Lancashire’s 168-run triumph against Somerset at Emirates Old Trafford on the fourth morning took just 32 minutes and 7.1 overs, securing Surrey’s third consecutive Vitality County Championship crown.
After resuming at 204 for 6, Luke Wells claimed two wickets to finish with 4 for 36, and Anderson Phillip took the remaining two to finish with 3 for 81. Somerset were then bowled out for 224.
The outcome is the second setback for Somerset in as many weeks and puts an end to their aspirations of winning a historic County Championship. Despite losing to Gloucestershire in the Vitality Blast final on Saturday, they still have one more chance to win a trophy this weekend when they play Glamorgan in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup final.
Somerset’s head coach Jason Kerr once observed, “There’s no point turning up if you don’t believe you can win a game.” “We thought there was a chance today but obviously it hasn’t turned out that way.”
“This season has taught me a lot,” Kerr continued. “Every county aspires to be in a situation where they are vying for championships, and there are also budding young talents. There will be a tonne of benefits, but it’s definitely a little early to be able to look back on everything.
“I believe we’ve made enormous improvement since the previous year. We were eighth last season. This year, we’ve signed more players from outside and the team’s continuity has changed, but overall, I think we’ve improved significantly.”
With the first ball of the day, Lewis Gregory of Somerset lost a wicket after being tricked by Wells’ googly and bowled for a golden duck.
The following over saw more success for Lancashire as Craig Overton was dismissed leg before wicket by Anderson Phillip for 4, and Brett Randell was bowled for 9 when he attempted to recreate the feat after hitting Wells for two fours.
When James Rew was bowled for 31 by Phillip off an inside edge, the game was over and Surrey’s victory was assured.
For those who enjoy collecting statistical anomalies, they may be interested to know that this is the first County Championship match in history in which 21 wickets have fallen on the first day and the game has continued without rain until the fourth morning.
Lancashire is still the favourites to be demoted despite their victory. If Nottinghamshire earns ten points from their final game at home against Warwickshire—who would also require five points from that game—they would play in Division Two cricket the following season, regardless of the outcome of their match against Worcestershire. Keaton Jennings’ team will be playing in that division.
Jennings commented, “It’s been a really good game of cricket.” Two teams competing over four days on an excellent surface. It’s been enjoyable.
“I’m incredibly happy with the guys’ performance; I believe it’s our best collective effort so far this campaign. It’s rather enjoyable. It all comes down to the guys raising their hands. Luke Wells took pole this morning after scoring 130 and giving the squad the performance they needed to attempt and put us in a winning position.
“Guys Anderson, Bails, Will, and Baldy pitched in with the new ball. To win the match, the bowlers needed to take 20 wickets, and they succeeded in doing so. It only goes to show that the cricket at Old Trafford has been excellent, as it has been an exciting three and a half days.
“Over the past three days, the men have done some amazing work. I didn’t think the first innings was a 140 surface; I thought both sides were below average. Nor did I believe that the 400 surface we received was it.
Overall, in order to allow each other to re-enter the game, both teams competed and committed mistakes. We had the option to crumble, but we didn’t.
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We carried on fighting like we had throughout the entire campaign. The lads have made a great effort, but they haven’t fully mastered the technique like we did in this game.”
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