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Max Holden and Ben Geddes shared a century partnership as Middlesex completed their Rothesay County Championship campaign on a high and extinguished Northamptonshire’s faint chance of promotion. Stand-in captain Holden scored exactly 50, with Geddes hitting an unbeaten 59 to guide the home side to their victory target of 134 with ease at Lord’s following an early alarm when Harry Conway struck twice, reducing them to 12 for two.

Half centuries for Saif Zaib and Ricardo Vasconcelos helped Northamptonshire dig in on day two of their final County Championship fixture of the season with Middlesex at Lord’s. Zaib, given a life on 25, battled his way to an unbeaten 83 while the division’s leading runscorer Vasconcelos made 69 to help the visitors reach 249-7 by stumps – a slender lead of 97 on a pitch giving some assistance to spin.

Ryan Higgins recreated last weekend’s 50-over heroics with another century to help Middlesex take control on a wicket-laden first day of their Rothesay County Championship clash against Northamptonshire. The all-rounder, whose 100 underpinned the Seaxes’ fightback to beat Leicestershire in Sunday’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup final, came to the rescue again after Northamptonshire seamer Ben Sanderson (four for 68) had reduced his side to 32 for four at Lord’s.

Promotion hopefuls Northamptonshire’s hopes of pulling off an historic Championship victory over Derbyshire were denied by bad light and rain with victory looking certain. Chasing 349, which would have been the fifth-highest successful run chase in their first-class history, Northamptonshire were 326 for six, needing 23 more in 22.2 overs, with Ricardo Vasconcelos having led the charge with 132, his sixth century of the season.

Nick Potts’ maiden half-century rescued Derbyshire at the cinch County Ground as they threatened to derail Northamptonshire’s promotion challenge in the Rothesay County Championship. Derbyshire were struggling at 177 for seven, despite Martin Andersson’s 62, when Potts – drafted in the previous day as an injury replacement for Ben Aitchison – joined forces with fellow seamer Brett Randell.

Lewis McManus scored an important and determined half century to help Northamptonshire secure two batting points late on the second day at the cinch County Ground. Derbyshire’s New Zealand seamer Brett Randell led the charge for the visitors with three wickets for 48 as Northamptonshire were dismissed for 310, trailing by 62 runs at the close of play.

Wayne Madsen and Ben Aitchison scored contrasting centuries to rescue their side with a stunning partnership after Northamptonshire’s bowlers engineered a batting collapse on day one at the cinch County Ground. With promotion hopefuls Northamptonshire hunting precious bowling bonus points, a pacy Liam Guthrie took three for 66, passing 100 career first-class wickets, including his 50th for Northamptonshire, as Derbyshire slumped to 51 for four and 107 for six.

For the last time in 2026, County Championship cricket will take place at the cinch County Ground as Northamptonshire take on Derbyshire. The match will play a crucial part in the race for promotion as Northamptonshire currently sit two points ahead of Kent with two games remaining. Darren Lehmann’s side come into this game on the back of a three-day victory over Worcestershire at New Road in which Saif Zaib hit a century and Luke Procter took a five-for.

Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women’s season came to an end after a 29-run defeat at Radlett versus Middlesex. The Metro Bank One Day Cup Women’s League Two Semi-Final got off to a strong start for the Steelbacks as they restricted Middlesex to 169 despite 75 scored by Abbie Whybrow. Amelia Kemp and Chloe Hill made a good start in reply to that total before a strong bowling effort from Saskia Horley at the end turned the game in the home side’s favour.

It’s semi-final action for Northamptonshire Steelbacks Women as they travel to Radlett to take on Middlesex Women in the Metro Bank Women’s One Day Cup League Two. Victory on Sunday would see the Steelbacks secure a spot in the final which will take place at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol on Sunday 20th September. Steelbacks Women finished the league phase in fourth place despite victory over Derbyshire but were only three points away from Middlesex in first place.