Somerset an Nottinghamshire title houps hit by defeats: County Championship cricket, day fower – as it happened

Warwickshire will tak an 11-point lead intae the final roond o the season efter watchin fae the wings as their championship rivals Somerset an Nottinghamshire baith fluffed their lines.

Yorkshire teuk only 82 minutes tae rinse throu Somerset on an overcast Headingley mornin, wi bowlers on sang an a helpful surface. Ilka run wis agony as Toms Lammonby an Abell battled throu the early overs until Lammonby nudged Ben Cliff ahint an Abell wis caucht aff a Ben Coad ba that shot aff the bat shouder an arced tae point. A conveyor belt o wickets follaed that no even Craig Overton cud halt an, wi Somerset a oot for 101, Cliff led the players aff wi a career-best 11 wickets in the match.

As the big, bonnie Somerset flag wis faulded awa intae a Sainsbury’s plastic bag, their heid coach, Jason Kerr, said: “We kent the magnitude o the game but unfortunately Yorkshire played the better cricket.” The Leeds rain stairted at 2.50pm, bit it wis three oors ower late. Hid Somerset no jumped in their team coach sae quickly, they wad hae seen the England an Wales Cricket Board’s pitch inspector Andy Mackay oot in the middle. His arrival means that Yorkshire are in danger o a points penalty, little succour tae Somerset wha maun entertain Surrey neist week an houpe, wi the destination o the title nae langer in their haunds.

Nottinghamshire hid tae watch their dreams o successive titles wash amaist oot o sicht as they were bowled oot for 193 at Hove, afore Sussex knocked aff a chase o 76 wi barely a scare. Notts maun entertain a resurgent Yorkshire neist week an houpe Warwickshire slip up; while Sussex’s saxt win o a season that stairted wi a 12-point penalty wis bitter sweet – it wis a last hame game for a lairge haundfu o players the club can nae langer afford.

At Grace Road, Hampshire were relegated efter Leicestershire defied their points penalty tae bounce back wi a five-wicket win. They coasted tae whit cud hae been a difficult run chase thanks tae the New Zealander Nick Kelly (86) an Ben Cox (75), wha put on a merry 158. Leicestershire hae a mathematical chink o daylicht atween them an relegation – though they maun beat Warwickshire while takin 20 mair points than Essex can scrape thegither at Sophia Gardens. For Hampshire, wha escapit relegation on the last day last year when Durham capitulated, reality bit.

Meanwhile, in Division Twa, Northamptonshire hid tae be content wi a draw efter Ricardo Vasconcelos’s 132 teuk them tae within 23 runs o beatin Derbyshire, wi plenty o overs in the bank, afore bad licht intervened. They tak 13 points which slots them fower ahint their promotion rivals Kent.

A dark an damp end tae a febrile fower days, which end wi Warwickshire sittin bonnie, 11 points aheid, an in control o their destiny. Commiserations tae Somerset an tae Notts, bit cricket walks in mysterious wais sae ye never ken. We will be here neist Thursday tae carry ye throu the last fower days o the season, croon the Champion an the promotion runner-up an gie a consolin pat tae the club that accompanies Hampshire in the drap. Thanks for your lovely company. Guid nicht!

1 Durham 245 PROMOTED

2 Kent 192

3 Northants 188

4 Derbyshire 149

5 Middlesex 148

6 Worcestershire 147

7 Lancashire 103

8 Gloucestershire 94

Rotten luck that for Northants wha were within 23 runs afore bad licht intervened. They maun be content wi 13 points which slots them fower ahint Kent as we heid tae the final roond.

Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 310 an 326-6 DRAW WITH Derbyshire 372 an 286

Northants 13 points, Derbyshire 14 points

Division Ane

Chelmsford: Warwickshire 191 an 138-2 BEAT Essex 134 an 189 by aicht wickets

Grace Road: Leicestershire 244 an 335-5 BEAT Hampshire 214 an 363 by five wickets

The Oval: Glamorgan 132 an 594 BEAT Surrey 115 an 427 by 184 runs

Hove: Sussex 358 an 76-3 BEAT Nottinghamshire 240 an 193 by seven wickets.

Headingley: Yorkshire 212 an 275 BEAT Somerset 201 an 101 by 185 runs

Division Twa

Chester-le-Street: Durham 465 an 235 DRAW wi Worcestershire 448 an 32-1

Bristol: Gloucestershire 296 an 145-9 DRAW wi Middlesex 326 an 361

Canterbury: Kent 214 an 142-3 BEAT Lancashire 161 an 192 by seven wickets

Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 310 an 326-6 DRAW WITH Derbyshire 372 an 286

Middlesex diddled by the rain

Bristol: Gloucestershire 296 an 145-9 DRAW wi Middlesex 326 an 361

Middlesex 13 points, Gloucestershire 12

1 Warwicks 203

2 Somerset 192

3 Notts 188

4 Sussex 176

5 Yorkshire 161

6 Glamorgan 146

7 Surrey 140

8 Essex 127

9 Leicestershire 108

10 Hampshire 95 RELEGATED

Means Glos, nine doon, may escape; while promotion-chasin Northants, wha are just 23 runs fae victory againt Derby, cud feel very hard done by.

