Essex reduced to 149/9 by Yorkshire which means Kent must now win against Glamorgan if they are to be promoted.

[guildfordbat]

Essex reduced to 149/9 by Yorkshire which means Kent must now win against Glamorgan if they are to be promoted.

... and I strongly suspect Kent shot their bolt when they allowed Glamorgan's ninth wicket to put on almost 130 ...

[LondonTiger]

Essex all out for 177. small flurry for the 10th wicket but goo dposition fort Yorks.

Play finished for the day in Derby, and raining again in Cardiff.

[Shelsey93]

As I see it the formula is now quite simple.

Kent will be promoted if they win (now very difficult) and one of Derbys or Yorks doesn't. If Kent don't win Derbys and Yorks go up.

Bonus points aren't a factor at all, other than perhaps in the final placings.

[guildfordbat]

Seems that Yorks and Derbys are there. Next to no way that Kent can win and catch either of them now.

In reply to Glamorgan's first innings 390, Kent are skittled for 190. A fivefer for Croft's swansong.

[LondonTiger]

Aye, i was looking at Yorkshire making a pigs ear of the second innings and completely missed Kent's collapse.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

I recall predicting at start of season that Kent would be nowhere near promotion despite their new signings. So I am not quite as badly wrong as I thought I was going to be....

[LondonTiger]

When Kent have been good they have been very, very good. Rest of the time they have been terrible. Derbyshire are functionary at best - but they always seem to be trying. I still think Rob Key shoul dhave stepped down as captain at least a year ago.

I remember watching the last game of the 2010 season. Two things stood out - Moin Ashraf looked very promising and Rob KLey looked disinterested in proceedings. He came out wearing Matt Coles' sweater, and stood at long off taking no part in the game.

[liverbnz]

Kent 96/5 and still 130 odd behind. Promotion places all but settled, just the title to be settled now.

[JDizzle]

Somerset end their season by pumping an already relegated Worcs to secure another second place. Great century on comeback by Compton, and 14 wickets in the match for Rehman. Pretty average from a Worcs side who are already looking ahead to next season I would imagine.

[Shelsey93]

Robert Croft finishing his career by taking the final Kent wicket - the 1168th of his first-class career. to him on a fine county career.

Glamorgan have a short chase and, barring a return to the form of the first few games, Yorkshire and Derbyshire will soon be officially up.

[Liam]

Glammy win

Lovely send off for the legend that is Robert Croft, and what a performance with the ball in his last ever match for the county. Couldn't have had a better send off for him with a dominant victory inside 4 days to prevent Kent's promotion to the top flight.

[Guest]

Congrats Yorks and Derby for their promotion..

farewell Crofty, legend of f/c cricket!!!!!!!!

[guildfordbat]

A brief post to echo Liam's tribute to Robert Croft.

Other cricketers have been more talented but few have been so relentlessly determined and dedicated to making the utmost of their abilities. Evidenced by his scoring over ten thousand first class runs and taking more than one thousand first class wickets for his beloved Glamorgan. Exceptionally unlikely that anyone again will ever match that double for any county.

County cricket is the poorer for his retirement.

[msp83]

Good to see Yorks promoted. They have produced some quality youngsters for England over the last few years, and it is important that they are back in the first division.

[guildfordbat]

msp - good to see you on a proper thread.

[msp83]

msp - good to see you on a proper thread.

I do keep going through the section, but my knowledge of county cricket is limited to mostly cricinfo scorecards and reports. So don't post here that much.
By the way congratulations, Surrey has stayed up!. And looks like a pretty decent start to last match of the season, a touch disappointed that Kevin Pietersen isn't playing when he's available? Or has he already gone to Sri Lanka?

[guildfordbat]

msp - good to see you on a proper thread.

I do keep going through the section, but my knowledge of county cricket is limited to mostly cricinfo scorecards and reports. So don't post here that much.
By the way congratulations, Surrey has stayed up!. And looks like a pretty decent start to last match of the season, a touch disappointed that Kevin Pietersen isn't playing when he's available? Or has he already gone to Sri Lanka?

Thanks, msp.

Lack of knowledge has never stopped anyone posting anywhere!

No idea where Pietersen is at the moment. I wouldn't read too much into him missing Surrey's current match - I'm sure he would have been there if anything rested on it.

[Corporalhumblebucket]

.... Pretty average from a Worcs side who are already looking ahead to next season I would imagine.

JDizzle. Wondering whether you are planning a career as an OFSTED inspector?

"Satisfactory" (school) really means "not very good"
"Pretty average" (Worcs) means "verging on dire"

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Good to see Yorks promoted. They have produced some quality youngsters for England over the last few years, and it is important that they are back in the first division.

MSP - agreed. Definitely better for Yorks to get promoted - rather than Kent going up on the basis of having bought a stack of players in for the start of the season. Something Surrey of course would never do....

[liverbnz]

So Kent collapsed in similar fashion to how Yorkshire did against them 2 seasons ago in our quest for the division 1 title.

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