The County Scene - Week 20: The Runners and Riders

I'm going to start with the Victoria Sponge Lad of the Week Award, purely because it was so abundantly clear who should win it for this week. That and I haven't seen highlights of the last day of the Test match yet and so cannot post a 100% accurate analysis (now rectified). This star turn came in a not-so-glamourous encounter between Gloucestershire and Worcestershire at Cheltenham, a not-so-glamourous venue. The hosts (Gloucestershire for those of you who don't know your geography of the beautiful South West) have struggled this year getting through the 90s and making big hundreds. No such problem here as Ireland captain Will Porterfield and Kiwi James Franklin were amongst the runs in a big first innings score of 480. Worcestershire looked in control of things at the end of Day 2 at 124-2, with the match heading for a draw, what with some dodgy weather around. Cue madness on Day 3, where 18 wickets fell. Worcestershire folded for 278, a concession of 202 and were indebted to Daryl Mitchell's 104. However, Alan Richardson and Bangaldesh spinner Shakib Al Hasan ran through the home order for 136 second time out, leaving a stiff target of 339 to win. Opener Mitchell saw them home with an unbeaten 134, in partnership with Moeen Ali, who made 59 and 94 in the match. On a deteriorating pitch and with a healthy run rate required, Mitchell's effort in the comeback victory makes him a LAD.

I thought it would be a good time to see where everybody is at in county cricket and who is likely to make a push for glory or despair in the last few weeks of the season. Championship Divison One will likely be contested by three teams. Notts are currently top, five clear of Yorkshire with a game in hand, with Somerset a further eight points back. My boys have been in this position the last couple of years and haven't been able to make the final push and this year will probably follow the same script. Yorkshire did well to hold out for a draw against the leaders this week to deprive them of crucial points and keep the gap tight - the weather could yet play a role in deciding the outcome. Durham, Warwickshire, Hampshire and Essex are the four teams battling relegation, although Durham will probably pick up enough bonus points to escape trouble in their games in hand. Warwickshire would have been doomed had they not beaten Essex in a low-scoring match this week. It'll probably be those two to drop I would think. In Division Two, Sussex should hold on for the title and will almost certainly be promoted along with one from Glamorgan and Northamptonshire. The Welsh side are the one who will probably adapt best to the higher level. Derbyshire look nailed on for the wooden spoon.

The CB40 is also getting towards the sharp end. Somerset look unstoppable in Group A with their perfect record. Yorkshire, Essex and one-day specialists Gloucestershire are in the tightest battle in Group B. Warwickshire and Notts have comfortably pulled away from the pack in Group C. All of the top teams and the best second place team go into the semis before the grand finale to the season at Lord's in mid-September.

Now - the Test match. Another comfortable victory for England

England 251 (Pietersen 80, Trott 55, Saeed Ajmal 5-82) and 118-1 (Trott 53*, Strauss 53*) beat Pakistan 72 (Anderson 4-20, Broad 4-38) and 296 (Zulqarnain Haider 88, Saeed Ajmal 50, Swann 6-65) by 9 wickets



RM