County Cricket, 2019

[Kevin S]

25 off 12 needed. Come on Ravi.

[Jon]

Fuck this is tense.

[Kevin S]

5 from 2...

[Kevin S]

Yeeessss!

[Jon]

Congratulations Essex. The double is on.

[Kevin S]

The decider is up and running and Little Chef has two wickets in the first 20 minutes, with no runs conceded. Somerset 14/2.

[Kevin S]

No free stream, I'm afraid, as this one is on Skeh. Five Live Sports Extra has commentary though.

[Etienne]

Surprised that Somerset batted given the forecast. Today looks OK, but tomorrow looks like a washout and the rest of the week not great. Surely their best chance of getting 20 wickets was to bowl?

[Etienne]

Partial recovery, then Harmer strikes twice in an over.

[Etienne]

Meanwhile, Northants and Glos are battling out for the second promotion place, and are also facing each other, with Northants taking a five point advantage into the match. Going well for them too, as Glos have somehow contrived two run outs in scoring 80-6.

[Etienne]

Not county cricket, but thought Tasmania's epic collapse against Victoria warranted mention. Chasing 185 to win, and with loads of time left (they finished the innings with more than 9 overs to spare) they got to 172-4, and then 181-5 before being bowled out for 184.

[Kevin S]

Play is underway for now at least at Taunton. The hosts are 96/5 after 33 overs.

[Kevin S]

114/6, three each for Little Chef and Harmer and Essex are getting right into Somerset now. Abell is still there on 38.

[Kevin S]

Harmer gets Abell. Could be key.

[Kevin S]

Overton out for a duck, Harmer has his fifer. Now 130/8 and there probably won't be any batting points going Somerset's way.

[Kevin S]

Nine down but that means England batting hero Jack Leach is out there now.

[Kevin S]

Durham - Glamorgan is OFF today.

[E10 Rifle]

Somerset have got a competitive score now, one suspects

[Etienne]

Well, it's not one that's going to win by an innings and I don't see where they will have time for another 31 wickets to fall.

[Kevin S]

That's an ideal ten and eleven pairing really - van der Merwe attacking and Leach defending. Bonus point well earned.

203 all out so Essex's first missions are to avoid silly losses (about half an hour of play until tea) and then get to 53, the score required to avoid a follow on.

[Kevin S]

News from Kent - Darren Stevens has been given a contract for 2020. Gladdens the heart, that does.

[Kevin S]

So, final day and bloody hell this has happened.

"ALL OUT: Wheater is caught by Davies off the bowling of van der Merwe and goes for 12, with Essex all out for 141.

Somerset have forfeited their innings and have set Essex a target of 63 for victory."

Squeaky bum time after all.

[Kevin S]

Only one hour of play remaining.

[Kevin S]

Leach took 5 for 32 in that first Essex innings.

[Kevin S]

Hurrah for the County Championship!