The county cricket season ends this week with two issues still to be decided in the County Championship in the last round of fixtures which begin on Tuesday.
The Division One title has been wrapped up but we still don’t know who will join Worcestershire in Division Two next season. One of Hampshire, Somerset or Sussex will be relegated along with the Rapids.
Moving into Division Two and while we know who will move up into Division One for next season Surrey and Lancashire will be battling it out for the title this week. Surrey take an eight point lead into the final round of matches and are in control of their own destiny.
In Division One, Middlesex will be looking for the few points they need to confirm second place in the table when they head to New Road to face Worcestershire who will be hoping for one last send off from the top flight.
Hampshire go to Trent Bridge with their top flight status on the line while Sussex head to the champions Yorkshire probably hoping Hampshire don’t win. Somerset need six points from their game with Worcestershire to be assured of safety.
I’m going to leave the Hampshire and Sussex matches alone because they are in such a precarious position that they might need to give up positions to try and force a win. I was caught out by Hampshire in that situation last week so I’ll learn my lesson.
I will take Somerset in their match though. Warwickshire are really starting to struggle as the end of the season is in sight. Since losing on T20 Finals Day they’ve not offered a lot and while Somerset don’t need to win to be safe the way Warwickshire are batting I think Marcus Trescothick’s men will win.
Warwickshire have only passed 270 once in their last 12 innings in the Championship and that is worse than woeful form. With no motivation for this game it is hard to see that changing too much even though they are playing at Taunton.
If we contrast that to Somerset then ignoring their match which Yorkshire, and I’ll ignore that because Yorkshire are clearly too good for this league, the west-country men have made 565-5d, 630-9d and 438-4d in their last three innings. That weight of runs can be too much for an out of form Bears side.
Moving into Division Two and all eyes will be on Surrey. They need 16pts to secure the title and finally get some silverware after blowing the Royal London One Day Cup final at the weekend. They take on Northants at The Oval. That collapse worries me enough to just let them win here. I think Lancashire will beat Essex at Chelmsford to force Surrey to win but neither game interests me betting wise.
I was going to take Gloucestershire to win at Bristol this week at even money but you would think they will have rightly enjoyed their win in the One Day final so minds might not be on the job here. They play Glamorgan but I’m not sure Glamorgan are particularly on it either really so that is now an easy no bet.
The other match sees Derbyshire hosting Leicestershire and that is an interesting game. Derbyshire have tanked the last month or so and I couldn’t be backing them with monopoly money. They’ve plenty of issues to solve because a squad with the personnel they’ve had should not be languishing down at second from bottom.
Derbyshire have lost their last two matches by an innings and plenty and have been bowled out for less than 185 in three of the four innings in that time so they’re another out of form side. Shiv Thakor and Tony Palladino both got injured and didn’t bat in the second innings last time out so if they miss out it won’t be ideal.
Leicestershire lost to Essex last week but they gave up a comfortable position in the match to make a game of it so we can forgive them that but by and large the Foxes have been competitive recently.
Prior to the Essex loss they were on top in draws against Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire and in the game before that they beat Derbyshire in the reverse fixture between these two sides. Given that Leicestershire are constantly looking to improve after a couple of awful seasons I think they’ll be more motivated to win this and can get the double over their local rivals.
Back Somerset to beat Warwickshire for a 5/10 stake at 2.00 with Ladbrokes
Back Leicestershire to beat Derbyshire for a 4/10 stake at 2.50 with Bet365
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