2018 Minor Counties Championship Explained

Administrator:England and Wales Cricket Board
Cricket Format:3 days (4 day final)
Tournament Format:League system and a final
Champions:Berkshire
Count:7
Participants:20
Matches:61
Previous Year:2017
Previous Tournament:2017 Minor Counties Championship
Next Year:2019
Next Tournament:2019 Minor Counties Championship

The 2018 Minor Counties Championship was the 114th Minor Counties Cricket Championship season, and the fourth under the name 'Unicorn Counties Championship'. It is contested in two divisions. Berkshire were the defending champions[1] and retained their title by defeating Lincolnshire in a repeat of the 2016 and 2017 finals. The final was played in Bodicote, Oxfordshire, with Berkshire winning by an innings and 32 runs.

Standings

Format

Teams receive 16 points for a win, 8 for a tie and 4 for a draw. In a match reduced to a single innings, teams receive 12 points for a win, 8 for a draw (6 if less than 20 overs per side) and 4 points for losing. For matches abandoned without play, both sides receive 8 points. Bonus points (a maximum of 4 batting points and 4 bowling points) may be scored during the first 90 overs of each team's first innings.[2]

Eastern Division

Team Pld W L T D A Bat Bowl Ded Pts
6 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 21 18 0 107
6 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 16 21 0 105
6 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 18 17 0 103
6 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 21 0 99
6 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 14 20 0 86
6 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 23 0 85
6 2 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 16 19 16 55
6 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 12 19 0 51
6 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 10 21 0 39
6 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 9 20 0 37
Source:[3]

Western Division

Team Pld W L T D A Bat Bowl Ded Pts
6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 23 0 138
6 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 23 0 115
6 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 21 24 2 111
6 2 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 9 24 0 73
6 1 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 20 24 0 68
Wiltshire6 2 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 9 24 2 67
6 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 23 0 66
6 1 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 14 23 0 61
6 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 21 0 45
6 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 8 23 4 39
Source:[4]

Final

The final featured the teams which finished with the most points in each Division, Berkshire and Lincolnshire – A repeat of the 2016 and 2017 finals. It began on 16 September 2018 at Banbury with the result being a victory for Berkshire by an innings and 32 Runs. Berkshire retained the title whilst Lincolnshire's most recent victory was in 2003.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Berkshire beat Lincolnshire to complete double triumph. England and Wales Cricket Board. 30 August 2017.
  2. Web site: Rules for the Unicorn Counties Championship season 2018. England and Wales Cricket Board. 26 July 2015.
  3. http://mcca.play-cricket.com/website/websites/view_division?id=77050 Unicorns Championship Eastern Division - 2018
  4. http://mcca.play-cricket.com/website/websites/view_division?id=77051 Unicorns Championship Western Division - 2018