Red Rose’s title bid is over as Essex wait for crown
ESSEX will today be crowned Specsavers County Championship winners, ending Lancashire’s hopes of winning the title.
Having wrapped up a comprehensive innings defeat in three days over bottom-of-the-table Warwickshire, the Chelmsfordbased side know that defeat for the Red Rose at Somerset today will hand them the trophy.
And although no Lancashire player will say so, they are heading for defeat as they go into the final day at Taunton 247-8 in their second innings, a lead of only 45 runs.
And even though the wicket is deteriorating, it would take a huge turnaround for the Red Rose to avoid defeat.
And even if they do manage to secure what would be a miracle victory, Essex are so far ahead they would claim the title next week with just bonus points.
But Lancashire have surprised many by just being in the hunt for the title, having had to fight off relegation on the final day of the season last year. Many had them as relegation favourites – despite the addition of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ryan McLaren and Dane Vilas – especially as two of the eight teams will go down from Division One.
And not many had Essex, who won promotion last season, as title contenders, but with eight wins from their 12 games so far they are worthy champions.
Lancashire are safe from relegation, but must look to finish the season strongly to ensure a second-placed finish which will go some way to dampening down the disappointments of their one-day campaigns which saw them crash out of both the Royal London Cup and NatWest T20 Blast at the group stage.
Having been bowled out for 133 in their first innings and being asked to follow-on after Somerset posted 335, they have made a better fist of their second innings.
Haseeb Hameed continued his encouraging improved form with 62, while Liam Livingstone made 57 and Alex Davies 49 to help them to 151-2 at one point.
However, Jack Leach (4-79) and Dominic Bess (3-85) made inroads into the Lancashire batting order. And although they have at least taken the lead, it is unlikely they will post a target large enough to trouble Somerset, victory for whom will ease their relegation fears a little and drag Yorkshire and last season’s champions Middlesex into the fight to stay up.
“We were very disappointed with the way we batted as a team in the first innings, but today everyone has shown how eager they are to battle for the Red Rose,” said Livingstone.
“We have a lot of experienced players in the side, but a lot of our runs came from the younger members, which is good for the club. It is still not a good position to be in, but we will take the same attitude into the final day and fight to the last.”