Summary

  • Essex earn draw to win title despite collapsing after tea

  • Jack Leach took 5-32 before Somerset forfeited second innings

  • Marcus Trescothick on field as sub fielder at end of game before retiring

  • Gloucs & Northants promoted after Glamorgan game abandoned

  • Final day also washed out at Canterbury, Edgbaston, The Oval and Hove

  1. wicket

    WICKET Westley c Davies b van der Merwe 36published at 15:56 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Somerset 203 v Essex 126-6

    A perfectly flighted delivery starts a new Roelof van der Merwe, turns and finds the edge and Tom Westley is gone. Keeper Steven Davies takes the catch.

    "Every Essex batsman has been out, basically doing the right thing. Defending here is very difficult," says BBC 5 Live Sports Extra summariser Vic Marks.

  2. LEICESTERSHIRE DRAW WITH LANCASHIREpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 26 September 2019
    Breaking

    Leics 155 & 191-3 v Lancs 170

    Not a bad end to the season for Leicestershire despite finishing at the bottom of the table.

    They've managed to hold the Division Two champions to a draw home and away!

    Lancashire are unbeaten in 2019 with eight wins, six draws and a thumping margin of 45 points over their nearest rivals at the top of the table.

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  3. dropped catch

    Let-off for Wheaterpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Somerset 203 v Essex 126-5

    Adam Wheater is the new batsman and he should be gone second ball - but Craig Overton, who is fielding from a kneeling position, cannot hang onto a shoulder high chance.

  4. rain stops play

    Rain stops play at Grace Roadpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Leics 155 & 191-3 v Lancs 176

    It's hammering down at the County Ground where the season is surely over.

  5. wicket

    WICKET ten Doeschate c Abell b Leach 4published at 15:52 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Somerset 203 v Essex 126-5

    Bet Ryan ten Doeschate wishes he hadn't pinched the strike now. Turn for Jack Leach and Tom Abell takes the catch at slip.

    BBC 5 Live Sports Extra commentator Dan Norcross floats the possibility of Somerset forfeiting their second innings if they can pick the five remaining Essex wickets up quickly.

  6. Somerset 203 v Essex 126-4published at 15:51 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Westley 36, ten Doeschate 4

    Roelof van der Merwe finds the edge, but it doesn't carry to second slip and Ryan ten Doeschate survives.

    He cuts the next, it's uppish but runs away for two and then pinches the strike for the next over with a single.

  7. MIDDLESEX DRAW WITH DERBYSHIREpublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 26 September 2019
    Breaking

    Middx 260 v Derbys 304-7

    A draw is confirmed and a disappointing red ball season for both counties is over.

    Middlesex finish in eighth place on 133 points and Derbyshire are one spot ahead on 145.

    Leus du Plooy had just enough time to notch up his second century of the season.

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  8. Somerset 203 v Essex 123-4published at 15:48 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Westley 36, ten Doeschate 1

    Essex skipper Ryan ten Doeschate picks up his first run.

    You have to admire the Somerset intensity, they are still ringing the Essex batsmen and ready to pounce on any opportunity that may come their way.

  9. Somerset 203 v Essex 122-4published at 15:45 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Westley 36, ten Doeschate 0

    Back after tea. Roelof van der Merwe drops short. Tom Westley cuts. Four runs. Five dot balls.

  10. rain stops play

    Rain stops play at Lord'spublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Middx 260 v Derbys 304-7

    Argh! More rain. More gloomy skies!

    The covers are going back on again.

  11. 100 runs

    100 for Leus du Plooypublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Middx 260 v Derbys 304-7

    Max Holden bowls...

    Cut to backward point! One, two... Time for a third? Yes!

    That's his century off 175 balls with 15 fours.

    Leus du PlooyImage source, Getty Images
  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Tweet us at #bbccricket

    From @Shevylatic: "#bbccricket, external The county championship is now no longer a fair competition. Essex who are going to win the title have not had single player on international duty, whilst most of the others in the division have. They have therefore been able to play their strongest team."

    From @harryshirt: "It's the hope that kills...Somerset zipping through every over whilst the Essex boys wasting time probably discussing how Blotto they are gonna get...enjoying the 'one hand one bounce' field btw! #SOMvESS, external#bbccricket, external"

    From @Colin_Woods: "at what point do the umpires realise the Somerset v Essex game is a waste of time and end it in a draw? #bbccricket, external"

  13. Final session begins at Lord'spublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Middx 260 v Derbys 301-7

    And we're on again!

    The main point of interest here is whether or not Leus du Plooy can get three more runs to reach 100.

    If he gets there it'll be his second Championship century for Derbyshire this season.

    Anuj Dal is unbeaten on 13.

    A nominal 36 overs left before stumps but a handshake on a draw in about an hour is more likely.

  14. Leics 155 & 182-3 v Lancs - Lead by 166published at 15:38 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Azad 81, Rhodes 9

    Parkinson tosses the ball right up but Rhodes defends.

    Liam Hurt is looking for his first wicket at first-class level.

    Azad needs 20 for his century. He gets a single off the third ball.

    Rhodes drives to mid off but there's no run.

  15. WATCH: Wickets taken by Somersetpublished at 15:36 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Somerset 203 v Essex 118-4 - tea

    While we wait for the final session to begin at Taunton, here are the four ESsex wickets to have gone down so far in their first innings.

  16. Final session begins at Grace Roadpublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Leics 155 & 181-3 v Lancs - Lead by 166

    Only a bold declaration and a collapse of epic proportions will bring a result here.

    33 overs left in the season in theory but it may be a lot less than that in practice if the teams agree on a draw in the next hour.

    Hassan Azad is back in the middle on 80 not out. George Rhodes has nine.

    Matt Parkinson will bowl first. Rhodes on strike.

  17. Postpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    If Somerset do not manage to pull off what would, in the circumstances, be arguably the most remarkable title win in County Championship history, here are one or two of possible reasons.

    • They have lost three games this season. No champion county of the last five seasons (2014-18) lost more than one - and Essex have only lost once in 2019.
    • Skipper Tom Abell is at the top of their batting averages - with 31.50
    • Azhar Ali (9 games), Babar Azam (1), Murali Vijay (3) have all filled the overseas player slot and have scored a combined total of 426 runs at an average of just 20.29 - with no centuries.
  18. Bad light stops play at Lord'spublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Middx 260 v Derbys 301-7

    Leus du Plooy will have to wait a little longer to score three more runs.

    The light isn't good enough for play to continue.

  19. Somerset 203 v Essex 118-4 - teapublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Westley 32, ten Doeschate 0

    Jack LeachImage source, Getty

    The umpires decide we will have one more over before tea. Jack Leach will bowl it.

    Ryan ten Doeschate has yet to settle, but Tom Westley takes a single, exposing his captain to the final three deliveries.

    Ten Doeschate survives and as the players go off, there are a minimum of 19 overs to go before Essex get their hands on that trophy.

  20. Somerset 203 v Essex 117-4published at 15:17 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Westley 31, ten Doeschate 0

    A full toss by Jack leach and Tom Westley pushes it through mid-on for four.

    No chance of that being cut off as there aren't any Somerset fielders on the leg-side in front of square.

    Tom Abell puts in a mid-on but he is unable to gather cleanly and Westley collects two more.