For title contenders Essex and Surrey, the season didn’t finish on the pitch as both would have hoped, but it was favourites and holders Surrey who emerged triumphant ultimately, ending 20 factors away from their nearest rivals. Essex knew they needed to win to face an opportunity of snatching the pennant, and a go to to already-relegated Northampton appeared to be the best of alternatives to pile on the stress. They selected to subject first, solely to seek out Rob Keogh in glorious type, as he smashed 172 in simply 167 balls to take his facet as much as 369 all out. With no Essex batter reaching fifty, they have been dismissed for 211 and the follow-on duly ensued. A catastrophic collapse noticed them tumble to 13 for 5. Paul Walter hit out, and his 73 comprised 61.34% of Essex’s complete of 119, with Jack White taking 5 for 57 as his facet wrapped up the victory by an innings and 39 runs inside three days. When Sir Alastair Cook dinner walked again after his second-innings of 6, he was given a standing ovation by his team-mates, suggesting that rumours of his imminent retirement might show right. The previous England captain has performed 352 first-class matches, scoring 26,643 runs at 46.41, persevering with for Essex for 5 seasons after retiring from England’s Check facet.
In the meantime, Surrey selected to subject first on the Rose Bowl, and a second successive five-wicket haul from 20-year-old Tom Lawes (5 for 27) noticed Hampshire bowled out for 219. Younger Indian star Sai Sudharsan top-scored in Surrey’s reply of 207, as Liam Dawson continued his advantageous current type, taking 5 for 44. Will Jacks, who changed Lawes within the crew after coming back from England responsibility, emulated him by additionally taking 5 wickets (his Surrey-best figures of 5 for 87), as Hampshire stumbled to 172 all out, setting a modest goal of 185. Sudharsan (40) did his greatest, however Dawson took 4 extra wickets and the batting fell away and Surrey have been all out for 132, overwhelmed by 52 runs. The win meant Hampshire completed in third place, 4 factors behind Essex.
At Edgbaston, the climate meant that fewer than 180 overs have been potential in the entire match, because the hosts completed their season in fourth place, 13 factors behind Hampshire. Somerset selected to bat first, however collapsed to 96 for eight, just for Neil Wagner (72) so as to add 119 for the ninth wicket with Josh Davey earlier than they have been all out for 215. Chris Rushworth, who was awarded his county cap, took 5 for 47, taking him previous 50 wickets for the season for the seventh time in his profession. Warwickshire replied with 273, Kraigg Brathwaite concluding his disappointing stint for the county with a duck (he averaged simply 7.50 throughout six innings). The variety of counties who usher in abroad signings late within the season just for them to battle to carry out is a standard characteristic; one does ponder whether it would make extra sense to offer alternatives for youthful gamers to develop – particularly in a scenario like this, the place Warwickshire have been all the time going to finish up in mid-table. There was simply sufficient time for Somerset to succeed in 90 for 2 earlier than the match led to a draw.
Way more dramatic was the scenario on the backside of the desk, with Kent and Middlesex combating it out over who would be a part of Northamptonshire within the Second Division in 2024. Kent hosted Lancashire, who batted first. A Josh Bohannon century (113) mixed with an unbeaten 76 from Matthew Hurst (who had began his first-class profession the sport earlier than making 54 not out) noticed the away facet to 327 all out. Joe Denly’s 136 was the most important contribution to Kent’s reply of 494. Luke Wells (117) turned the third batter to succeed in three figures as Lancashire made 390 for eight earlier than the sport led to a draw. Hurst’s spectacular begin to his profession ended when he was out for a duck, whereas Tom Bailey made a career-best 78.
That draw meant the stress was on for Middlesex at Trent Bridge, in a sport that constructed as much as a gripping climax and likewise noticed the Pavilion Finish renamed the Stuart Broad Finish in honour of the not too long ago retired England worldwide, who will sadly by no means get to bowl from it in a aggressive match. Broad made his debut for the county again in 2008, taking part in simply 53 first-class matches for them in 16 seasons, taking 201 wickets at a median of 23.17. It was on this floor he took his unforgettable eight for 15 within the 2015 Ashes and in 2011 he took a hat-trick towards India there too.
