COUNTIES CRICKET Championship down to the wire
- Details
- Created on Friday, 18 August 2023 16:52
- Last Updated on Friday, 18 August 2023 17:01
- Published on Friday, 18 August 2023 16:52
- Written by PAUL BOLTON National Counties Cricket correspondent
Only the Western Division Two title, which has already been won by Cornwall to secure promotion to the top-flight next season, has been settled with three counties still in the running for each of the Eastern Division One and Two and Western Division One titles.
The Eastern Division One title is likely to be decided at Copdock where Suffolk host Buckinghamshire. Staffordshire currently lead the table by four points but they have completed their four-match programme so will have to monitor events from afar.
Buckinghamshire, who were promoted last season, require a maximum of six points to guarantee top spot and book their place in next month’s final at West Bromwich Dartmouth.
Suffolk need to win with maximum points win and also restrict Buckinghamshire to five or fewer bonus points if they are to finish top.
In Western Division One, Berkshire have a seven points lead but have also completed their divisional programme and so need other results to go their way to keep their hopes of retaining the title alive.
Second-placed Oxfordshire face Cheshire at Banbury with Devon, whose win at Chester on Tuesday moved them into third place, hosting Herefordshire at Sidmouth. A draw with four bonus points would be enough for Oxfordshire to overtake Berkshire while Devon - who are 15 points behind Berkshire - need to beat Herefordshire and hope that Cheshire can do them a favour at Banbury.
After suffering defeats this week the sole concern of Cheshire and Herefordshire is now avoiding relegation but with just 22 points between second and fifth in the table, neither Oxfordshire nor Devon are yet mathematically safe.
The relegation situation in Eastern Division One is more straightforward. Norfolk are 12 points adrift of Lincolnshire at the bottom of the table and those sides meet in a straight shoot-out at Cleethorpes.
It is tight at the top of Eastern Division Two with just 16 points between leaders Bedfordshire and third-placed Cambridgeshire.
The promotion place is likely to be decided at Flitwick where Bedfordshire – with two wins and a draw – host second-placed Hertfordshire – a win and two draws so far - who go into the final match 14 points behind them.
Cambridgeshire face Cumbria at Peterborough Town knowing that even a maximum points win might not be enough to take them past both Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
At the other end of Eastern Division Two, Cumbria need to beat Cambridgeshire with six bonus points to avoid the wooden spoon.
In Western Division Two the four sides in action in the final round of matches will all be trying to avoid finishing bottom with just one point splitting Dorset in second from Shropshire in fifth.
Dorset host Wales NC – both of them on 28 points – at Wimborne with Shropshire, who are bottom despite being the only side apart from Cornwall to have won a match, taking on Wiltshire at Whitchurch.
Durant Cricket National Counties Championship
August 20-22 (11am)
Eastern Division One
Cleethorpes: Lincolnshire v Norfolk, Copdock: Suffolk v Buckinghamshire.
Western Division One
Sidmouth: Devon v Herefordshire, Banbury: Oxfordshire v Cheshire.
Eastern Division Two
Flitwick; Bedfordshire v Hertfordshire, Peterborough: Cambridgeshire v Cumbria.
Western Division Two
Wimborne: Dorset v Wales NC, Whitchurch: Shropshire v Wiltshire.
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