The final week of the county season begins on Monday when the last round of the Specsavers County Championship is played out up and down the country, in what is all set up to be a fantastic conclusion to the campaign.
We know who has won Division Two and who will be relegated from the top flight but what we need to determine is who the county champions will be and which two sides will join Lancashire in getting promoted out of the bottom division. We have a TV game to enjoy this week and I’m sure the race for promotion will contain regular updates.
Division One
There is only one place to start in this division and that is with the title showdown as the T20 Blast champions Essex take a 12pt lead to Taunton with them to face Somerset knowing that if they avoid defeat they will be the county champions for the second time in three years. Somerset have to win but if they do that they will finally get their hands on this elusive piece of silverware. That is the TV game this week.
There are three other matches in the division with places and prize money all that is at stake in them. Kent play host to Hampshire who go into the final round of games in third place while at Edgbaston Warwickshire take on Yorkshire. Nottinghamshire’s final assignment in Division One is a trip to the Kia Oval to take on a Surrey side whose reign as champions will end at some point over the four days.
Place 5 accumulators either in a Boylesports shop or online and get an acca free! Click the image above to bet. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Division Two
Two matches are the significant ones in the second division this week. The big one comes from Bristol where third placed Gloucestershire host second placed Northamptonshire. The visitors need just four points to get promoted while the home side need nine points, so they are going to need to avoid defeat to guarantee going up. Both sides will be promoted if Glamorgan don’t beat a Durham team who aren’t playing for anything other than pride and league position.
Three other games will complete the last round of matches in the second tier. It is bottom against top as the champions Lancashire look to complete an undefeated season when they head to Grace Road to take on Leicestershire. Middlesex host Derbyshire at Lord’s while the other match sees the T20 finalists Worcestershire making the trip to Hove to attempt to dust themselves down and finish the season with a win against Sussex.
Betting
I’ll take three bets to finish off the season with. I don’t expect Essex to give Somerset any chance of winning even though you would think there is guaranteed to be a result in the game given that the home side have to win. Whatever Essex make Somerset chase, the Cidermen have to go after it but on a wicket that I’m sure will spin throughout, Simon Harmer is likely to have another day out and deny Somerset the chance to win. I’m amazed that Essex are the outsiders here as it goes. It isn’t like they are not as suited to a spinning track as much as Somerset are. You sense Somerset messed up their chance last week and so I’ll take Essex at odds against here with so much in their favour.
Hampshire will be eager to finish third and as long as they can contain Darren Stevens I would expect them to get the win to do that. They have three big players in excellent form in James Vince, Liam Dawson and Kyle Abbott. Kent have put up a decent effort and will finish third themselves if they win the game so they have plenty of motivation on their hands but Hampshire tend to finish seasons strongly and they are doing that again. They can finish their campaign off with another win here.
By virtue of the fact that Northamptonshire will be breaking out the bubbly, or fizzy water on their budget, when they pick up five points against Gloucestershire I’ve got to think their opponents are good things to see them off. It isn’t about winning this match for Northamptonshire, it is all about those five points whereas if Glamorgan pick up maximum bonus points there is no way Gloucestershire can guarantee promotion without picking up some kind of result from this match. Just how much Northants will care once promotion is secured is open to debate. After a long season I wouldn’t think it will be much to be honest. I’m with Gloucestershire here.
Tips
PUSH – Back Essex to beat Somerset for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with William Hill
Back them here:
PUSH – Back Hampshire to beat Kent for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Betfred
Back them here:
PUSH – Back Gloucestershire to beat Northamptonshire for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with 888sport
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2019
