Gareth Batty, Surrey's head coach, dedicated his team's third consecutive County Championship title to the outgoing director of cricket, Alec Stewart, describing him as "irreplaceable" and adding that it was "delusional" to think that anyone could emulate the influence he has wielded across his five decades at the Kia Oval.

Surrey became the first team to win three straight English County Championship cricket titles since the 1960s when closest challenger Somerset fell to defeat on Friday.

SURREY is closing in on a third successive County Championship title after cruising to a 10-wicket win over Durham with a day to spare at The Oval. Durham,