Somerset show spunk but Essex secure title
In their quest for bagging their maiden Championship title, Somerset left no stone unturned as they came up with a spirited show on the final day in Taunton. But the match ended in a draw and it was Essex, winners of the T20 Blast Trophy last week, who completed the double as they won the Division One title for the eighth time, having last won in 2017. Somerset had to settle for the runners-up tag - for the sixth time in their history.
Essex, who started the day at 25 for 0 having bowled out Somerset for 203 on Day 1, were left in a spin as the slow bowlers bagged all 10 wickets to bowl the visitors out for 141. Jack Leach bagged a fifer, Roelof van der Merwe picked up four while Dominic Bess got a wicket. Alastair Cook had scored a half-century and led his team past the 100-run mark. But what followed was a mighty collapse as Essex lost nine wickets for the addition of only 39 runs.
Somerset forfeited their second innings, which left Essex with a target of 63. Until the 17th over, Essex didn't lose a wicket before Bess dismissed Nick Browne. The game ended in a draw after the 18th over with Essex at 45 for 1, with the teams shaking hands.
Brief scores: Somerset 203 (Roelof van der Merwe 60; Simon Harmer 5-105, Samuel Cook 4-26) & second innings forfeit drew with Essex 141 (Alastair Cook 53; Jack Leach 5-32, Roelof van der Merwe 4-41) & 45/1 (Alastair Cok 30*; Dominic Bess 1-8).
As has been the case over the past few days, rain continued to play spoilsport as the game at Edgbaston ended in a draw with no play possible for three straight days. Warwickshire ended the season at the seventh spot with three wins from 14 games while Yorkshire, who managed five wins and 165 points, finished fifth.
Brief scores: Yorkshire 261/2 (Tom Kohler-Cadmore 165*, Tom Loten 58; Alex Thomson 1-21) drew with Warwickshire.
In what should have been an interesting battle for the third spot ended on a damp note as the game in Canterbury ended in a draw with no play possible on the last three days. Kent, who registered five wins and bagged 172 points, finished fourth on the Division One table - their best finish since 2004. Hampshire secured the third position, having finished with 176 points.
Brief scores: Kent 147 (Daniel Bell-Drummond 39, Ollie Rayner 39; Keith Barker 5-48, Keith Barker 3-49) drew with Hampshire 80/3 (Tom Alsop 40; Darren Stevens 2-27).
There was some action at The Oval on Wednesday with Ollie Pope's hundred being the highlight. But the final day saw no overs being bowled as the game ended in a draw. Surrey finished sixth with 131 points and two victories while Nottinghamshire, who'll be relegated to Division Two having finished last, ended up with 67 points and no wins.
Brief scores: Surrey 402/6 decl. (Scott Borthwick 137, Ollie Pope 106; Steven Mullaney 2-73) drew with Nottinghamshire 77/1 Ben Slater 29*; Rikki Clarke 1-11).
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