The penultimate round of matches in the Vitality County Championship season get underway on Tuesday with so much still to be determined so it is good that the forecast looks decent enough to ensure some competitive cricket will take place.
The TV attention is now centring on the ODI series which means that as has been the case for the majority of the season, we are resigned to head to the live streams which are provided by the home county to watch these games.
Division One
Surrey saw their grip on the County Championship title weaken a little last week but they are still in control of their destiny and if they can win at home to Durham this week they will at least go into the final game still in control of defending their title successfully. Were they to slip up though it would open the door for Somerset to come through. They head to Old Trafford to take on a Lancashire side who could be relegated this week if things don’t go to plan. It looks likely that Kent will be playing Division Two cricket next season but they can prolong their Division One status for another week if they can beat third from bottom Nottinghamshire, who will be assured of safety if they win and Lancashire lose. The other matches are largely all about placings now as Hampshire play host to Worcestershire at the Utilita Bowl while Warwickshire welcome Essex to Edgbaston.
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Division Two
This could be a big week for the Division Two leaders Sussex who are looking for just 13 points from their trip to Bristol to ensure promotion back to Division One next season. Were they to pick up four more points than Yorkshire then they would win the title this week too. Yorkshire know that if they can win at Glamorgan and pick up 10 points more than Middlesex do that they will get promoted with a match to spare. Middlesex will be aiming to take it down to the final week of the season by picking up a win away to Derbyshire while the other match sees two mid-table teams facing off when Northamptonshire host Leicestershire at Wantage Road.
Betting
I have to say there isn’t a massive amount that I like this week but I do think there could be some value on Kent to win on home soil. They have the advantage of knowing that they have to win to stay up and that might be to their detriment if they have to negotiate a run chase which doesn’t have the terms in their favour but I’d be surprised if Nottinghamshire, who could well be in a position where the draw keeps them up halfway through the week, would agree to anything that offers the chance for them to lose.
They might get caught between playing out the draw and trying to win though. We saw Surrey do that last week and they are light years better than Nottinghamshire. Nottinghamshire head to Canterbury off the back of an innings defeat at Essex last week and they look at least one batter light if not two and could do with another bowler for my money. Kent have runs in them so it could be about whether they have the wickets to get the job done but needing to win I would expect aggressive fields and putting the pressure on Nottinghamshire and I wouldn’t be completely surprised if the visitors crack. I think the 6/5 on Kent is fair value.
Tips
Back Kent to beat Nottinghamshire for a 3/10 stake at 2.20 with William Hill
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