Surrey has clinched the County Championship title for the second successive year.

Cricket General

Surrey has clinched the County Championship title for the second successive year.

County Championship Club Surrey displayed a dominating performance throughout the season and comfortably grabbed the County Championship title for the second successive year after rivals Essex fail to get any batting points against Northamptonshire.

The defending champions took a 20-point lead into this week’s final round of fixtures, needing just five more to secure the title outright for the 21st time.

Their failure to take any batting bonus points against Hampshire left the door slightly ajar for Essex, who needed to post a 400-plus score in 110 overs at Wantage Road to keep the title race alive.

Surrey have become the first side to retain the county title since Yorkshire's back-to-back victories in 2014 and 2015.