Van Jaarsveld nears MVP treble

Kent's Martin van Jaarsveld can clinch the LVCC MVP versus Durham this week

Kent batsman Martin van Jaarsveld goes in the final round of LV County Championship matches knowing one more impressive performance will secure the competition’s PCA MVP.

Van Jaarsveld has already clinched the Friends Provident Trophy title and is firm favourite for the overall MVP thanks to his consistent performances in all competitions this season.

In the championship rankings he leads Hampshire duo Dimitri Mascarenhas and James Tomlinson by 15 and 17 points respectively following a disappointing display in Kent’s 70-run championship defeat to Lancashire at Liverpool.

Hampshire were not in action last week but all-rounder Mascarenhas and seamer Tomlinson could overhaul the South African with an epic performance against title-favourites Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Nottinghamshire’s Samit Patel cut van Jaarsveld’s lead in the overall MVP by by 11 points to 47 but realistically cannot catch the 34-year-old.

Patel compiled a magnificent innings of 135 in the crushing innings and 143-run win against relegated Surrey at the Brit Oval.

Essex’s Ravi Bopara could yet overtake Patel after he struck 175 runs in the six-run defeat to Warwickshire at Chelmsford to keep him within 12 points.

Kent’s Ryan McLaren has slipped to fourth place but is only three points behind Bopara.

Worcestershire wicketkeeper-batsman Steve Davies had already won the NatWest Pro40 MVP before his side’s 103-run play-off triumph over Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium yesterday.

Davies managed just 12 runs in Cardiff and took no catches so barely extended his lead over Somerset’s Marcus Trescothick.