The penultimate round of matches in the County Championship begin on Monday. We already know the destination of the title but we still have to find out the two sides who will go down and who will get promoted as champions.
This week will go a long way to deciding that. That is because two of the four sides in the relegation fight meet when Sussex host Somerset at Hove. The other two sides battling to survive are Hampshire who host Yorkshire in a TV game at the Ageas Bowl and Worcestershire who head to Durham needing a win desperately.
In Division Two we now know that Surrey and Lancashire will be promoted and given that they meet this week at Old Trafford come the end of the week we might know who will go up as champions. Surrey take a five point lead into that match with them and if they win and gain more bonus points they could lift the title.
In the other matches Warwickshire host Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston, Kent host Gloucestershire at Canterbury, Leicestershire take on Essex at Grace Road and Northampton go against Glamorgan at Wantage Road.
There are four matches which grab me from a betting point of view. The first of them comes from Edgbaston and it is the visitors I like here. Nottinghamshire are finishing the season with a flourish and a couple of weeks ago they beat Warwickshire by an innings.
They have Alex Hales and James Taylor back from international duty now and I expect them to continue their strong finish to the campaign.
Warwickshire are stumbling at the wrong time but that is understandable because I suspect losing at T20 Finals day took a lot out of them and they’re not playing for anything anymore so motivation at the end of a long season could easily be an issue.
Nottinghamshire showed last week when they were miles behind against Durham but responded to win that they haven’t given up trying to finish as high as possible this season and that gives me the confidence to take them here.
In the other matches in Division One I’m going to avoid the relegation battle at Hove but I’m going to chance the sides who need to win in the other matches which are Hampshire and Worcestershire.
Hampshire are in good form and with Yorkshire losing last week but winning the title despite that and with them resisting the temptation to add Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett back into their attack I think the home side could be worth a shot here.
It is never easy to play your best when the overall goal has been achieved let alone when your bowling is down to a near second string and that will give Hampshire hope. They’re bowling well and if they can just perform with the bat they’ll be a big price.
Durham’s season has collapsed in a big way and Worcestershire will have to fancy their chances up at Durham. Worcestershire have been competitive for large periods in their matches but seem to get found out down the stretch.
Usually that is a massive disadvantage but Durham are doing the same thing at the minute so Worcestershire have every chance of getting the result they desperately need here. Sheldon Gabriel might well add some extra pep to their bowling attack and we’ve seen they have some talented batsmen so the Rapids look overpriced.
In Division Two I’m going to take the home side in the big title clash. Lancashire have Jimmy Anderson at their disposal this week which is big for them. They have the better batting line up as well in particular with Prince and Petersen so everything looks good for a Lanky win.
Surrey would love the title I’m sure but promotion was just as important and the longer this one goes the more they might have an eye on their one day final on Saturday so there is enough there for me to believe Lancashire will triumph when they need to in order to keep their title hopes alive.
Back Nottinghamshire to beat Warwickshire for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Boylesports
Back Hampshire to beat Yorkshire for a 3/10 stake at 2.75 with Stan James
Back Worcestershire to beat Durham for a 3/10 stake at 2.88 with Betway
Back Lancashire to beat Surrey for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Betfair
