The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day two of round 14 of the Vitality County Championship in 2024
Kia Oval (day two of four): Durham 262 & 1-1, Surrey 415 - Durham trail by 152 runs with nine second-innings wickets remaining
Ryan Patel's career-best 134 guided Surrey to 415 and the vital advantage of a 153-run first innings lead against Durham at the Kia Oval.
And Dan Worrall then had nightwatchman Callum Parkinson superbly held by Conor McKerr at third slip from the first ball of Durham’s second innings as, in two overs’ batting, they finished on 1 for 1.
Patel, who batted for just short of five hours in a crucial anchor role before being caught on the deep midwicket boundary, took the game away from Durham in an eighth wicket stand of 92 in 19 overs with Tom Lawes.
Related: Surrey stay patient and allow Durham to fall into their trap
Luke Wells frustrated Somerset on day two (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Utilita Bowl (day two of four): Hampshire 462 & 3-0, Worcestershire 273 - Hampshire lead by 192 runs with 10 wickets remaining
Nick Gubbins equalled his first-class best before Ethan Brookes scored a scintillating maiden Vitality County Championship century but couldn't prevent a hefty Hampshire lead.
Gubbins shone to reach 201 as Hampshire picked up maximum batting points in their improbable title charge, before Mohammad Abbas ran rampant to leave the visitors 61 for 5.
Worcestershire's Brookes and Gareth Roderick countered in a flurry of sweeps and high-quality batting to put on 196, with scores of 132 and 94 individually to confirm their side's safety in Division One.
But Liam Dawson claimed his fifth five-wicket haul of the summer to boast a 189-run first-innings lead, however Hampshire did not enforce the follow-on – instead closing the day on three without loss.
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Canterbury (day two of four): Nottinghamshire 433, Kent 225 & 85-0 - Kent trail by 123 runs with 10 second-innings wickets remaining
Kent were once again fighting to save a match in the Vitality County Championship, reaching 85 for no wicket in their second innings against Nottinghamshire at Canterbury, still 123 behind at stumps on day two.
Tawanda Muyeye was unbeaten on 55 and Ben Compton was 22 not out when bad light stopped play with seven scheduled overs remaining.
Notts were all out for 433 early during the morning session, Nathan Gilchrist finishing with 4 for 101, but Farhan Ahmed then claimed 4 for 37 as Kent were dismissed for 225 in their first innings.
Joey Evison was the highest scorer, hitting 76 against his former side, while the second biggest contribution came from the extras column with 43.
Kent were forced to follow on and the seven bonus points the visitors have stockpiled mean that even if the hosts pull off an improbable win here, Notts would need just a single point from their final fixture next week at home to Warwickshire to ensure Kent go down – and if Lancashire beat Somerset, Kent will be relegated regardless of what happens on the final two days.
Ryan Patek's hundred has put Surrey in charge (Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)
Related: The ever-reliable Craig Overton stands up for Somerset again
Old Trafford (day two of four): Lancashire 140 & 298-7, Somerset 146 - Lancashire lead by 292 runs with three second-innings wickets remaining
Lancashire's batters made title-chasing Somerset work for every wicket on the second day of the Vitality County Championship match at Old Trafford and had built a formidable 292-run lead at close of play.
Josh Bohannon's 60 and Luke Wells' unbeaten 78 enabled the home side to finish on 298 for 7 in their second innings of a match both sides desperately need to win, Lancashire to preserve their hopes of avoiding relegation, Surrey to stay in touch with Surrey at the top of the table.
Related: County Championship 2024: All the permutations ahead of the final two rounds
Edgbaston (day two of four): Warwickshire 78 & 114, Essex 232 - Essex won by an innings and 40 runs
Essex completed a crushing innings-and-40-run County Championship win over Warwickshire inside five sessions at Edgbaston.
Warwickshire's top order was blown away by the visiting seamers on the second morning, just as it had been on the first, to set up the most commanding victory for Tom Westley's side.
After Essex took their first innings to 232, thanks to Shane Snater's 69, to secure a lead of 154, Warwickshire floundered to 3 for 4 and then 38 for 6 against superb bowling from Jamie Porter (6 for 36) and Sam Cook (3 for 36). Danny Briggs (51) offered some resistance but Warwickshire, who looked a beaten side from ball one, were all out for 114 to follow their 78 all out in the first innings.
Essex will face Division One leaders Surrey in their final game of the next week full of confidence from successive heavy victories. Warwickshire, still looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone, must reboot – and hope seamer Chris Rushworth recovers from injury – before their last game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
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