County Championship: Somerset’s title hopes hit badly in Yorkshire defeat as they drop to second in table | Cricket News | Sky Sports
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Somerset lose leadership of Division One to Warwickshire heading into the final round of matches after hugely-costly 185-run defeat to Yorkshire at Headingley; Somerset at home to Surrey, while Warwickshire host Leicestershire in final title-deciding matches from September 24
Friday 18 September 2026 14:17, UK
Yorkshire players congratulate Adam Lyth (l) for taking a catch from the bowling of Ben Coad to dismiss Somerset’s James Rew (SWpix.com)
Somerset’s hopes of becoming county champions for the first time in their history took a major blow as they collapsed to a costly defeat at the hands of Yorkshire.
Top of the County Championship Division One table heading into the penultimate round of matches, Somerset saw rivals Warwickshire wrap up a two-day victory against Essex but failed to keep pace at Headingley.
Chasing 287 – the highest score of the match – they were bundled out for 101 on the final day. Resuming on 73-3 they collapsed horribly as their final seven wickets fell for 25 runs in less than 13 overs.
Ben Cliff took three of them as he finished with 3-29 after taking 8-76 in the first innings, while Ben Coad claimed 4-33 and Matthew Revis 2-7.
The 185-run defeat leaves Somerset chasing from behind heading into their season-ending fixture against Surrey and one step further away from ending their 135-year quest for the county game’s top prize.