CCD1: Somerset to win title if Middlesex and Yorkshire draw at Lord's, live on Sky Sports
Saturday 24 September 2016 12:10, UK
Watch a thrilling climax to the County Championship on Sky Sports as Middlesex and Yorkshire seek to deny Somerset their first title.
A Chris Rogers ton and his retirement announcement grabbed the headlines on a dramatic Thursday as Somerset set up the big finale by securing a 325-run triumph over Nottinghamshire at Taunton.
And so it's all down to events at Lord's with Rogers' men needing title rivals Middlesex and Yorkshire to draw in north London, in a match being shown live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports Mix from 10.25am.
It's a winner-takes-all match and Yorkshire look to be in the driving seat thanks to Tim Bresnan's unbeaten 142 which guaranteed they equalled Somerset's tally of bonus points for the final round of games.
Middlesex will resume on 81-2 in their second innings, trailing by 39, having regained some composure after Bresnan's heroics turned the game on its head.
All of the hosts' early control completely dissipated as Bresnan, who came to the crease at 32-3 on Wednesday, guided the champions to a first-innings lead of 120 with a superb unbeaten 142.
Live County Championship Cricket
His final-wicket partnership with Ryan Sidebottom - whose 23 was his highest score of the season - was worth 56 and ensured Yorkshire secured a critical fourth batting bonus point and went on to reach 390.
Nick Gubbins (39) and Dawid Malan (37) will be back at the crease on Friday morning for Middlesex.
Middlesex bowler Tim Murtagh said: "We are a little bit confused as to the options and what we want to do.
"We obviously want to try and win the game and win the title, that is a massive thing but we don't just want to hand the title to Yorkshire.
"We are going to have to bat well for an hour or two in the morning and if we do the ball is in their court. If we lose two or three in the morning we are right up against it."
With Nottinghamshire already relegated to Division Two next summer, the battle to see who joins them is another intriguing situation with Hampshire fighting hard and Lancashire, especially, looking over their shoulders.
Hampshire need to win to stay up and gave themselves a big boost as they built up a 226-run lead over Durham with three second-innings wickets remaining at the Ageas Bowl.
The hosts closed on 176-7 after Ryan Pringle took 5-64, but Lewis McManus (41no) offered hope of setting a stiff target.
Victory for Hampshire would relegate the losers of Warwickshire and Lancashire at Edgbaston and the Red Rose were in trouble.
Lancashire are 28-3 having been set a target of 347 after Warwickshire declared on 279-7. A draw would see Lancashire survive.
Watch the climax of the County Championship season live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports Mix from 10.25am on Friday.
