Div 2 Round15 Matches: Yorkshire, Hampshire

For Derbyshire, Hampshire, Kent and Yorkshire the season has entered the final straight. With a maximum of 48 points still to be earned, these are the only four counties still in with a chance of the title.

Realistically, though not mathematically, they are also the only contenders for 2nd place and promotion to the top flight.

Most Interest will centre on the clash of two of the contenders at Canterbury, where Kent host Derbyshire. A lot is at stake. If Derbyshire win, Kent are out of the running for 1st place. If Kent win, Derbyshire, having led the division most of the season, will be seen as bottling-it when it really matters, and it is a moot point whether there notably young side would be able to put the dissapointment aside and beat Hants in the final round of matches.

Hampshire, realistically, must win their match against Essex to have any hope of maintaining an interest in the destination of the title. Even a full 24pts would leave them still 1pt shy of Derbyshire's current total.

However, their last fixture is against the current leaders, so beating Essex would give them the chance of overtaking Derbyshire at the death - unless Derbyshire take an equivalent number of points from their match against Kent.

Yorkshire play Glamorgan, who share with Gloucs the unwanted record of most beaten team in the league. On paper, Yorks have the easiest task in this round of matches, and they will be hoping for a full-points victory to put the pressure on the other contenders.

On a personal note, I feel the contrivance at Scarborough last week went too far, calling into question the spirit of the game, so I hope that Yorkshire don't manage to get promotion off the back of that disgrace

A pity that the umpires couldn't take a leaf out of the Olympic Badminton officials book and disqualify them for not trying.

Day1 - Lunch Score Update

Essex 86/5 against Hants.

Hants will be delighted to have 5 wickets in only 28 overs. If that rate continues the match could be over sometime around tomorrow lunchtime! However, if this is the pitch rather than spineless Essex batting, then a pitch inspection and points deduction could be in the offing, which would rather spoil Hants party.

Kent 61/3 against Derbys.

I imagine Derbys will be the happier, especially with Key back in the hutch. Nothing decisive as yet though.

Glam 103/0 against Yorks.

The Headingley faithful will not be happy.