County Championship matches- Preview

After a break of two weeks, the red ball version of the game is back this weekend with another round of championship matches starting on Sunday.

In Division One, leaders Surrey entertain Kent at the Kia Oval, just days after Surrey lost their first match in any form of cricket this season after going down to Sussex at Hove in the Vitality Blast competition.

Surrey will commence the next round of fixtures with a three-point lead over Hampshire, having won four championship matches in this season’s campaign with three drawn.

In their last match at Taunton, Surrey completed a narrow three wicket win over Somerset. Set 193 for victory, the visitors edged over the line thanks to a fine 62 from Will Jacks.

Surrey head into Sunday’s game without the services of Ollie Pope- currently their leading run scorer in the championship with 417 runs- Ben Foakes and their leading wicket taker in the championship so far, Jamie Overton with 21 wickets. With all three currently on England duty.

The visitors Kent have struggled so far in their championship campaign with just one win. However, that solitary win was against Gloucestershire by eight wickets at Canterbury in their last championship outing.

Second placed Hampshire travel to face Essex at Chelmsford, looking to keep pace with leaders Surrey.

Hampshire were successful in their last championship match with a narrow two wicket victory over Yorkshire at the Ageas Bowl. Set a target of 197, the hosts were indebted to 67 from Liam Dawson and an unbeaten 16 from number nine batter James Fuller to see them home.

Hosts Essex start the game in sixth place with two wins under their belt and 76 points from six matches played so far.

At Northampton, Northamptonshire are up against Warwickshire. The home side will be looking to break their duck in the competition having picked up five draws in six matches.

Northamptonshire’s last outing saw the home side involved in a high scoring game against Kent at Northampton back on May 19^th.

Warwickshire will be looking to bounce back after suffering a four-wicket loss last time out against Lancashire at Edgbaston two weeks ago.

The final round of matches will see Gloucestershire up against Lancashire at Bristol. Lancashire are sitting in third place in the table, 19 points behind top of the table Surrey, with Gloucester bottom, still yet to open their account.

In Division Two, the top two in the table go toe to toe at Trent Bridge with Nottinghamshire up against Middlesex.

For Middlesex it will be a chance to get back to winning ways after a poor Blast campaign.

Notts will start the game with a ten-point cushion over Middlesex having won five of their seven matches, including their last championship game where they defeated Leicestershire by an innings at Leicester.

Middlesex go into the game with four victories to their name but did suffer a loss in their most recent championship game when they went down by six wickets to Derbyshire at Chesterfield.

Only six points separates third placed Glamorgan and sixth placed Durham in the table.

Glamorgan face Worcestershire at Worcester with only a single point separating the sides in the table.

The only other game in the division will see Sussex face off against Derbyshire at Hove.

Derbyshire currently are level on points with Glamorgan having lost only one championship game this season.

Fortunes are not so promising for Sussex who are still looking for their first championship win of the season having already been beaten four times this season.

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