The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day four of round nine of the Vitality County Championship in 2024
Chelmsford (day four of four): Durham 587 & 184-4 dec, Essex 339 & 208-2 - match drawn
Dean Elgar reaped his 50th first-class century as he and Tom Westley dropped anchor to secure a draw against Durham in the Vitality County Championship.
Former South Africa international Elgar batted the whole of day four, almost exclusively with Westley, to make sure Durham didn't have a sniff of victory.
He ended up with 120 after an epically stoic 165 runs, 421 balls and 276 minutes third-wicket stand with Westley – who scored 63 not out.
Essex are now 12 points behind leaders Surrey ahead of their meeting next week, while Durham remain in the chasing pack having collected 16 points from a match they led throughout.
Related: Olly Stone gives England selectors food for thought… thanks to his batting
Lancashire picked up a crucial victory (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Canterbury (day four of four): Kent 244 & 222, Lancashire 549-9 dec - Lancashire win by an innings and 83 runs
Lancashire have routed Kent by an innings and 83 runs in their Vitality County Championship showdown at Canterbury.
The visitors bowled Kent out for 222 in their second innings, Will Williams taking 3 for 26 and Tom Bailey 3 for 36.
Charlie Stobo hit his highest first-class score of 64 but the hosts were all out after 30.2 overs on day four.
The result, against the only side who were below them in Division One before this round of fixtures, drastically increases Lancashire's chances of avoiding the drop, while Kent remain anchored to the foot of the table.
It was an outcome that had looked almost inevitable ever since Kent lost a cluster of wickets midway through day one. The hosts were a shadow of the side who won convincingly at Old Trafford earlier this season, with six of the players who pulled off what remains their only red ball win of the season injured or unavailable.
Trent Bridge (day four of four): Nottinghamshire 360 & 425-2 , Somerset 470 - match drawn
Nottinghamshire opener Ben Slater turned the 13th hundred of his career into an unbeaten 168 but a lifeless final-day pitch had consigned this Vitality County Championship match to a draw long before that conclusion was reached with an exchange of handshakes at ten minutes to five as the home side declared on 425 for 2.
Only one wicket fell in 72 overs on the day, Slater finishing on a score he has bettered only twice in his career, with overseas batter Will Young making 68 not out after Olly Stone had been out for 63 nine overs after lunch, the England fast bowler again showing off his batting skills with a half century in each innings for the first time in his career.
There was too little in the pitch to encourage much interest for the bowlers, however, and it was hardly surprising that Nottinghamshire showed no interest in setting Somerset a target, given that their prospects of taking 10 wickets were almost non-existent.
The 13 points they take ensure they remain at a comfortable distance from the relegation places in the Division One table; Somerset's 15 keep them third.
Related: Cricket Week thrives at Canterbury even if Kent continue to struggle
Ben Slater batted all day for Nottinghamshire (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Edgbaston (day four of four): Hampshire 298 & 453-6, Warwickshire 254 & 321-9 - match drawn
A dogged rearguard action from Warwickshire denied Hampshire a third successive victory as a hard-fought Vitality Championship match ended in a tense draw at Edgbaston.
Chasing 498 to win, Warwickshire resumed on the final morning on 40 for one and batted out the day for 321 for nine thanks largely to a seventh-wicket partnership of 183 between Sam Hain (111 not out) and Michael Burgess (79).
They came together with their side in serious trouble at 123 for 6 but batted with patience and technique to consume 55 overs and steer the match towards a draw.
Hampshire pressed hard in the closing overs but had to settle for a draw having largely outbowled a home attack including Chris Woakes.
For Warwickshire, though their fourth-day resolve saw them escape defeat, their wait for a Championship victory goes on. In Division One, only they and neighbours Worcestershire have still to record a win this season.
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New Road (day four of four): Surrey 490, Worcestershire 212 & 273 - Surrey win by an innings and five runs
Surrey cemented their place at the top of the Vitality County Championship as they completed an innings and five runs victory over Worcestershire at Visit Worcestershire New Road with more than half a day to spare.
Worcestershire resumed on 207 for 5 – still needing 71 to avoid an innings defeat – and were bowled out for 273 by the reigning champions.
It was just the tonic that impressive Surrey needed before next week's top two meeting with Essex at the Kia Oval.
They produced an all-round professional performance with bat and ball and were back to their ruthless best after a shock innings defeat by Hampshire at the Utilita Bowl.
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