Cricinfo



home


Slogout Game

Fantasy

Video

Cricinfo 3D

Betting

Shop

Help and Feedback


 





Live Scorecards
Fixtures | Results
3D Animation






West Indies v Australia
Asia Cup
England v South Africa
County Cricket
ICC Intercontinental Cup

Current and Future Tours



News
Photos | Wallpapers




Cricinfo Magazine








Match/series archive
Records
Statsguru
Players/Officials
Grounds



Women's Cricket
ICC
Rankings/Ratings




Wisden Almanack



Games
Fantasy Cricket
Slogout



Daily Newsletter
Desktop Alerts
Toolbar
Widgets







County Championship round-up

Durham complete a great escape

Cricinfo staff

September 23, 2006

Division One

Final points table



Nathan Astle hits out on the final Championship day of the season © Getty Images
Yorkshire and Durham confirmed their first division status for next season with a draw at Headingley. The result means Nottinghamshire have been relegated after picking up just one point in their hammering by Sussex. It also represents a heroic escape by Durham, who were 203 for 6 on the second day before Dale Benkenstein and Ottis Gibson formed a record-breaking stand. Their partnership was eventually broken on the final day after reaching 315 and Yorkshire were duty bound to enforce the follow-on. David Hughes had been sent by the ECB to act as a match referee for the day to ensure fair play, but Garry Park's maiden first-class century made sure Durham comfortably survived the day.

Shane Warne lost his cool as the season drifted to an anticlimactic conclusion at The Rose Bowl as Lancashire and Hampshire played out the final day. Mark Chilton had spoken of still trying to force a win, despite the Championship going to Sussex, but ultimately the day became an end-of-season net for the Lancashire batsmen as they settled for sealing second place. Luke Sutton notched his second ton of the summer and Nathan Astle hit 86 in what is probably his last knock for the county. Click here for more on Warne.

Middlesex ended their time in the first division with a battling draw against Kent at Canterbury as Nick Compton rounded off a fine personal season scoring his fifth century. Despite following-on, Middlesex didn't have too much trouble batting out the day although Rob Ferley did his best to create a few alarms. Owais Shah chipped in with 52 but the draw was small consolation for Middlesex who had long-since been consigned to the drop.

Division Two

Final points table

Worcestershire grabbed the second promotion slot with an outstanding display on the final day against Northamptonshire at Northampton. The home side were moving along nicely at 100 for 1 before Gareth Batty and Ray Price instigated a dramatic collapse to 143 all out. Still, though, a target of 205 on a turning pitch was no cakewalk but Stephen Moore and Vikram Solanki hit fine half-centuries. Solanki's 50 took just 43 balls then Graeme Hick was at the crease to ensure Monty Panesar's five-wicket haul didn't cause major problems.

There were contrasting emotions for Essex who watched promotion slip away as Leicestershire completed a five-wicket victory at Grace Road. Aware that they couldn't settle for a draw if Worcestershire won, Essex contrived a finish. They smashed 186 off 9.4 overs of joke bowling - Mark Pettini's ton taking just 27 balls - to leave Leicestershire chasing 301. Tom New and John Maunders set the platform and all the middle order chipped in. However, it was Jim Allenby's 49-ball 68 that sealed the deal and completed an impressive Championship debut.

Surrey finished the season on a high as they beat Derbyshire by five wickets at Derby. Scott Newman led the impressive run chase with a 76-ball 83 and Mark Butcher guided his team across the line with a run-a-ball 59. Surrey had earlier declared at the overnight first innings total, before Derbyshire reciprocated on 162 for 8. Ian Salisbury finished the season on a pleasing note with 4 for 53 and was also at the crease when the winning runs arrived.

Alex Gidman's fourth century of the season guided Gloucestershire to a draw against Glamorgan at Cardiff. Three early wickets gave Glamorgan a sniff and forcing a result, but Gidman and Hamish Marshall added 143 for the fourth wicket.

Add to del.icio.us | digg this | Stumble It What's this?

Live scores, results, news, features and more - a click away
Download the Cricinfo Toolbar
NEW fantasy cricket game - England v South Africa (starts July 10)
Login and enter your team now
Cricinfo on the go - our mobile services
WAP and Mobicast
Cricinfo home Print this page Email this page to a friend Feedback

Cricket Minute
Cricinfo Mobile


Related Links



Players/Umpires

Series/Tournaments

Teams






Cricinfo Products
Watch the latest SportsCenter bulletin
On Cricinfo.tv
NEW fantasy game - England v South Africa
Starts July 10
The miracle of India's 1983 World Cup win
Cricinfo looks back
Cricinfo Widgets - new portable applications
Add to your site now

Sponsored Links
Get a high mpg and low CO2 car
at citroen.co.uk
Face-to-face wealth management advice
St. James's Place
Cars at Auto Trader!
The world of cars made easy
Win tickets to England v South Africa Tests
With Cockspur Rum



 
Top 5 player searches
Most read stories