How the points system works

A team gets 16 points for a win, eight points for a tie and five points for a draw team can get up to five batting bonus points, starting if their first innings total crosses 250, and with an extra point accrued for every 50 runs scored from there until reaching 450, within the first 110 overs of an innings. Bowling bonus points work similarly, with one point on offer for a team that takes three to five wickets, two for a team that takes six to eight wickets, and three for a team that takes nine wickets or more in the first 110 overs.

Here’s what the table looks like going into the final two rounds of competition:

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Who can win Division One?

Surrey are the favourites to win Division One for the second year running and could wrap up their 22nd title in the division in the penultimate round of competition which starts on Tuesday (September 19). Although they are strong favourites, their win is not yet a mathematical certainty.

Surrey are currently 18 points clear of Essex in second place. With a maximum of 24 points available for any game, Surrey need 31 points across the two games to be certain of the title. Two victories would guarantee first place, regardless of bonus points, while a maximum bonus points win in one game would put them within mean they could even lose the other, as long as they get enough bonus points.

How can Surrey win this week? If they win and Essex draw, then as long as Essex don’t secure five or more bonus points more than Surrey.

If Essex win against Hampshire, it is unlikely that Surrey will be able to win the competition before the final round as they will have to score seven bonus points more than Essex to do so.

Who is likely to be relegated?

Northants are all but relegated and sit last in the Division One table, 33 points adrift of safety. However, there is still uncertainty over who will take the second relegation spot.

Middlesex and Kent are the sides battling it out to stay up in the top division. Kent currently occupy ninth in the table but are only two points adrift of Middlesex in eighth. With the two teams so close, it’s a case of whoever blinks first. If both sides win their final two games, Kent will need three more bonus points than Middlesex to go above them. If one side loses a game and the other does not, it’s most likely they will be the side to stay up.

Both teams have to play two middle of the table sides in their final matches. Kent face Somerset in Taunton this week and Lancashire at home in the last round. Middlesex have Warwickshire at Lord’s before facing Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. However, Kent will be without Zak Crawley who will be on England ODI duty for the remainder of Championship.

Who is likely to be promoted?

Durham have already sealed promotion from Division Two after a stellar year. While they have not mathematically won the league, they only need five points from their final two matches of the season to secure their position.

After Sussex were handed a 12-point deduction today (September 18), their promotion hopes have been severely dented. Although it is technically still a four-way fight, given that Glamorgan only have one remaining game to play and Sussex have been hit with their penalty, in reality only Worcestershire and Leicestershire are in contention.

Worcestershire are 21 points clear of Leicestershire. Effectively, Leicestershire need to win both games, and hope Worcestershire lose one or fail to win either. Even then, bonus points could see the Pears over the line.

If Worcestershire lose to Durham and Leicestershire beat Yorkshire, the competition will be even more tense going into the final round. Depending on how bonus points each team secures in their game, it will likely be a winner takes all scenario in the final round.