Surrey’s 21st Championship title came at 25 past midday when, at a sparsely attended Northampton, Jamie Porter was bowled for a duck. Essex had fallen 189 runs short of the 400 they needed to keep the race alive. It took a few seconds for the news to land here at the Ageas Bowl, where Surrey were in the field.
As it did, and the travelling supporters broke into applause, Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins and James Vince sportingly joined in and Will Jacks broke off mid-delivery stride. Ten minutes later, the players were off for bad light.