Middlesex selected to bat first and a county-best 137 from Ryan Higgins took them as much as 366 all out, whereas Brett Hutton took 5 for 94. Ben Slater’s 140 was the muse of the hosts’ reply of 384, leaving the sport within the steadiness on the midway level. Sam Robson’s unbeaten 105 enabled Middlesex to declare on 224 for six, after the departing Jake Ball took his final wicket for Notts (Joshua de Caires). That left the house facet to chase 207, a seemingly regulation goal, particularly at 133 for 2. However then a flurry of wickets noticed them slip to 157 for seven, opening up the possibility of a win for Middlesex that may have stored them within the prime flight. That it ought to be Robson, with career-best figures of 4 for 46, who did most of that injury can have shocked nearly all who watched on. It wasn’t fairly sufficient, as Nottinghamshire scraped house by two wickets, due to the calm head of Matthew Montgomery (34 not out) and Ball, who hit the successful boundary in his remaining act for the county, consigning his opponents to relegation.
Within the Second Division, Durham accomplished their title-winning season with an emphatic win over Leicestershire on the Riverside. Put in to bat, they took full benefit of the choice, with David Bedingham scoring 156 and Graham Clark hitting 119, the pair including 208 for the fifth wicket, as they ultimately declared on 457 for eight. Leicestershire had no reply to Ben Raine (5 for 51) and Vishwa Fernando (4 for 40) as they fell away to 143 all out. Following on, there was a late flurry from Will Davis, who hit a career-best 58, however the guests have been all out for 173, dropping by an innings and 141 runs.
Worcestershire can be becoming a member of Durham within the prime division, however they signed off with a six-wicket defeat at Headingley, trailing in 66 factors adrift of the league winners. Yorkshire requested them to bat first, and captain Brett D’Oliveira made 103 as his facet compiled 389 in 102 overs, Ben Allison making a career-best 75. To maneuver issues alongside, Yorkshire declared on 262 for six in reply, earlier than the guests have been allowed to race to 232 for 2 declared, Jake Libby (109 not out) and Jack Haynes (113 not out) including an unbeaten 223 for the third wicket towards the friendliest of assaults. Even so, a goal of 360 mustn’t have been easy. Skipper Shan Masood hurried to 123 in 131 balls to set issues up, whereas James Wharton scored a career-high 89. In the long run, Yorkshire romped house in 67 overs for the lack of simply 4 wickets.
After their current disciplinary punishments, Sussex can have been glad about the way in which their season ended, with a 339-run victory over Gloucestershire at Hove. Put in to bat, they made 202 as Matt Taylor took 5 for twenty-four, his greatest Championship figures. That proved to be sufficient because the away facet replied with 195. It was in Sussex’s second innings that the sport took a decisive flip, as the house facet amassed a complete of 505 for seven declared, with James Coles top-scoring with 128. Fynn Hudson Prentice, who obtained his county cap through the match, celebrated by smashing 71 not out in simply 35 balls. Skipper Graeme van Buuren tried to rally his facet, making 67 not out, however Gloucestershire managed simply 173 runs in the hunt for their goal of 513, making certain Sussex completed the season in third place, 17 factors behind Worcestershire. They are going to hope their blossoming younger facet can go one higher in 2024. Gloucestershire, in the meantime, ended up because the wood spoon county, so for them the one means is up.
At Cardiff, Glamorgan selected to subject first and located one man specifically a returning nightmare. Luis Reece had hit a century in each innings of their earlier encounter this summer season, and now he proceeded to attain 139 out of his facet’s complete of 450 for eight declared. Glamorgan replied with 301 for 5 declared, earlier than Reece accomplished a double double, making 119 not out. Not solely had he scored 4 centuries in 4 innings towards Glamorgan this summer season, the primary ever to finish this feat for one county towards one other, they have been his solely centuries all yr. Having declared on 234 for 2, Derbyshire left the hosts to chase 384, however they completed on 135 for six because the match led to a draw.
So far as the season’s particular person honours, Durham’s Alex Lees ended up because the main runscorer, with 1347 runs at a median of 70.89, with 5 centuries. Josh Bonannon’s century for Lancashire helped guarantee he completed as the highest runscorer in Dvision One, with 1257. In complete, 14 batters topped 1000 runs for the season. Luis Reece’s efforts within the final match catapulted him to the prime of the batting averages of those that performed eight innings or extra, with 1048 runs at 87.33, whereas Derbyshire team-mate Leus du Plooy was the one different batter to common greater than 80, his 1236 runs coming at a median of 82.40. In addition to Lees, James Rew and David Bedingham additionally hit 5 centuries through the summer season; nobody handed fifty as many occasions as Lees – who did so on ten events.
