Lancashire aim for clean sweep

Lancashire and Surrey are to battle out the ECB Second XI Championship final at Old Trafford starting on Wednesday.

Just five days later Lancashire will return to take on Yorkshire for the ECB Second XI Trophy at Scarborough.

While Surrey secured their place in the final by winning Zone B by 12 points, it was much tighter for Lancashire. They reached the three-day final by finishing just one point ahead of Roses rivals Yorkshire in Zone A.

In the Second XI Trophy it has come down to the two top teams in Zone A, Yorkshire and Lancashire, who will face each other for the second time this season to decide the one-day winners. In the semi finals, Yorkshire beat Hampshire by four wickets and Lancashire beat Sussex by 149 runs.

The structure of the Second XI Championship has changed this year. Once a tournament based on average points, it was reorganised to mirror the structure of the First XI Championship. The teams are grouped into two zones; points are based on batting and bowling performances as well as the overall result.

The Second XI Trophy has also seen changes with the number of zones reduced to two. The competition’s points are awarded on the result of the match, there are no bonus points for bowling and batting.

Mike Gatting, ECB’s Managing Director of Cricket Partnerships said: “The introduction of the new format has benefited Second XI cricket on a whole due to the more recognisable format that all teams can follow.

"Previously, teams in the championship had no definite number of games to play and would heavily depend on how many they could afford to organise. The new structure also allows a smoother transition from Second XI to First XI cricket for up-and-coming players.”

Both finals start at 10.30am with free entry to both grounds. All spectators are encouraged to come along and support their counties in the final Second XI games this season.