Jonny Bairstow’s Yorkshire collect top spot among 7 largest winning margins by runs in County Championship
The County Championship consistently delivers thrilling finishes deep into the four days of action, but sometimes the outcomes can be brutally one-sided.
Winning a first-class cricket match in England is a battle and doing so by hundreds of runs underscores a team’s superiority and ability to make the most of conditions that suit their game.
Relentless bowling and batting can lead to the decimation of the opposition’s batters and their bowlers with no answers to the seemingly unbreakable wall in front of them.
We’re going to take a look at the 7 biggest wins by runs in the competition where one side utterly dominated the other.
Who were the 7 teams to inflict the most crushing defeats in England’s premier domestic red ball league?
7. Middlesex beat Gloucestershire by 340 runs in 2005
At the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, Middlesex delivered a ruthless performance against a helpless Gloucestershire. Thanks to 75 from Ed Joyce, the home side posted a first innings score of 390.
Alan Richardson took five wickets as they dismissed Glocs for 232 and in a second innings Owais Shah’s century was supplemented by a further 93 from Joyce as they declared on 342.
The visitors then managed only 160 in response as they handed Middlesex the highest winning margin by runs in their history.
6. Yorkshire beat Surrey by 346 runs in 2007
Staying in the capital, Yorkshire caused carnage in the south as they overwhelmed Surrey at The Oval.
Yorkshire’s batting lineup laid the foundations for a big win with a substantial total courtesy of centuries from Jacques Rudolph, Tim Bresnan and Jason Gillespie.
Their bowlers backed up their start with Adil Rashid’s seven wickets in the match dismissing the home side well short of their target in 2007 in their county cricket fixture.
5. Somerset beat Northamptonshire by 352 runs in 2022
At Taunton, Somerset showcased their prowess and newfound County Championship momentum against Northamptonshire.
Building a significant first-innings lead, Somerset’s bowlers then dismantled the visitor’s batting lineup, securing a 352-run victory.
Centuries in both innings from captain, Tom Abell secured a legendary victory for his side.
4. Essex beat Yorkshire by 376 runs in 2017
Essex delivered a comprehensive performance against Yorkshire in Chelmsford with a dazzling bowling display.
They dismissed a despondent Yorkshire side for scores of 111 and 74 with Sam Cook taking five wickets for just 20 runs to seal a memorable victory.
It was a true example of a balanced team effort from Essex.
3. Somerset beat Nottinghamshire by 399 runs in 2023
Somerset bettered their winning margin from the contest against Northamptonshire the year before with yet another dominant win, this time at the expense of Nottinghamshire.
After amassing a substantial total through George Bartlett and James Rew centuries, they then swiftly ripped through the opposition’s lineup.
The match highlighted Somerset’s formidable form during the season.
2. Kent beat Yorkshire by 433 runs in 2019
Kent made the long trip north to Headingley and handed Yorkshire a significant defeat.
A double hundred from veteran, Darren Stevens and centuries in both innings from Sam Billings as the batters set an imposing and eventually unachievable target.
Stevens backed up his mammoth innings with five wickets to wrap up victory and give Yorkshire the unwanted record of the biggest margin of defeat, lasting six years.
1. Yorkshire beat Worcestershire by 504 runs in 2025
Yorkshire flipped the unwanted record around as they inflicted the most dominant victory in County Championship history on Worcestershire at Headingley.
The home side posted 456 in their first innings, with Dawid Malan scoring 98.
Worcestershire, responded with just 162 runs as Ben Coad led Yorkshire’s dominant bowling attack with figures of 4/39.
Yorkshire then built their lead further with an impressive score of 107 from nightwatchman, Dom Bess, who’s not usually renowned for his batting prowess.
The visitors then collapsed for just 105 as Yorkshire cruised to a 504-run victory – shattering the record.
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