It stairted rainin at Headingley at 2.50pm. Unfortunately Somerset are already twa oors doon the motorway.

Time for me tae cross the Pennines an write up for Friday’s paper afore they chuck us oot at Headingley. Will pop back wi updates as the Trans Pennine wifi allows. BTL remains open.

A lovely message fae Mike Daniels, which I’ve belatedly picked up.

“As Leicestershire are easin tae a win, the Grace Road scorebox signs aff for the season.

“An interestin season an I’m sure there’ll be some twists an turns neist week bit which will hopefully end up wi The Bears clinchin the pennant.

“Houpe tae read ye a neist season. Winter weel everyone.”

An tae you Mike, thanks for a your insights fae Grace Road.

Which leaves events at The Oval, whaere Glamorgan need fower wicket tae leapfrog Surrey in the table

An Wantage Road, where Vasconcelos (112) is leadin the chairge for Northants, wha need 138, wi seven wickets in haund.

At Bristol, where Gloucestershire will houpe this is terminal, sax doon an needin anither 281 tae beat Middlesex.

At CLS, where Worcestershire, 32-1, need anither 221 tae beat Durham.

Hampshire will play Division Twa cricket for the first time since 2011, efter bein reprieved by Durham’s collapse on the last day o the 2025 season.

James Fuller isna giein awa free runs in whit cud be his last over as a Division Ane bowler for a while. Bit there’s the win, wi a boundary aff a na ba. Hampshire are relegated, Leicestershire live tae fecht anither week!

Leicestershire 19pts, Hampshire 3pts

Kelly tries tae win it wi a sax bit is caucht in the deep. Whit an innings though. Sax needed as Ian Holland strides in.

The Surrey chairge has wilted, Thomas done by a beauty fae Crane, Lawrence (46) an Patel (132) gane an a. Surrey 328 for sax, need 284. Bit at Grace Road, it is nearly ower…

Hove: Sussex 358 an 76-3 BEAT Nottinghamshire 240 an 193 by seven wickets.

An upside doon result, in a peculiar week o cricket. Fae nowhere, Warwickshire find themselves in control o their ain destiny.

A sad guidbye tae Hove fae a host o Sussex players.

Sussex are nearly there, need just 11 needed an Leicestershire, dear Leicestershire are just 42 awa, Kelly an Cox hae put on 122.

The pitch inspector is bein brocht a cup o tea.

Tunin intae Hove, bit distracted by the pitch inspector wha is throwin a ba doon the pitch an watchin the bounce which isna an uniform as a Yorkshire fan micht like. Stairtin tae dae some calculations which cud mean that Yorkshire find themselves on the edge o relegation bother.

I hate tae say it bit pitch inspector Andy Mackay is starin at the Headingley pitch.

Anthony McGrath has a lang post-match chat, says Yorkshire are lookin tae finish weel againt Notts “it’s a lang time till April bit I think ye can tak a lot o momentum intae neist season.”

“The battin is a big ane for us, early in the season we left a lot o runs oot there. The lauer order has got us oot o trouble on a few occasions. There’s nae doot hoo hard the boys are workin bit we need tae get it richt.”

He says there is a guid chance Yorkshire will gae for an overseas batter neist year.

Ben Cliff: “It’s probably ane o the maist pleasin performances o the season. He’s a local lad, warks really hard, this match he hid confidence, belief, his were legs pumpin, tae get eleven for…I think he’s gain tae be a real asset tae us, this is the stairt, it canna be a ane aff.” He says Troy Cooley has been at Headingley today watchin.

On Jonny: He’s signed a three-year contract, if ye see him today celebratin ilka wicket, he needs mair runs bit look at the passion – he wis drivin that ahint the stumps sae I houpe we will see him in a white shirt. “

Division Ane

Chelmsford: Warwickshire 191 an 138-2 BEAT Essex 134 an 189 by aicht wickets

Grace Road: Leicestershire 244 an 267-4 v Hampshire 214 an 363 Leics need 67 tae win

The Oval: Surrey 115 an 291-4 v Glamorgan 132 an 594 Surrey need 321 tae win

Hove: Sussex 358 an 48-2 v Nottinghamshire 240 an 193 Susse need 28 tae win

Headingley: Yorkshire 212 an 275 BEAT Somerset 201 an 101 by 185 runs

Division Twa

Chester-le-Street: Durham 465 an 235 v Worcestershire 448 an 31-1 Worcs need 222 tae win

