COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO ROUNDUP: All but one of the opening Division Two matches were concluded on day three, while Lancashire and Middlesex are set for a thrilling final day at Lord's
Northampton (day three of four): Kent 231 & 171, Northamptonshire 143 & 114 - Kent win by 145 runs
Kent seamer Keith Dudgeon produced career-best figures of 7 for 36 to wrap up his side's County Championship Division Two victory over Northamptonshire just half an hour into the third morning.
The 29-year-old South African, making his debut in English cricket, rattled through the last three Northamptonshire wickets to secure a 145-run success – only Kent's second red-ball win in their last 20 games.
It took Kent only seven overs to complete their win at Wantage Road, with the home side bowled out for 114 in their second innings as George Bartlett was left unbeaten on 60.
Resuming on 54 not out, Bartlett did his best to farm the strike and take the odd single, but he could not protect the tail for long, and Dudgeon struck in his third over of the morning to take his tally of wickets to five.
Dom Leech, attempting to fend off a short delivery, could only send it looping into the gloves of Harry Finch – and Liam Guthrie departed in Dudgeon's next over, bowled off his pads for a duck.
The South African completed Kent's victory – their third successive red-ball win over Northamptonshire – just two balls later, uprooting Raphy Weatherall’s off stump with a fizzing yorker.
Related: Liam Guthrie impresses as host of naturalised Aussies do battle at Wantage Road
Max Holden made his sixth first-class century as Middlesex fought back against Lancashire (ECB Reports Network)
Derby (day three of four): Gloucestershire 222 & 259, Derbyshire 391 & 93-1 - Derbyshire win by nine wickets
Luis Reece celebrated a personal milestone to set up a Derbyshire victory over Gloucestershire by nine wickets on day three of the County Championship Division Two match at Derby.
The allrounder took 10 wickets in a match for the first time, finishing with 4 for 45 to add to his 6 for 52 in the first innings.
Ben Charlesworth made 110, his third first-class century, but no one else could play a significant innings as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 259.
That left the home side a victory target of 91, and Caleb Jewell's unbeaten 51, his second half-century of the game, guided them home inside 20 overs to give Derbyshire a 22-point haul and a victory from the opening match of the season for the first time in six years.
Related: Tension gives way to expression as Caleb Jewell crowns Derbyshire's day against Gloucestershire
Lord's (day three of four): Middlesex 260 & 288-6, Lancashire 359 – Middlesex lead by 189 runs with four wickets remaining
Max Holden's sixth first-class hundred led a Middlesex fightback on day three at Lord's to set up the prospect of an exciting finish against Division Two title favourites Lancashire.
The Cambridge-born left-hander followed up his half-century of the first innings with an unbeaten 135 to rescue his side from the havoc of 7 for 3 in the wake of Tom Bailey's superb three-wicket opening salvo. Holden shared stands of 106 with Ryan Higgins (43) and 163 with debutant Ben Geddes (74) as the hosts reached 288 for 6 at stumps.
Bailey (3 for 47) couldn't add to his pre-lunch heroics, but late wickets with the second new ball gave the visitors the edge once more ahead of day four.
All this unfolded after Lancashire added just six to their overnight first innings score to be bowled out for 359, Saturday's centurion Marcus Harris last to go 138, Zafar Gohar finishing with 4 for 79.
Related: Marcus Harris' sharp adjustment leaves Lancashire in the box seat
Kiran Carlson's magnificent century was in vain as his team lost by 10 wickets (ECB Reporters Network)
Cardiff (day three of four): Glamorgan 229 & 248, Leicestershire 426-8 & 53-0 - Leicestershire win by 10 wickets
Leicestershire sealed a comfortable win against Glamorgan inside three days in the opening match of the County Championship, despite a magnificent century from Kiran Carlson.
Carlson played a patient five-hour innings for his 113 as he was made to rescue Glamorgan from 10 for 2 with some support shown by Andy Gorvin, making a maiden half-century to ensure Leicestershire would bat again.
Ian Holland and Ben Green dominated with the ball, as the former took 4 for 46 to go with his three-wicket haul in the first innings.
There were concerns for Leicestershire, though, as Chris Wright hobbled off midway through an over after scoring 74 at No.10, and Rishi Patel was still unable to field due to his damaged thumb ahead of their next match against Derbyshire in just five days.
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