The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day four of round eight of the Vitality County Championship in 2024
Canterbury (day four of four): Essex 591-7 dec, Kent 394 & 109 - Essex win by an innings and 96 runs
Essex have routed Kent by an innings and 96 runs in the Vitality County Championship at Canterbury.
Simon Harmer took 4 for 32 and Shane Snater 3 for 15 as the visitors skittled Kent for 109 in their second innings, to cut the gap to Championship leaders Surrey to just two points.
Joe Denly's 23 was Kent's highest score. Kent were 197 behind going into the final day and home fans were hoping that a combination of the grit shown on day three and a biblical weather forecast might see them escape with a draw. They were severely disappointed.
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Warwickshire were denied a first win of the season (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Old Trafford (day four of four): Warwickshire 284 & 96-3, Lancashire 149 & 89-4 - match drawn
Any hope of an exciting climax to the last day of the Vitality County Championship encounter between Lancashire and Warwickshire was dashed by the rain after only one hour and a quarter of play was possible at Emirates Old Trafford as the game finished in a draw.
Poor weather had dominated proceedings throughout the encounter but with the visitors 96 for 3 overnight with a lead of 231 all results were still possible in Manchester given Lancashire's brittle batting order this season and Warwickshire's desire to chase a first win of the campaign.
But as heavy showers swept across the ground throughout the morning both sets of players were thwarted with repeated pitch inspections coming and going without any chance of play.
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New Road (day four of four): Worcestershire 80, Nottinghamshire 234-3 - match drawn
Nottinghamshire's hopes of pushing for a last-day victory were wrecked by the weather during the rain-ruined draw with Worcestershire in the Vitality County Championship encounter at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Despite the washout of two of the first three days, Nottinghamshire were strongly placed at being 154 runs ahead. But heavy overnight rain and a steady stream of morning showers dashed any hopes of the players being able to take the field.
Umpires Nigel Llong and Suri Shanmugam carried out a host of inspections at 11.30pm, 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
The visitors are entitled to feel frustrated after completing outplaying Worcestershire on the one day's play possible on Saturday.
Luke Fletcher was the star performer with the ball, but a disciplined attack took full advantage of the seamer-friendly conditions to dismiss Worcestershire for 80. Then skipper Haseeb Hameed scored an excellent century to press home Nottinghamshire's advantage.
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