County Championship 2022

^^ The match also had 2 significant personal milestones. At 25, Sam Cook the England Lions seamer, became the 1st the reach 200 1st class wickets, at an average of under 20 (20.50), since Derbyshire Allan Ward in 1971.
Ben Coad also reached the 200 wicket milestone, but his average had just nudged to 20.20. In was big news at Yorkshire at the start of the year, but Coad has missed most of the campaign, only recently retuning in the Royal London Cup.
When asked if he was disappointed, he said, yes, but will now look to hit 300 wickets at under 20.

Somerset v Warwickshire ended in a draw, which means a last round of matches to see who joins Gloucestershire in DIV 2 next term with the format not changing for another season.

Somerset actually set the game up nicely with a sporting declaration. A total to chase that in the first instance dangled enough of a carrot in front of Warwickshire, that they were compelled to go for it, and for an extended period did. Not in a kamikaze style, but certainly kept the momentum going until they lost three wickets in 5 overs or so! So a stalemate in the end, but far from a boring watch.

Looks like two from War Kent Som. Warwickshire look to have the easiest challenge in the last match against already relegated Gloucestershire, while Kent play Hampshire and Somerset play Northamptonshire! I actually fear most for Kent!

Should weather look like it might intervene, I hope the Ecb have the gumption to wait a day or two to try and ensure an even playing field for the final round

Round 15 Sept 20-23

Div 1
Essex v Lancashire - Chelmsford
Lancashire elected to bat
Lancashire 131 & 73
Essex 107 & 59 (T 98)
Lancashire won by 38 runs

Surrey V Yorkshire - The Oval
Yorkshire elected to field
Surrey 333
Yorkshire 179 & 130-5 (f/o)

Gloucestershire v Warwickshire - Bristol
Warwickshire elected to bat
Warwickshire 274 & 128
Gloucestershire 255 & 149-7 (T 148)
Gloucestershire won by 3 wickets

Hampshire v Kent - Southampton
Hampshire elected to field
Kent 165 & 269
Hampshire 57 & 269
Kent won by 77 runs

Somerset v Northamptonshire - Taunton
Somerset elected to bat
Somerset 389 & 337-4 dec
Northamptonshire 265 & 109
Somerset won by 352 runs

Div 2
Worcestershire v Nottinghamshire - New Road
Worcestershire elected to field
Nottinghamshire 128 & 183 (f/o)
Worcestershire 390
Worcestershire won by an innings & 79

Durham v Sussex - Chester-le-Street
Durham elected to field
Sussex 162 & 157
Durham 459-7 dec
Durham won by 140 runs

Middlesex v Leicestershire - Grace Road
Leicestershire elected to field
Middlesex 297 & 271
Leicestershire 294 & 194
Middlesex won by 80 runs

Glamorgan v Derbyshire - Cardiff
Derbyshire elected to field
Glamorgan 550-5 dec
Derbyshire 253 & 273
Glamorgan won by an innings & 24 runs

Round 15
Centuries
D Lloyd 313 no
O Pope 136
D Sibley 120 no
T Abell 115 & 111
J Leaning 112
T Lammonby 110
G Roderick 102

5 Wickets
T Price 8-27
S Snater 6-10
M Quinn 6-23
G Balderson 5-14
T Bailey 5-36
C Overton 5-38
S Harmer 5-41
B Raine 5-54
M Finan 5-58
Z Gohar 5-64
A Patel 5-68
J Yadav 5-90

Just a general observation, regarding todays umpiring decision to halt play at Headingley. With the floodlights on late in the day, the 2 officials had been consulting each other for some time. Then Yorkshire opener Lyth edged to slip, with a little under 12 overs sill to play, Yorkshire captain Tattersall strode out to the crease, he had to make a call on whether or not to employ a nightwatchman, maybe based on the potential overs left to bowl, yet knowing full well that the close on play could come much sooner. The umpires had met yet again after Lyth's dismissal & as Tattersall had reached the middle, the decision was made without him having to face a ball.
I don't have an answer, but todays scenario is all to common, & happens even more at International level, where umpires seem to be more picky, maybe due to the bowling being generally quicker.
It's hard to say that Lyth's dismissal was down to the deteriorating light, but surely if it was unfit just one ball later, then it was unfit before the wicket fell. A lot is riding on this match, potential relegation, players careers. I don't see any consistency were bad light is concerned, they are not getting this aspect right.

