: Sun Sep 20, 2009 10:29 am
Sussex look all but down now, 15 points adrift. The four teams they can theoretically catch by winning their final match at Notts are playing each other (Lancs v Warwicks & Yorks v Hants) so a couple of mutually convenient draws look likely.
The race for the second promotion place from Division 2 has gone right to the wire. Five teams still in with a real shout, and they're involved in four different matches in the final round. If Derby v Essex produces a result the winners ought to go up. Derby's excellent opening pair of Chris Rogers & Wayne Madsen and Danish Kaneria's brilliant leg spin for Essex are the key factors that could swing the result their team's way for me. Otherwise I fancy Northants, who should be capable of taking maximum batting points and forcing a win on home ground against Leicester's weak attack.