After the trial with the pink ball last week the Specsavers County Championship returns to normality this week with six matches across the two divisions beginning on Monday. This is the final round of fixtures before the break for the NatWest T20 Blast so those challenging for things will be eager to go into the split on a high.
We are resigned to the regular websites and radio commentaries to keep up with these matches with the TV coverage this week concentrating on the Test match.
Division One
With the top two not playing this week the others have the chance to close the gap on them. Hampshire in third place will be aiming to do just that when they head to London to take on Surrey. Warwickshire host the champions Middlesex at Edgbaston while the former winners Yorkshire play host to Somerset at Scarborough.
Division Two
The top two in this division don’t play this week either but there is a huge clash in behind them at Beckenham as third placed Kent host fourth placed Northants. Derbyshire play host to Durham at Chesterfield while Gloucestershire head to Cheltenham where they will welcome mid-table Glamorgan.
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Betting
I’m going with two this week. I was probably going to take Surrey on anyway after the heartache of their defeat on Saturday but with Kumar Sangakkara out on top of that I am definitely keen on Hampshire. They have Mason Crane and Fidel Edwards back this week and while Liam Dawson is a loss Tom Alsop is no worse with the bat and Crane might offer more with the ball. Hampshire haven’t always batted brilliantly this season but if they can do that this Surrey side might not be as hard to beat as it might usually be.
In the second division Derbyshire got their first win in ages last week and they might not have to wait long for another one. Imran Tahir joins them this week and his record in this country is very good. Durham will be without their England trio Mark Wood, Keaton Jennings and Ben Stokes while Graham Onions is sidelined so there is a weak element to them. Derbyshire had Nottinghamshire beat a couple of weeks ago until rain denied them a win and then they won last week. I can see them winning again here.
Tips
PUSH – Back Hampshire to beat Surrey for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Bwin
Back them here:
Back Derbyshire to beat Durham for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Ladbrokes
Back them here:
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