Abbott goes top of County Championship MVP Kyle Abbott’s influence in Hampshire’s rise to the top of the Specsavers County Championship First Division is reflected in the former South Africa international taking top spot in the competition’s PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings. Abbott took six wickets in the match – including four in the second innings – to help Hampshire to an innings victory over Warwickshire at the Ageas Bowl and earned 29 MVP points from the contest. Abbott earned 21 of his points for his second innings bowling which included the prized scalp of Warwickshire captain Ian Bell. With Surrey sitting out the latest round of championship matches, Abbott took the chance to overtake Kumar Sangakkara at the top of the competition rankings table by becoming the first player to 200 championship points this season. Sangakkara, the former Sri Lanka batsman, was voted the PCA Player of the Month for May but he now trails Abbott by 26 points in the championship MVP. The PCA MVP Rankings system identifies the match-winners and key influencers of matches throughout the domestic season. The formula takes into account conditions, quality of opposition, captaincy and strike-rates as well as runs scored and wickets taken. There was a Hampshire fourth wicket record partnership of 367 between Jimmy Adams and Sean Ervine against Warwickshire. Adams made 166 which was a third of Hampshire’s first innings total and earned him 32 rankings points. Ervine’s contributed 39 per cent of Hampshire’s runs with his 203 which earned him 36 rankings points which he increased to a match haul of 47 points by taking three wickets. Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens remains leader of the overall PCA MVP, which covers all formats, with a 10 points lead over Sangakkara and Abbott in third place on 253 points. Yorkshire captain Gary Ballance is in fourth place despite having a quiet Roses Match in which he earned only 16 MVP points. Ballance is fifth in the championship MVP on 132 points with his Yorkshire team-mate Ben Coad fourth on 165. Coad took eight wickets in the match against Lancashire including six in the first innings which earned 27 rankings points. Coad ended the Roses Match with 40 rankings points which took him above his county captain. To see the full MVP table click here. {{ak_sharing}}
