153 on the 22nd

Congratulations to Sussex...

...County Champions for the second time in four years.

It was good to see the trophy being awarded at Trent Bridge - even if it was leaving Notts' possession. It was a slightly sad reminder that we didn't get to celebrate the championship win here last year because Notts didn't clinch the title until after the last home match.

Skipper Chris Adams received a cheque for £100,000...

courtesy Liverpool Victoria,

but it was the trophy they all wanted to get their hands on...

Everyone wanted a picture of Mushtaq Ahmed with the trophy...

so why should I be any different?

Mushy had taken 9-48 in the second innings,

including his 100th wicket in the championship this season,

as last year's champions capitulated by an innings and 245 runs.

The travelling contingent of Sussex supporters were jubilant of course...

Me, I walked around in the rain trying not to cry my eyes out, having heard that Durham had risen like Lazarus in their game against Yorkshire to clinch maximum batting points and leave both teams only needing a draw to save themselves and relegate Notts - by half a point.

Did I say rain? Yes, the rain came at (what would have been) lunchtime - which Notts failed to reach by less than half-an-hour. It didn't reach Leeds until shortly after Durham had clinched that decisive fifth batting point. Tomorrow, after they have gone through the motions and played out a draw, Yorkshire will finish with 154 points, Durham 153½ and Notts 153.

I always thought 153 was my lucky number - being the number of the house where I was born (also on the 22nd) - obviously not.