Surrey seal County Championship title hat-trick after Somerset fall short

Surrey have become the first team in more than 50 years to win three successive County Championships, after Somerset’s hopes of taking the title race to the final week of the season collapsed at Old Trafford.

The defending champions wrapped up a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Durham at The Oval inside three days this week, with Dan Worrall and Sam Curran taking four wickets apiece in the visitors’ second innings, after Ryan Patel’s century had put the home side in control.

That meant Somerset had to win at Lancashire to keep the race alive heading into next week’s final round of fixtures. Resuming on Friday’s fourth morning in Manchester still 189 runs shy of their target with only four wickets in hand, however, Somerset were bowled out for 224 and lost by 168.

That result sees Surrey claim their 23rd title (including one shared) and become the first county to win the Championship three times on the spin since Yorkshire in 1968.

Rory Burns’ team have led the way throughout most of the season and appeared to be cantering towards the title a week ago, only to collapse in spectacular fashion on the final afternoon against Somerset at Taunton.

Somerset’s dramatic victory with just minutes to spare saw the gap narrow to just eight points with two games to go, but the contenders’ contrasting fortunes this week mean Surrey take an unattainable lead of 28 points into their final game away at Essex next week.

The Three Feathers have again been dominant at home this season, winning six of their seven games at The Oval and drawing the other to Somerset.

Director of cricket Alec Stewart, who is stepping down at the end of the year, will bow out having delivered a fourth title in that role, to go with the three he won as a player.

Surrey’s depth has again been key to their success, with the likes of Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Dan Lawrence and Curran all missing significant chunks of the season on England duty.

Seamer Worrall has enjoyed another superb campaign, with 52 wickets and counting at an average of 16.15, while Burns has been back to his best, passing the 1,000-run barrier, and Smith averaged 76.67 during his nine appearances.