Surrey have won the 2024 County Championship with a round to spare, securing a third Division One title in a row.
After their win over Durham inside three days at The Oval yesterday (September 19), Surrey were on the brink of sealing the title. Their nearest challengers, Somerset - who pulled off a remarkable win against Surrey in Taunton last week - trailed Lancashire by 188 runs overnight with only four wickets in hand. They lost their remaining wickets within the first hour of play in the morning, the loss meaning they are unable to catch Surrey regardless of what happens in the final round next week.
Having also won the title in 2022 and 2023, the win this year makes Surrey the first team to win three Championship titles in a row for 56 years. The last team to win the Championship in three consecutive years were Yorkshire from 1966 to 1968. However, it's not the first time Surrey have achieved the feat. They've won the first three editions of the Championship from 1890 to 1892, and won seven consecutive Championships from 1952 to 1958. This year's title is their 23rd, with only Yorkshire having more titles (33).
Ahead of the final round, in which Surrey will play Essex at Chelmsford, Surrey have only lost two matches across the season. One was their loss to Somerset last week and the other was in May against Hampshire at The Utilita Bowl. From 13 matches they have eight wins and three draws.
Their win against Durham this week was dominant, strolling to victory with a 10-wicket margin early in the afternoon of day three. Having bowled Durham out for 262 in the first innings, Ryan Patel scored a brilliant century alongside Tom Lawes 58 from No.9. They then bowled out Durham in the second innings for 177, Dan Worrall and Sam Curran both taking four wickets and leaving Rory Burns and Dom Sibley only 25 to get. Fittingly, it was Burns as captain who hit the winnings runs, taking a quick two off Chemar Holder, effectively the runs which sealed another title.
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