Bristol: Gloucestershire 296 an 77-6 v Middlesex 326 an 361 Glos need 315 tae win

Canterbury: Kent 214 an 142-3 BEAT Lancashire 161 an 192 by seven wickets

Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 310 an 152-0 v Derbyshire 372 an 286 Northants need 197 tae win

A sombre lookin Jason Kerr:

“It’s extremely disappointin, we came here wi belief. We needed early partnerships bit we felt wi the wair the wicket played yesterday we’d hae an opportunity bit the characteristics o day ane an twa returned. There wis a ridiculous amount o life in the surface for a day fower pitch, an it proved ower muckle.”

Hill an Bess’s partnership. “If ye’re chasin 150 it is a completely different game tae chasin 280 bit ye hae tae gie a huge amount o credit tae Bessy an Hill, they played extremely weel.”

Neist week: “Whit we are gain tae hae tae dae is beat Surrey, we canna control whit happens up the road. We’ve got a few days tae regroup we’ll see hoo the guys pull up. We’ll hae a look at whit surfaces are available.

“It is huge, the disappointment in the dressin room, we kent the magnitude o the game bit unfortunately Yorkshire played the better cricket. We’ll hauld oor heids heich, we’ll feel today, I’ll allow them that an keep buildin towards neist week.”

While waitin for Jason Kerr tae emerge fae the Somerset dressin room I watched the bonnie Somerset flag bein faulded up an put in a Sainsbury’s bag.

Yorkshire come oot an gie a roond o applause tae the fans as Headingley prepares tae lock up for the winter. Somerset gae intae their final game 11 points ahint Warwickshire. Notts, though, havna gien up – Sussex 14-2, need anither 62.

A ower in 82 minutes as Revis crushes Jake Balls stumps. Haundshakes an hugs a roond. Ben Cliff (11 for 105) leads everyone aff tae huge applause, haudin the ba, wavin tae his family. The cider lies spilt a ower the fleer.

While there is still life in this match, just wanted tae congratulate Yorkshire wha hae signed up wi renewable energy company Urban Chain tae provide their pouer fae the neist year. Urban Chain connects renewable energy generators tae buyers, sae Headingley’s pouer will come fae a range o renewable sources, wi the houpe that, in time, mair an mair o them will come fae within Yorkshire’s boundaries. It is pairt o a wide strategy tae improve sustainability, which the club kicked aff by doin a transport survey wi members tae wark oot hoo folk travel tae the groond.

Pretorius staunds like a frozen collie efter edgin perky George Hill ahint. Somerset crumble tae 92 for nine.

An oor gane noo, an Somerset in tatters – whit else is happenin?

Leicestershire are still standin at Grace Road, 193 for fower, need 141.

I think Surrey are gain tae dae this ridiculous chase, 240-3, they need 372, Patel, 104 no oot, has just been joined by Dan Lawrence efter Pope wis oot for 75.

An Sussex hae just rid o the last Notts batter. They need just 76 tae win – bit Olly Stone is pawin the groond.

Eleven wickets in the match for Ben Cliff, the heartbreaker.

Lyth shakes his haund vigorously efter maybe puttin doon a catch at slip, bit it disna matter as Lewis Gregory is lbw neist ba. Na romantic benefit o the doot fae Richard Kettlebrough. Somerset 88 for aicht.

No wi a bang bit an edge ahint. Overton gane for five. Somerset 87 for seven. An na rain in sicht.

The sun is oot. Just sax runs in 35 minutes an Rew feels the pressure as he fae nowhere risks a drives an is caucht at second slip. Anither Somerset player maks a heid doon slouch back tae the dressin room. Somerset 79 for sax.

Anither (sob), Tom Abell in his smairt short sleeved sweater, Will Luxton at point collects fae a ba that shot up an flew aff the tap o the bat. Somerset 76 for five.

There’s been a wicket at Grace Road, Hamza Sheikh an, oh! there’s a wicket here, Lammonby fishin gets an ootside edge an YJB collects. A ninth wicket in the match for Ben Cliff. Somerset 76 for fower an James Rew gets the chance tae play an innings for the selector’s notebook (Stephen Fleming popped intae Headingley yesterday). Ooof, an Cliff skates past his ootside edge first ba. This is lookin quite sticky for Somerset.

Anither for Ari Karvelas wha is haein a dreamy 24 oors, Hutton caucht, very weel, at slip. Notts are aicht-doon an lead by just 32.

I canna tell if it is gettin darker or my glasses need a clean. Bit Ben Coad is definitely racin in fae the Kirkstall Lane End. Somerset hae chosen the safety first option – just twa runs scored sae far today. Application, application, application.

