The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day two of round 11 of the Vitality County Championship in 2024
Worcester: Kent 171 & 104-2, Worcestershire 447 - Kent trail by 172 runs with eight wickets remaining
Worcestershire captain Brett D'Oliveira made a triumphant return after injury as his side strengthened their grip on the Vitality County Championship Division One bottom-two encounter with Kent at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
D’Oliveira struck 97 off 90 balls and his positive approach enabled Worcestershire to seize the momentum and establish a first innings advantage of 276.
It was his first knock since missing the entire Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign to have extensive rehab on a shoulder problem which has troubled him for the past 12 months.
Tawanda Muyeye struck an aggressive unbeaten 80 from 84 balls in reply for Kent to leave them 172 in arrears with eight wickets in hand heading into the third day.
Edgbaston (day two of four): Warwickshire 337 & 27-1, Somerset 239 - Warwickshire lead by 125 runs with nine wickets remaining
Ed Barnard's five-fer lifted Warwickshire into the ascendancy against Somerset on the second day of their Vitality County Championship match at Edgbaston.
After Warwickshire, still looking for their first Championship win of the season, extended their first innings to 337, Barnard took 5 for 54 as the visitors were bowled out for 239.
Michael Burgess (69), Jake Bethell (64) and some aggressive tail-wagging gave the home side a solid total against an attack led by Josh Davey (4 for 80) and Craig Overton (4 for 88).
Somerset then lurched to 0 for 2 and 65 for 5 against Barnard and Chris Rushworth (3 for 42 in his first first-team bowl since April) before partially recovering through Kasey Aldridge's elegant 84, supported by James Rew (49) and Tom Lammonby (44).
Warwickshire closed on 27 for 1 second time round and will be hoping the forecast third-day rain stays away to allow them to try to press home their advantage.
Rory Burns made 227 for Surrey (Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)
Kia Oval (day two of four): Lancashire 204 & 4-0, Surrey 444-9d - Lancashire trail by 236 runs with 10 wickets remaining
Rory Burns led from the front with a magnificent career-best 227 as Surrey reached a second day 444 for 9 declared to take total control of their Vitality County Championship match against Lancashire at the Kia Oval.
Surrey captain Burns was well supported by Ben Foakes, who hit a fine 82, as the Division One leaders and defending champions built a potentially match-winning halfway lead of 240 after bowling Lancashire out for 204 on day one.
In five balls' batting before bad light ruled out the last scheduled 7.1 overs of the day, Lancashire reached four without loss in their second innings.
Related: Rory Burns career-best moves Surrey nearer third straight title
Southampton (day two of four): Essex 404-8, Hampshire
Jordan Cox reminded Brendan McCullum and the England setup of his dizzying batting skills with his fourth Vitality County Championship century of the season.
Cox was released by England to play for Essex against Hampshire in the Vitality County Championship clash after not selecting him for the First Rothesay Test against Sri Lanka this week.
He responded with a scintillating 124-ball 141 to double down Essex's advantage – having been stuck in – after Dean Elgar's masterful 51st first-class century. Both batters now have over 900 Championship runs this season.
After a washed-out day one and more rain on Saturday, this is likely to be a draw – but Essex collected three bonus points to reach the close on 404 for 8.
Ed Barnard took five wickets for Warwickshire (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Chester-le-Street (day two of four): Durham 531-7d, Nottinghamshire 220-8 - Nottinghamshire trail by 311 runs with two wickets remaining
A fantastic four-wicket return from the evergreen Neil Wagner and a century from Ashton Turner consolidated Durham's dominant position in their Vitality County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire.
Wagner was in a league of his own on day two at the Seat Unique Riverside as the experienced left-armer picked up figures of 4 for 68 on a pitch that has offered little for the bowlers, while Turner finished unbeaten on 114 on his Durham first-class debut.
The Australian combined with Bas de Leede for a swashbuckling partnership of 134 from 120 balls in the morning session to take Durham to an imposing total of 531 for 7 declared.
Wagner ran through the Notts top order, despite a maiden first-class fifty for Freddie McCann, with the visitors losing five wickets for 26 runs in the afternoon session.
The Kiwi was well backed up by Callum Parkinson but a defiant fifty from Lyndon James led Notts to 220 for 8 at close, with Durham leading by 311 runs.
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