Among the many bowlers, it was a a lot tighter race for the main honours. Brett Hutton of Nottinghamshire edged house because the main wicket-taker, with 62, forward of Essex’s Simon Harmer (61) and Durham’s Ben Raine (60), essentially the most profitable bowler in Division Two. Eleven bowlers managed 50 wickets in the summertime – maybe surprisingly, champions Surrey had no batters within the High 30 nor any bowlers within the High 10. Somerset’s Matt Henry had the greatest common of all bowlers to take 20 wickets in the summertime, his 32 wickets coming at 16.18 apiece. Of those that took 50 wickets, Essex’s James Porter (19.05) narrowly edged out Warwickshire’s Oliver Hannon-Dalby (19.07).
In the meantime, Surrey selected to subject first on the Rose Bowl, and a second successive five-wicket haul from 20-year-old Tom Lawes (5 for 27) noticed Hampshire bowled out for 219. Younger Indian star Sai Sudharsan top-scored in Surrey’s reply of 207, as Liam Dawson continued his advantageous current type, taking 5 for 44. Will Jacks, who changed Lawes within the crew after coming back from England responsibility, emulated him by additionally taking 5 wickets (his Surrey-best figures of 5 for 87), as Hampshire stumbled to 172 all out, setting a modest goal of 185. Sudharsan (40) did his greatest, however Dawson took 4 extra wickets and the batting fell away and Surrey have been all out for 132, overwhelmed by 52 runs. The win meant Hampshire completed in third place, 4 factors behind Essex.
At Edgbaston, the climate meant that fewer than 180 overs have been potential in the entire match, because the hosts completed their season in fourth place, 13 factors behind Hampshire. Somerset selected to bat first, however collapsed to 96 for eight, just for Neil Wagner (72) so as to add 119 for the ninth wicket with Josh Davey earlier than they have been all out for 215. Chris Rushworth, who was awarded his county cap, took 5 for 47, taking him previous 50 wickets for the season for the seventh time in his profession. Warwickshire replied with 273, Kraigg Brathwaite concluding his disappointing stint for the county with a duck (he averaged simply 7.50 throughout six innings). The variety of counties who usher in abroad signings late within the season just for them to battle to carry out is a standard characteristic; one does ponder whether it would make extra sense to offer alternatives for youthful gamers to develop – particularly in a scenario like this, the place Warwickshire have been all the time going to finish up in mid-table. There was simply sufficient time for Somerset to succeed in 90 for 2 earlier than the match led to a draw.
Way more dramatic was the scenario on the backside of the desk, with Kent and Middlesex combating it out over who would be a part of Northamptonshire within the Second Division in 2024. Kent hosted Lancashire, who batted first. A Josh Bohannon century (113) mixed with an unbeaten 76 from Matthew Hurst (who had began his first-class profession the sport earlier than making 54 not out) noticed the away facet to 327 all out. Joe Denly’s 136 was the most important contribution to Kent’s reply of 494. Luke Wells (117) turned the third batter to succeed in three figures as Lancashire made 390 for eight earlier than the sport led to a draw. Hurst’s spectacular begin to his profession ended when he was out for a duck, whereas Tom Bailey made a career-best 78.
That draw meant the stress was on for Middlesex at Trent Bridge, in a sport that constructed as much as a gripping climax and likewise noticed the Pavilion Finish renamed the Stuart Broad Finish in honour of the not too long ago retired England worldwide, who will sadly by no means get to bowl from it in a aggressive match. Broad made his debut for the county again in 2008, taking part in simply 53 first-class matches for them in 16 seasons, taking 201 wickets at a median of 23.17. It was on this floor he took his unforgettable eight for 15 within the 2015 Ashes and in 2011 he took a hat-trick towards India there too.
Middlesex selected to bat first and a county-best 137 from Ryan Higgins took them as much as 366 all out, whereas Brett Hutton took 5 for 94. Ben Slater’s 140 was the muse of the hosts’ reply of 384, leaving the sport within the steadiness on the midway level. Sam Robson’s unbeaten 105 enabled Middlesex to declare on 224 for six, after the departing Jake Ball took his final wicket for Notts (Joshua de Caires). That left the house facet to chase 207, a seemingly regulation goal, particularly at 133 for 2. However then a flurry of wickets noticed them slip to 157 for seven, opening up the possibility of a win for Middlesex that may have stored them within the prime flight. That it ought to be Robson, with career-best figures of 4 for 46, who did most of that injury can have shocked nearly all who watched on. It wasn’t fairly sufficient, as Nottinghamshire scraped house by two wickets, due to the calm head of Matthew Montgomery (34 not out) and Ball, who hit the successful boundary in his remaining act for the county, consigning his opponents to relegation.
