Key events
This beautiful picture was taken at 653 this morning by Tony Marsh.
For those of you with access to the Telegraph- there’s a moving interview with Josh Baker’s parents.
250 for James Wharton
What a way to finish the season! YJB has 45. Condolences to those – Jake Libby, Greens Alex and Ben, Rob Yates, Baz de Leede and Dan Mousely, whose final innings of the year have been rather more elliptical.
Sitting next to Paul Edwards for the last time this season as he composes another masterpiece. . He tells me about the Oxford Chamber music festival and I like to think my brain expands a millimetre, maybe two. It comes highly recommended, if it is anyone’s cup of tea.
In Division One, at Chelmsford, Harmer and Porter are doing their thing – Surrey 86-4. Sibley 52 not out.
Worcestershire are 48-5, Hose has just pinged Balderson for a couple of fours.
Warwicks 204-4, Hain and Barnard stuffing runs in their pockets at Trent Bridge. Warwicks 213-4.
And Kent– well they’re batting nicely in a final up yours to the season -157-4. Leaning 53, Denny 37.
Let’s wander around the grounds – all seven matches in play, which is something.
In Division two, Yorkshire are celebrating promotion in style: Wharton 175 not out, YJB has bashed three fours in his 14 not out. Yorks 412-3.
Sussex 159-2, Haines 80 not out, Alsop 28 not out.
And Leicestershire have been bundled out for 280 . Derbyshire get a bat at last.
And another – Roderick run out inelegantly. Worcs 26-3.
This country diary has an end of season elegiac feel.
“One of the (few) highlights yesterday was the announcer stating that Aneurin Bevan, rather than Aneurin Donald was playing for Derbyshire.” Mike adds. “He managed to stop himself when he came to David Lloyd’s name, though’
Kashif Ali has an airy end of season flash and is caught behind. Worcestershire 6-2.
Hello there Mike Daniels, in a chilly Grace Road.
“A cool and gloomy day for the end of the season here and the heater is on full blast here in the scorebox.
“End of season rumours floating around Leicestershire’s financial situation and what that may entail for next season (Rachel Reeves has nothing on some of the members here) as well as the absence of Rishi Patel from this game, although Sol Budinger batted as if either the penny has dropped for him or his contract is up for renewal”
Every single fielder, including Phillip as he walks back to his mark , has hands in their pockets.
While no- one was quite ready, Libby is caught and bowled by Phillip off the first ball of the day. Phillip has been a really decent addition to Lancashire’s side in the last month – enthusiastic, hardworking and quicker than he looks.
Lancashire looked quite chirpy this morning in practice, what’s done is done and now they can look ahead. Good luck to them, could be a tough ride.
This was a relaxed Dale Benkenstein last night:
“We’ve chatted a few times leading into this game and the last game (against Somerset) gave us a glimmer of hope.
“But over six months of cricket, we said at the start that it is a marathon and consistency is really important and we just haven’t been able to put consistent performances together.
“There are a few reasons for it but the bottom line is you are expected to go out there and perform and we are in this position because we haven’t consistently performed well.
“You come in as a new coach and a new coaching team and you are trying to learn quite a lot of things in a short space of time.
“The history of the club, you always know it is a very ambitious and strong club and when you are bringing in young lads, and there are debuts being made, and there are some good senior players in the team, you are expecting them to be at a decent level.
“I do think the first division has got some very experienced teams and when you do just lose a little bit of experience in key areas….the difference in what we have seen this year is we probably didn’t realise what a difference your Crofty’s and Dane (Vilas) has made, not just on the field but what they also give off the field.”
Saturday’s round up
In fading light at New Road, Lancashire slid into Division Two for next season. The end came just before five o’clock, when Anderson Phillip drove to cover and Lancashire were all out for 177. It was three short of Worcestershire’s first innings and 73 short of the magic 250 which would have theoretically kept them in the race until the final day of this season.
This is Lancashire’s fourth relegation since their team of underdogs won the Championship in 2011. This year’s team join the roll-call that also reads 2012, 2014 and 2018. Each time they’ve jumped back up right away, but it could be more difficult in 2025 with a team of talented but raw young players. Only Kent, who are also heading down, collected fewer batting points in Division One.
Their opponents Worcestershire, promoted in 2023, were almost universal favourites to drop back down again this season but, despite the tragic death of Josh Baker and the repeated flooding of New Road, they have stayed up – and with the affection of almost everyone. With a chief executive in Ashley Giles who reintroduced puddings once a week for the players, and a possible fly-on-the-wall documentary on the cards in spring, they go into Sunday looking at their highest finish since the introduction of two-tier county cricket.
Joe Leach, playing his final match before retirement, was given a standing ovation when he came out to bat, making two in Worcestershire’s tails-wagging innings, and then receiving a guard of honour from his teammates as they walked out to bowl. That familiar burly figure motored in from the Diglis end one last time and finished with two wickets, Lancashire’s innings flailing to a familiar tune. There was a first Championship wicket for Jack Home, watched by his parents and his black Labrador, OJ.
There was joy the other side of the Pennines, as Yorkshire secured promotion in the gloom at Headingley. Adam Lyth and James Wharton both laid into Northants, Lyth making 147 and Wharton still unbeaten on 162. They return to Division One cricket for the first time since since being relegated by one point two years ago.
Scores on the doors
TAUNTON:Hampshire 196 and 121-5 BEAT Somerset 136 and 180 by five wickets
CHESTER LE STREET: Durham 360 v Kent 96-3
TRENT BRIDGE: Nottinghamshire 487 v Warwickshire 143-4
NEW ROAD Worcestershire180 And 0-0 v Lancashire 177
CHELMSFORD: Essex 508-8dec v Surrey 30-1
DIVISION TWO
HEADINGLEY: Yorkshire 371-2 v Northamptonshire147
SOPHIA GARDENS Glamorgan 381-4dec BEAT Glloucestershire 189 BY 192 RUNS
HOVE Sussex 112-2 v Middlesex 271
GRACE ROAD Leicestershire264-8 v Derbyshire
Preamble
Good morning one last time! The bells of Worcester cathedral are intertwined with the thwack of bat on ball – what a perfect way to end the season.
