Gibson on course for crown

Ottis Gibson

Durham’s Ottis Gibson remains on course to be named county cricket’s MVP after strengthening his hold on top spot in the PCA rankings.

The 38-year-old all-rounder returned remarkable figures of 8-68 in the LV County Championship defeat by Lancashire at Blackpool, taking his haul into three figures in all competitions this season.

He leads Danish Kaneria by more than 100 points in the overall PCA rankings, despite the Essex leg-spinner taking eight wickets in the defeat by Somerset. He has 104 victims in all cricket.

Mushtaq Ahmed, who signed a new two-year contract with Sussex this week, sits third and Shane Warne continues the theme of leg-spin dominance by occupying sixth place.