By JMB
September 10 2006

Yorkshire have two games left to play in this seasons County Championship Division One. Home fixtures against relegation rivals Nottinghamshire and Durham will decide The Tyke's fate. With five teams technically still in the relegation dogfight Yorkshire's destiny is in their own hands. Bottom half of the table:

Kent - PL 14 - 151.00 PTS
Notts - PL 14 - 147.00 PTS
Durham - PL 14 - 133.50 PTS
Middlx - PL 15 - 123.50 PTS
Yorks - PL 14 - 123.00 PTS

Yorkshire are rock bottom of the table with two games to go but can take heart. With a maximum of 22 points for a win from each match The Tykes could finish with as many as 167 points. The two remaining matches are at home, the first against Nottinghamshire starting on Wednesday and the second against Durham a week later. Convincing performances in both matches would not only add points to the Yorkshire tally but deny points to their nearest rivals. It certainly isn't over yet, but a low scoring defeat this week could see Yorkshire relegated.

Middlesex begin their one and only remaining game away at Kent on 13th September and need to win to have any chance of survival. The most points they could achieve in total would be 145.50 and even that would be unlikely to see them to safety with all of the other counties having a match in hand. It would seem that, barring miracles, Middlesex are relegated.

Durham have a difficult away match against title chasing Lancashire before their trip to Headingley in the last week of the season. If Yorkshire can pick up points against Nottinghamshire in the previous week the final Headingley match could be one of the most important matches either county has played for some time. Alternatively a win for Durham at Old Trafford could see them safe before they travel to Leeds - it's that close.

Nottinghamshire are not out of the woods. They have a crunch relegation match at Headingley followed by a home tie against title chasing Sussex. A draw at Headingley could be enough, but defeat would leave them sweating over other results in the final round of games.

Kent have been dragged into the relegation battle and will be looking over their shoulders. Matches against Warwickshire and Middlesex should see them pick up at least enough bonus points to guarantee their safety in the top flight.

The weather could still play a big part in deciding this seasons final standings and teams with points on the board will be most confident, but Yorkshire have a lot to play for and the next two weeks will make or break their season. Boosted by the return of Matthew Hoggard from England duty and with the rapid emergence of their two young spinners Yorkshire could still end the season on a high.