Round 16 Sept 26-29
Div 1
Kent v Somerset - Canterbury
Somerset elected to bat
Somerset 202 & 139
Kent 492
Kent won by an innings & 151 runs

Yorkshire v Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire elected to bat
Gloucestershire 190 & 233
Yorkshire 183 & 222
Gloucestershire wo by 18 runs

Warwickshire v Hampshire - Edgbaston
Hampshire elected to field
Warwickshire 272-4 dec & 177
Hampshire 311 & 133 (T 139)
Warwickshire won by 5 runs

Lancashire v Surrey - Old Trafford
Lancashire elected to bat
Lancashire 512
Surrey 209 & 173 f/o
Lancashire won by an innings & 130 runs

Northampton v Essex - Northampton
Northamptonshire elected to field
Essex 263 & 110
Northamptonshire 163 & 163 (T 211)
Essex won by 47 runs

Div 2
Nottinghamshire v Durham - Trent Bridge
Nottinghamshire elected to bat
Nottinghamshire 662-5 dec & 121-2 dec
Durham 207 & 114 (T 577)
Nottinghamshire won by 462

Derbyshire v Leicestershire - Derby
Derbyshire elected to field
Leicestershire 249 & 405-7
Derbyshire 568-9 dec
Match drawn

Worcestershire v Middlesex - New Road
Middlesex elected to field
Worcestershire 225
Middlesex 509
Match drawn

Sussex v Glamorgan - Hove
Glamrgan elected to bat
Glamorgan 533-9 dec
Sussex 258 & 554--8 dec f/o
Match drawn

Round 16
Centuries
K Jennings 199
A Or 198
M Montgomery 178
T Haines 177 & 108 no
L James 164 no
B Godleman 158
C Cooke 141
S Mullaney 136
R Ahmed 122
S Gill 119
L Reece 116
H Hameed 115
S Eskinazi 115
R Yates 104
D Ibrahim 100 no

5 Wickets
L Norwell 9-62
J White 6-38
S Harmer 6-49
N Gilchrist 6-61
K Aldridge 6-110
B Allison 5-32
Z Gohar 5-40
S Conners 5-51
T Hartley 5-52
R Ahmed 5-114
A Salter 5-138
D Moriarty 5-163

Round 16
With Surrey crowned Champions in the previous round, the focus centred on the relegation battle in Division 1. Yorkshire had the best opportunity to reach safety, if they could beat already relegated Gloucestershire. A low scoring match was completed in 3 days, with Yorkshire coming up 19 runs short in the chase, their hopes rested on Warwickshire who still had to beat Hampshire to stay up. They did all they could as the match was affected by rain, with a 1st innings declaration, move the game on. Hampshire required a low target of 139, but then Liam Norwell produced the bowling performance of the season, with 9-62, & a 5 run victory.
Notts made certain of the Division 2 title with a victory over Durham, & as Glamorgan failed to beat Sussex, a Middlesex draw against Worcestershire was enough for 2nd place, & promotion.

Div 1
Leading Wicket Takers
S Harmer 59
K Abbott 58
O Hannon-Dalby 53
K Barker 52
T Bailey 52
S Cook 51
M Abbas 50
Z Gohar 47
J Thompson 42
B Sanderson 41

Leading Run Scorers
K Jennings 1233
B Compton 1193
S Hain 1137
T Abell 1039
L Wells 991
H Brook 967
A Cook 966
L Procter 961
D Sibley 935
D B-Drummond 923

Div 2
Leading Wicket Takers
T Roland-Jones 67
M Potts 58
D Paterson 56
S Conners 50
B Raine 47
B Hogan 45
D Pennington 44
L Patterson-White 41
M Nessar 37
Joe Leach, C Rushworth, A Dal 34

Leading Run Scorers
W Madsen 1273
H Hameed 1235
S N-East 1189
C Pujara 1094
S Masood 1074
A Orr 1047
J Simpson 1039
M Stoneman 1025
B Duckett 1012
S Mullaney 993