The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day two of round ten of the Vitality County Championship in 2024
Kia Oval (day two of four): Surrey 262 & 44-3, Essex 180 - Surrey lead by 126 runs with 7 wickets remaining
Fourteen wickets fell on an attritional day two at the Kia Oval as Surrey edged themselves ahead against Essex in a top-of-the-table contest.
Division One leaders Surrey, resuming on 248 for 8, at least made sure of a batting bonus point before being bowled out for 262 but second-placed Essex, missing an ill Jordan Cox, were then dismissed for 180 in their own first innings.
Surrey then struggled to 44 for 3 in their second innings but still took their overall lead to an already handy 126.
Only Paul Walter, who top-scored with 64, and Matt Critchley, with a determined 48, held up the Surrey seam attack for any length of time.
Taunton (day two of four): Somerset 208-6, Warwickshire 412 - Somerset trail by 204 runs with 4 wickets remaining
Tom Banton and Tom Abell rescued Somerset from potential embarrassment on the second day of the Vitality County Championship Division One match with Warwickshire at Taunton.
The pair came together with the home side 57 for 3 in their first innings, trailing by 355 runs, and produced a patient stand of 139, Banton made 77 and Abell 61 not out before three late wickets saw Somerset stumble to stumps on 208 for 6. Oliver Hannon-Dalby was the pick of the Bear's bowlers claiming 4 for 45.
Earlier, Warwickshire had extended their score from an overnight 373 for 8 to 412 all out, Michael Burgess falling for 147. Migael Pretorius added the wicket of Michael Booth to his four first-day victims for figures of 5 for 104 from 27 overs.
Miguel Pretorius celebrates taking one of his five wickets for Somerset (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Southport (day two of four): Lancashire 344-8, Nottinghamshire
There was no play on the second day of the Vitality County Championship match between Lancashire and Nottinghamshire at Southport.
Despite early showers, umpires Martin Saggers and Tom Lungley initially decreed that Lancashire would resume their first innings at 12.30, but prolonged rain returned to scupper that plan and the officials finally pulled the plug on the day’s cricket at 4.05.
The abandonment was a particular disappointment to spectators who had travelled to Trafalgar Road in the hope of seeing James Anderson bowl in what might be his last game for Lancashire. Anderson is due to play his 188th and final Test match against West Indies at Lord's next week.
Should play be possible on Tuesday, Lancashire will resume on 344 for 8 with skipper Keaton Jennings on 188 not out.
In the nine games played at Southport since first-class cricket returned to the ground after a 12-year absence in 2011, this is only the second time in 31 days that play has been completely abandoned.
Fans were made to wait longer to see Anderson play his first game of the season (Jan Kruger/Stringer via Getty Images)
Southampton (day two of four): Hampshire 505-8 dec, Kent 206-6 - Kent trail by 299 runs with 4 wickets remaining
James Vince completed his fourth Vitality County Championship double century before Hampshire's bowlers cemented their advantage over Kent on day two.
Hampshire captain Vince showcased the best of his aesthetically pleasing batting to go from 149 overnight to 211 before he was dismissed by Grant Stewart.
He was able to declare on 505 for 8 thanks to attacking cameos from James Fuller (41) and Keith Barker (43) before Barker, Mohammad Abbas, and Kyle Abbott chipped away with wickets.
Feroze Khushi (53 off 39) and Jack Leaning (73 not out) bagged contrasting fifties for the visitors but they ended the day 299 runs behind on 206 for 6.
Chester-le-Street (day two of four): Durham 190 & 148-9, Worcestershire 112 - Durham lead by 226 runs with 1 wicket remaining
Tom Taylor and Nathan Smith took four wickets apiece to give Worcestershire a fighting chance in a rain-affected second day of their Vitality County Championship clash with Durham.
The pair had the ball on a string at the Seat Unique Riverside and picked up key wickets, but 40 from Colin Ackermann helped Durham build their lead to 226 after finishing day two on 148 for 9.
With plenty of rain around, there was no play at Chester-le-Street until just after one o'clock and the visitors took two wickets in a seven-over spell before being forced off by the weather again.
Wickets continued to fall in the evening session, but Ackermann adapted to the conditions and helped his side build a challenging lead.
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