SURREY has won a third straight County Championship title after Somerset’s defeat by Lancashire.
Somerset had to win at Old Trafford to keep their hopes of a first ever county title alive heading into the last round of games, but they suffered a 168-run defeat on the final morning.
Surrey, who become champions for the 23rd time overall, beat Durham by 10 wickets on Thursday.

Lifting the trophy in 2022, 2023 and 2024 means this group of Surrey players have etched their names into County Championship immortality.
They have become the first team since Yorkshire 56 years ago to win three titles in succession.

Surrey won seven in a row from 1952 to 1958 having also won the very first three, and five of the first six, in the 1890s.
But they are still 10 short of Yorkshire, who have won 33 in total.

“It’s a whole squad, group of staff coming together and putting in a heck of a lot of work over a long period of time,” Surrey head coach, Gareth Batty, told Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.
“To do it three times in a row is very satisfying. We shall enjoy today and then start the hard work tomorrow to do it all again.

“I feel like we are still keeping some distance, in a healthy, confident way, not in an arrogant way, because we’re working incredibly hard trying to improve our performances year in and year out.
“The T20 Blast we used 25 players in 15 games and in the Championship it was 24 or 25. Some counties don’t have that size of squad.

“So to have the rotation of players, to have the tenacity, the belief, the skill set, to come in and still be playing as a wonderful XI is a credit to every single person. It’s the staff, it’s the players, it’s the drive.”
‘You don’t often get a cuddle from Stewie’

Batty said the triumph was also a fitting way to mark the end of Alec Stewart’s tenure as Surrey director of cricket at The Oval.
“He is irreplaceable,” Batty added. “Anyone who thinks they can do what Alec Stewart has done here is delusional.
“He is the heartbeat, he is the brains – everything here comes through Alec. Three on the bounce is fitting.

“Alec will be here for years and years, just in a slightly different capacity we hope, but I think it’s very fitting for a man who has dedicated a huge proportion of his life – and his family also – to this club.
“You don’t often get a cuddle and a bit of a tear from Stewie, but when the Lancs boys got the final wicket there was a big outburst of emotion.
“It was wonderful to see an iconic English cricketer get some rewards for his dedication and the club will forever be thankful to him.”(BBC Sport)