Top five: Specsavers County Championship 8 Sept

PERFECT PEAR

Worcestershire opener Daryl Mitchell can do no wrong this season. He continued his imperious form with the bat becoming the first player to notch 1,000 Division Two runs on his way to a match-winning 139* at Trent Bridge - it was his SIXTH century of the summer! Worthy of a late England nod?

THE ONLY WAY IS UP?

Worcestershire won the top-of-the-table battle to cut the gap with Division Two leaders Nottinghamshire to just 15 points. The Pears inflicted Notts’ first defeat of the season to give their promotion hopes a huge boost, with two home games left to play. Northants beat Sussex to stay in the mix - both sides are 36 points adrift of second-place but, crucially, they each have a game in hand on the top two.  

PUT THE GLOUCS ON IT

Gloucestershire seamer Liam Norwell likes playing against Leicestershire. He likes it so much, he’s taken not one but two 10-wicket match hauls against them this season! The Gloucs academy graduate took a career-best 8/43 to help skittle the Foxes out for 160, firing his side to a well-deserved 10-wicket win.

BATTLE LINES DRAWN

Somerset took a huge step towards Division One survival with a crucial victory over fellow strugglers Warwickshire. Tim Groenewald took 5/58 as the visitors recorded a convincing 169-run win at Edgbaston. Crucially for them, Middlesex and Yorkshire played out a rain-affected draw, leaving all four teams mired in the relegation dogfight with three matches left to play.

BUNNY TOILER

Graham Onions, take a bow. The Durham stalwart became the county’s highest-ever wicket-taker in first-class cricket with a mammoth 519 scalps. He trapped Kent’s Adam Milne lbw to break the record but unfortunately for Durham, he couldn’t manage the two more they needed to claim victory. Well bowled, sir.