Very well done Northants. Gaining 8 points on Surrey in this round is excellent - as much as we could have realistically hoped for. All to play for!
Certainty can't complain at Northants not declaring. Surrey losing would have been great, but a draw is still fine. Realistically, overturning an eight-point gap won't be done on bonus points alone. Possible, but very unlikely. So we'll need Surrey to slip up one more time. But if they do that, then suddenly every single bonus point will likely count over these next two weeks. At least we know that we only need to tie with Surrey (ie make up eight points of them, not nine).
Will be interesting to see who the ECB make available, if anyone, over the final two rounds. Obviously no-one currently out in Pakistan for the t20s. But that still leaves Root, Pope, Foakes, Crawley, Jimmy, Leach and Overton (plus Broad, Robinson and Lees in D2). The next test match isn't until December.
Slightly disappointed we couldn’t win but that draw puts us ahead of Kent, who are now level with Warks in the second relegation spot, and who also have a tough last two games against Hants at the Ageas and then us at Canterbury.
What’s the chances of Hants winning next week, Surrey drawing & both of us gaining same bonus points?
Sneaky Surrey. Conor McKerr: Kent sign Surrey paceman on loan for County Championship climax - BBC Sport
Interesting to see that Brown was batting in the nets at practice today and The Cricketer magazine reports that we're expecting Abbott to be fit for the last 2 games. So perhaps the only change will be Brown in for Dawson (with Prest for Weatherley the other main option). That leaves Organ as our frontline spinner.
Delighted for Kent. Now if they could kindly keep celebrating until Monday evening that would be nice.
Cheers Good to see the trophies so far this year have gone to Hampshire and Kent. Also great that we have banished our one day cup losing streak in finals. So pleased that we kept with the team that pretty much got us to the final and that bigger names like Crawley, Bell Drummond, Billings, Leaning, Cox etc didn't just want into the team. A special shout out to 46 year old Darren Stevens, club legend and still an influence in his final game for Kent. Back to the CC, I can see Hampshire beating both Kent and Warwickshire and so for us to survive, will come down to needing a result in Canterbury against Somerset and that other results have gone ok. Anyway, good luck Hampshire on the championship and cup double
And I see that Jamie Overton is back fit. So a very strong look Surrey side, even without Jacks, Sam Curran, and Topley.