Ben Cliff’s lang legs mairch back tae his mark at the Howard Stand End. Abell immaculately leaves, an anither. The Yorkshire fielders are very enthusiastic.

Yorkshire huddle, Lammonby an Abell mairch past them tae the middle. Bess wi the ba tae finish his over fae last nicht.

A desperate day for Notts yesterday. This wis HH last nicht “I never doot the effort or commitment fae the boys, they aye gie 100 per cent ilka day bit unfortunately we find ourselves up againt it tomorrow.

“The message for tomorrow is that we’ve got tae fecht oor corner an try an get back intae this game. I ken the character an skill is there an we’re gain tae hae tae dae it again.”

Somerset are in the safety o the dressin room an only ane man in whites is oot in the middle, Matt Revis, wha caused a sorts o trouble wi the ba last nicht. The cloods are heich at the moment an na sign o immediate rain.

It wis a tense day at Headingley, cauld enough in the shade for the stewards tae wear glooves, bit hot on the pitch where Somerset wobbled bit just aboot held on tae their Championship dream. It teuk mair than a session tae break Yorkshire’s overnight partnership o George Hill an Dom Bess, wha played wi swaggerin patience in a seventh-wicket partnership o 166.

Hill finally fell tae a tap-edged pull for a season’s best 89 tae Craig Overton, wha chased him tae the rope tae say weel done. The former Somerset player Bess follaed for 77, a material for Tom Abell’s best man’s speech at Bess’s weddin neist month. Set 287, Somerset hid a catastrophic stairt when Josh Thomas wis caucht ahint in the first over, an a couple mair wickets follaed, the fielders providin regular reminders that the title has never gane tae Taunton, afore Abell an Tom Lammonby saw things throu tae the close. Tomorrow’s magic cider number is 214.

Leicestershire, reelin fae the 27-point penalty heaped on them by the Cricket Regulator, made international news efter the chief groondsman attributed some o his pitch problems tae the filmin o a new Sourav Ganguly biopic “Dada”, starin Rajkummar Rao, at Grace Road. Oot in the middle, the match hid become an instant relegation battle wi Hampshire – a draw wad send baith teams doon; bit a winner wad tak at least a mathematical chance o survival intae the final game. Leicestershire dug their heels in an removed the last sax Hampshire wickets for 80. An efter bein set 334, they were 156 for three at stumps, bit crucially without Rehan Ahmed whose a fowers in his 55 hid got the pulse racin. Rishi Patel, battin for the last time at Grace Road afore he moves tae Southampton, hit 27.

The reignin champions, Nottinghamshire, hobble intae day fower efter Ari Karvelas, diverted temporarily fae a teachin job in Sussex’s oor o need, fizzed oot their tap fower, an Jaydev Unadkat knocked oot three mair, leavin the second innings in tatters. Notts lead Sussex by only 31 wi three wickets in haund.

An ance mair tae the drawin board for Lancashire, wha suffered an aicht defeat in 10 as Kent easily knocked aff the 56 runs needed tae tak them intae a prime Division Twa promotion place. Their only rivals, Northamptonshire, were frustrated by Derbyshire’s Nick Potts (57) an Randell (45) an maun chase anither 312 tae return tae nose tae nose at the tap.

Division Ane

Chelmsford: Warwickshire 191 an 138-2 BEAT Essex 134 an 189 by aicht wickets

Grace Road: Leicestershire 244 an 156-3 v Hampshire 214 an 363 Leics need 178 tae win

The Oval: Surrey 115 an 177-2 v Glamorgan 132 an 594 Surrey need 435 tae win

Hove: Sussex 358 v Nottinghamshire 240 an 149-7

Headingley: Yorkshire 212 an 275 v Somerset 201 an73-3 Somerset need 214 tae win

Division Twa

Chester-le-Street: Durham 465 an 161-6 v Worcestershire 448

Bristol: Gloucestershire 296 v Middlesex 326 an 298-6

Canterbury: Kent 214 an 142-3 BEAT Lancashire 161 an 192 by seven wickets

Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 310 an 37-0 v Derbyshire 372 an 286 Northants need 312 tae win

Guid mornin an welcome tae the final day o this penultimate roond. There are last-gasp buddlejas growin in the pavement cracks a ower Headingley, muckle like today’s assignment for Somerset, for Notts an for Northants.

Somerset need 214, bit they’ve lost three wickets an battin wis fiendishly hard last nicht. They’ll be hopin a new dawn an an aulder ba brings some succour. Notts maun tae batten ilka bolt tae keep Sussex at bay, while Northants need anither 312 tae keep up wi Kent, wha, like Warwickshire, watch an wait.

Join us as the story gets tauld. Play stairts at 10.30am.