Within the Second Division, Durham accomplished their title-winning season with an emphatic win over Leicestershire on the Riverside. Put in to bat, they took full benefit of the choice, with David Bedingham scoring 156 and Graham Clark hitting 119, the pair including 208 for the fifth wicket, as they ultimately declared on 457 for eight. Leicestershire had no reply to Ben Raine (5 for 51) and Vishwa Fernando (4 for 40) as they fell away to 143 all out. Following on, there was a late flurry from Will Davis, who hit a career-best 58, however the guests have been all out for 173, dropping by an innings and 141 runs.
Worcestershire can be becoming a member of Durham within the prime division, however they signed off with a six-wicket defeat at Headingley, trailing in 66 factors adrift of the league winners. Yorkshire requested them to bat first, and captain Brett D’Oliveira made 103 as his facet compiled 389 in 102 overs, Ben Allison making a career-best 75. To maneuver issues alongside, Yorkshire declared on 262 for six in reply, earlier than the guests have been allowed to race to 232 for 2 declared, Jake Libby (109 not out) and Jack Haynes (113 not out) including an unbeaten 223 for the third wicket towards the friendliest of assaults. Even so, a goal of 360 mustn’t have been easy. Skipper Shan Masood hurried to 123 in 131 balls to set issues up, whereas James Wharton scored a career-high 89. In the long run, Yorkshire romped house in 67 overs for the lack of simply 4 wickets.
After their current disciplinary punishments, Sussex can have been glad about the way in which their season ended, with a 339-run victory over Gloucestershire at Hove. Put in to bat, they made 202 as Matt Taylor took 5 for twenty-four, his greatest Championship figures. That proved to be sufficient because the away facet replied with 195. It was in Sussex’s second innings that the sport took a decisive flip, as the house facet amassed a complete of 505 for seven declared, with James Coles top-scoring with 128. Fynn Hudson Prentice, who obtained his county cap through the match, celebrated by smashing 71 not out in simply 35 balls. Skipper Graeme van Buuren tried to rally his facet, making 67 not out, however Gloucestershire managed simply 173 runs in the hunt for their goal of 513, making certain Sussex completed the season in third place, 17 factors behind Worcestershire. They are going to hope their blossoming younger facet can go one higher in 2024. Gloucestershire, in the meantime, ended up because the wood spoon county, so for them the one means is up.
At Cardiff, Glamorgan selected to subject first and located one man specifically a returning nightmare. Luis Reece had hit a century in each innings of their earlier encounter this summer season, and now he proceeded to attain 139 out of his facet’s complete of 450 for eight declared. Glamorgan replied with 301 for 5 declared, earlier than Reece accomplished a double double, making 119 not out. Not solely had he scored 4 centuries in 4 innings towards Glamorgan this summer season, the primary ever to finish this feat for one county towards one other, they have been his solely centuries all yr. Having declared on 234 for 2, Derbyshire left the hosts to chase 384, however they completed on 135 for six because the match led to a draw.
So far as the season’s particular person honours, Durham’s Alex Lees ended up because the main runscorer, with 1347 runs at a median of 70.89, with 5 centuries. Josh Bonannon’s century for Lancashire helped guarantee he completed as the highest runscorer in Dvision One, with 1257. In complete, 14 batters topped 1000 runs for the season. Luis Reece’s efforts within the final match catapulted him to the prime of the batting averages of those that performed eight innings or extra, with 1048 runs at 87.33, whereas Derbyshire team-mate Leus du Plooy was the one different batter to common greater than 80, his 1236 runs coming at a median of 82.40. In addition to Lees, James Rew and David Bedingham additionally hit 5 centuries through the summer season; nobody handed fifty as many occasions as Lees – who did so on ten events.
Among the many bowlers, it was a a lot tighter race for the main honours. Brett Hutton of Nottinghamshire edged house because the main wicket-taker, with 62, forward of Essex’s Simon Harmer (61) and Durham’s Ben Raine (60), essentially the most profitable bowler in Division Two. Eleven bowlers managed 50 wickets in the summertime – maybe surprisingly, champions Surrey had no batters within the High 30 nor any bowlers within the High 10. Somerset’s Matt Henry had the greatest common of all bowlers to take 20 wickets in the summertime, his 32 wickets coming at 16.18 apiece. Of those that took 50 wickets, Essex’s James Porter (19.05) narrowly edged out Warwickshire’s Oliver Hannon-Dalby (19.07).