Do or die in the County Champs this weekend for many

It is the final weekend of County Championship games this Sunday (although Sussex are also due to play Surrey on 17th September). As it happens that game will have little effect on the County Championship table, as Kent have already won the title and Surrey have been relegated to Division Two for next season.

The up-to-date table is below

The games this weekend are :-

Yorkshire v Sussex at Harrogate CC

Kent v Berkshire at KCCC Beckenham 

Staffs v Middlesex at Milford Hall CC

Warks v Somerset at the Edgbaston Foundation Ground

With three teams being relegated into Division Two next year, it is a matter of who will join Surrey in dropping down.

If Middlesex beat Staffs, then Staffs will be the first to join Surrey. But should Staffs beat Middlesex with full bonus points they could move their average to a maximum of 9. Middlesex would then need to get at least 5 bonus points from the same game, to also finish on an average of 9. Basically Staffs must win and get at least 5 bonus points to give themselves a chance. The more bonus points they get, and the fewer they allow Middlesex to get, the better chance they have. First of all they have to win!

As for Somerset, they must beat Warwickshire to try and save themselves. A full bonus point win would also put them on a maximum average of 9 points too. Should two teams finish on the same average points then you go back to the number of points scored between the two sides when playing each other. Somerset lost to Middlesex, but their game v Staffs was abandoned, so you would then revert to net run rate, if they were tied.

As for Div 2 there are two places up for grabs in Div 1 next year, and there are four teams in with a shout of grabbing them. They are the current top four teams - Lancs, Notts, Wales and Hampshire.

Lancs and Wales take on each other at Newport and the winner should be one of the teams promoted. Notts are away at Worcester and Hampshire take on bottom of the league (and relegated) Essex. A win for Notts should see them grab one of the top two places, while Hampshire must look to clock up 18 points and hope other results go their way. 

WCB (@womenscricblog) on twitter will follow all the action, and try and keep everyone in the picture. We should have contacts at most of the important games. Let's hope the weather doesn't intervene!!

MD
02/IX/16