Durham begin their quest to make it three titles in a row in the ECB 50+ County Championship today as the first round of league matches take place around the country.
Durham have beaten Essex in the previous two finals, last season by just six runs, and their first match of the new term sees them travel to Lancashire.
Essex meanwhile are hoping to get over the disappointment of two finals defeats with a trip to play Berkshire at Henley on Thames Cricket Club.
Hampshire have reached the semi-finals for the last three seasons, knocked out by Essex in the previous two years, so are hoping for a change of fortunes, and maybe last-four opponents, if they get to that stage again in 2015.
Congrats to @DurhamCricket who won the 50+ County Championship after beating @EssexCricket. Watch the highlights http://t.co/mWGCnl89Fh
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) September 9, 2014
Their first league match is not until Sunday when they visit Wiltshire at Larkhill Cricket Club. Surrey are also hoping for a change of knockout-round opposition as they have been beaten by Durham in both 2013 and 2014, they host local rivals Kent at St John’s School in Leatherhead today.
The ECB 50+ County Championship involves 40 teams split over five league groups of eight teams playing each other once. The best 16 teams at the end of the league programme then progress to the knockout stages that begin at the end of July and conclude with the final on Sunday 6 September at Kibworth Cricket Club in Leicestershire.
For a full list of the fixtures, results, league tables and player statistics from the 50+County Championship, please go to the Play-Cricket competition pages - http://over50cc.play-cricket.com