The County Championship Division Two 2026 runs from April to September, with eight counties playing 14 four-day matches each. The top two earn promotion to Division One, and with relegated sides Lancashire and Kent in the field, the race to go up carries real weight.County Championship Division Two 2026 Points Table
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 258 | +0.723 |
| 2 | Kent | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 214 | -0.487 |
| 3 | Northamptonshire | 14 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 191 | +0.028 |
| 4 | Middlesex | 14 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 167 | +0.116 |
| 5 | Worcestershire | 14 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 166 | -0.278 |
| 6 | Derbyshire | 14 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 150 | +0.197 |
| 7 | Lancashire | 14 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 114 | -0.140 |
| 8 | Gloucestershire | 14 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 97 | -0.187 |
*Worcestershire and Gloucestershire each carry a 2-point deduction for slow over rate.
(Source: Cricbuzz)
How the County Championship Division Two Points System Works
The Division Two points system is identical to Division One, combining match result points with first-innings bonus points.
- Win: 16 points
- Draw: 8 points to each side
- Tie: 8 points to each side
- Abandoned without a ball bowled: 8 points to each side
- Loss: 0 match result points
Batting bonus points (awarded in the first 110 overs of each team’s first innings, up to 5 per match):
- 250 to 299 runs: 1 point
- 300 to 349 runs: 2 points
- 350 to 399 runs: 3 points
- 400 to 449 runs: 4 points
- 450 runs or more: 5 points
Bowling bonus points (awarded in the first 110 overs of the opponent’s first innings, up to 3 per match):
- 3 to 5 wickets: 1 point
- 6 to 8 wickets: 2 points
- 9 to 10 wickets: 3 points
A team can earn a maximum of 8 bonus points per match (5 batting, 3 bowling), regardless of the result. Points can also be deducted for slow over rates, poor pitch conditions, or non-regulation equipment.
How the County Championship Division Two Winner Is Decided
The county with the highest aggregate of points at the end of the 14-match season wins the Division Two title. If teams finish level, tiebreakers are applied in this order: most wins, fewest losses, head-to-head record, most wickets taken, and most runs scored.
The top two counties earn promotion to Division One for the following season. There is no relegation from Division Two, so the stakes sit squarely at the top of the table: every point matters in the race for one of two promotion places.
Also Read
Unbeaten Durham holds a 30-Point Lead With Six Rounds Still to Play
Durham’s start has been the story of the Division Two season. Five wins and no defeats from eight matches have opened a 30-point gap over second-placed Kent, who themselves have been strong since dropping down from Division One last year. Northamptonshire sit four points behind Kent in third, keeping the second promotion spot alive.
At the other end, Gloucestershire’s single win from eight games leaves them well adrift. Lancashire, the other side relegated from the top flight, sit seventh and face a second straight season in Division Two unless results improve sharply across the second half.
