County Cricket Round-Up - 15th September

County Cricket Round-Up - 15th September

Steven Croft hit the winning runs for Lancashire as they clinched the title at Taunton.

©Action Images

Lancashire won their first Championship title in 77 years by beating Somerset in the final session at Taunton. Somerset were bowled out for 310 in their second innings, meaning that Lancashire needed just 211 to win, which they knocked off for the loss of only two wickets.

Warwickshire’s hopes had ended just after tea on the final day of their match against a relegated Hampshire at The Rose Bowl after they could only take four Royals wickets all day thanks to centuries from Michael Carberry and Neil McKenzie.
Full Final Day Report 

In the day's other matches, Worcestershire provided little resistance for Durham on the final day at Chester-le-Street. Resuming on 65 for two in pursuit of an unlikely 365 to win, the visitors were dismissed for just 213 to lose by 151 runs. James Cameron and Moeen Ali had started the day well for the Pears; taking their third wicket stand to 78, before the latter fell to Mitchell Claydon for 38. Alexei Kervezee followed suit in the same over and when Cameron went in the next for 47 the end was nigh. Richard Jones entertained the crowd with a 19-ball unbeaten 23, but Scott Borthwick took the final three wickets to fall to cement a third place finish for Durham.

Nottinghamshire folded for just 172 in their second innings to hand Sussex an innings-and-five-run victory at Trent Bridge. Luke Fletcher shone briefly with a season-best 39 from only 22 balls for the home side, but they lost their last six wickets for 54 runs – Naved Arif ending with four for 41 - to round off what has been a disappointing defence of their Championship title.

Middlesex stuttered slightly on the final day at Grace Road but eventually overcame the home side to win by five wickets and be crowned Division Two champions. Leicestershire had begun the day on 222 for seven in their second innings, which Jigar Naik (22), Nathan Buck (26) and Ned Eckersley (50) boosted to 306 with some determined lower-order batting, to leave Middlesex needing 124 to win. They began well and when they reached 57 without loss in the thirteenth over all appeared to be going according to plan. However, Wayne White took three quick wickets and Dawid Malan was run out by Greg Smith for a duck to complete a mini-collapse of five for 33 runs. John Simpson (27 not out) and Gareth Berg (19 not out) ensured against any alarms though and took them across the line without any further loss of wickets.

Glamorgan completed a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Kent in the first ever floodlit Championship match at Canterbury. The home side had the better of the morning session as Azhar Mahmood (70) and Geraint Jones (79) both made half-centuries as they were bowled out for 312. This left Glamorgan needing just 127 to win and with plenty of time in which to do so. They lost Gareth Rees early on for eight, but Alviro Petersen signed off in spectacular fashion with an unbeaten 70 from only 54 balls to take his side to victory in 20 overs.

County News in Brief
Essex have awarded a benefit to Graham Napier for the 2012 season. The county are believed to be targeting Greg Smith, Charl Willoughby and Hashim Amla as new players for next season.

Leicestershire have re-signed Jigar Naik and Claude Henderson on two-year deals.

Jon Lewis will face an ECB disciplinary committee on Friday 23^rd September in relation to an incident with James Foster that occurred when Gloucestershire met Essex last month.

Will Gidman has become the quickest player to achieve the double of 1000 runs and 50 wickets in his debut Championship season. It took him 16 matches this season for Gloucestershire, whereas the previous quickest was Sir Garry Sobers who took 18 matches to achieve the feat for Nottinghamshire in 1968.

© Cricket World 2011