The Cricketer wraps up the progress of the current set of County Championship games across the country
Hampshire 525-8d; Essex 164 & 132-4
Fidel Edwards, the Hampshire fast bowler, blitzed through Essex with a five-wicket haul as Sir Alastair Cook fell twice in a day on his return to the County Championship.
Former West Indies international Edwards claimed his eighth Championship five-for, ending with figures of 5-51, as his searing pace brought a lifeless Ageas Bowl wicket to life.
Edwards’ battery helped Hampshire bowl Essex out for 164 before they were left 132 for 4, still 229 behind Hampshire’s declared first-innings score of 525 at close having been asked to follow on.
Notts 408 & 329-5; Yorkshire 291
Joe Clarke is close to bagging his second century of the match at Trent Bridge.
Clarke, who scored 112 in the first innings, ended the day within three runs of recording his second hundred of the contest but was left a little frustrated at being unable to get back on strike during the final over of play.
At 22 years and 316 days the former Worcestershire player scored his runs from 125 balls, with 14 fours, to come within touching distance of commemorating an historic landmark as the youngest to score two centuries in a match for Notts.
The home side reached stumps on 329 for 5 in their second innings, holding an overall advantage of 446.
Somerset 171 & 164-7; Kent 209
Kent’s seamers wrestled back control of the low-scoring match at Taunton on a third day that saw fortunes swing.
Resuming their first innings on 81 for two in reply to 171, the visitors were bowled out for 209 in overcast conditions to lead by 38.
Lewis Gregory claimed 3-26, Craig Overton 3-46 and Josh Davey 2-40, while Jack Brooks took his first Championship wicket for Somerset following his move from Yorkshire.
Only Daniel Bell-Drummond (33) showed the application necessary on a testing wicket as the home side bowled much better than on the previous day.
But by tea Somerset’s top order batting had failed again as they crashed to 53 for 4, just 15 ahead, Darren Stevens being the pick of the Kent attack with 2-13 from seven tight overs with the new ball.
Derbyshire 197 & 334; Durham 171 & 10-0
Durham’s openers stood firm to halt Derbyshire’s victory charge on day three of the Division Two match at the County Ground.
Alex Lees and Gareth Harte battled through a testing last session to reach 10 without loss at the close in pursuit of an unlikely victory target of 361.
Derbyshire had taken control with Tom Lace making his maiden first-class half century before Harvey Hosein and Matt Critchley scored 50’s as Derbyshire reached 334 with Matt Salisbury taking 3-65.
That left Durham an awkward 17 overs to survive and Lees and Harte dug in to deny Derbyshire before bad light ended play early.
Northants 445; Middlesex 271 & 109-2
James Harris and Dawid Malan gave Middlesex hope of saving the game at Northamptonshire with fifties at the start and end of the third day.
Harris’ first-innings 61 not out reduced the deficit to 174 and then having been asked to follow-on, Malan went to the close unbeaten on 55 as Middlesex ended a day of uniform grey cloud 109 for 2, trailing by 65.
Sussex 173 & 308; Leicestershire 252 & 99-1
Leicestershire are on course to claim their first County Championship win over Sussex for 17 years after making a positive start to their pursuit of a target of 230 at Hove.
Skipper Paul Horton made an unbeaten 53 to take his side to 99 for 1 when rain arrived at tea and play was abandoned for the day at 5.35pm with Leicestershire still needing 131.
Reports courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network
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