The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day four of round 11 of the Vitality County Championship in 2024
Worcester (day four of four): Kent 171 & 376, Worcestershire 447 & 102-2 - Worcestershire win by eight wickets
Worcestershire secured their second successive win in the Vitality County Championship to bolster their hopes of retaining Division One status as they overcame bottom placed Kent by eight wickets at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Tom Taylor and Joe Leach picked up the final two Kent wickets this morning to leave Worcestershire, who were promoted last summer, with a modest victory target of 101.
Although Worcestershire openers Gareth Roderick and Jake Libby fell cheaply, Kashif Ali (52 not out) and Rob Jones (23 not out) saw their side over the finishing line with an unbroken stand of 69.
Worcestershire's 23-point haul followed on from victory in their previous game against Durham at the Seat Unique Riverside, albeit nearly seven weeks ago.
Edgbaston (day four of four): Warwickshire 337 & 270, Somerset 239 & 206-4 - match drawn
Jack Leach gave England's selectors a reminder of his skills as Somerset's Vitality Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston ended in a rain-affected draw.
The left-arm spinner has been overlooked by England in favour of Somerset team-mate Shoaib Bashir since the opening Test against India in Hyderabad in January but chose a dark day in Birmingham to prove that his talents still shine brightly.
On a pitch offering only slight turn, Leach took five wickets for 18 runs in 49 balls, finishing with 5 for 77, to truncate Warwickshire's second innings at 270.
The 33-year-old's work set up a potentially exciting final afternoon with Somerset, facing a target of 369 from 68 overs, on 13 without loss at lunch only for the rain, which robbed the match of 51 overs on the third day, to return. The loss of another 10 overs turned the chase from improbable to impossible and Somerset ended on 206 for 4 (James Rew 55 not out).
Dan Worrall is a key player for Surrey (Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)
Kia Oval (day four of four): Lancashire 204 & 177, Surrey 444-9d - Surrey win by an innings and 63 runs
Title favourites Surrey took less than two sessions on day four to bowl out Lancashire for 177 at the Kia Oval to complete an impressive innings and 63-run victory.
Conor McKerr polished off Lancashire's tail to finish with 4 for 27 while Dan Worrall and Jordan Clark picked up three wickets apiece as long-time Division One leaders Surrey, champions in 2022 and 2023, made it seven wins from 10 Vitality County Championship matches this season. It is another big step for Surrey towards a third title in a row.
Matty Hurst, Lancashire's highly-rated 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, tried hard to hold up Surrey by adding a fine 64 to a first innings 46 in what is only his 12th first-class appearance but there was never any real doubt about the eventual result as wickets fell regularly.
Southampton (day four of four): Essex 438-8 dec, Hampshire 424-8 dec - match drawn
Toby Albert and Tom Prest centuries gave a glimpse of Hampshire's batting future as their Vitality County Championship clash with Essex petered into a draw.
Both homegrown batters in their early 20s, they each scored exceptional hundreds filling in – with Albert playing in place of the injured Ali Orr, and Prest elevated up the order with James Vince unable to bat in his usual position.
The duo made sure Essex's low chances of forcing 19 wickets, and a victory, became non-existent, with career-best scores of 124 and 156.
Matt Critchley claimed a late 5 for 96 as both teams took away 14 points – a haul that is unlikely to worry table-toppers Surrey in the fight for the title.
Kashif Ali guided Worcestershire to victory (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Chester-le-Street (day four of four): Durham 531-7d, Nottinghamshire 229 & 285 - Durham win by an innings and 17 runs
A sensational seven-wicket haul from first-class debutant Daniel Hogg propelled Durham to a dominant Vitality County Championship win against Nottinghamshire.
Hogg, who already had three second innings wickets before today's play, mopped up the Notts tail to wrap up the victory, with a winning margin of an innings and 17 runs.
The win coupled with a maximum set of bonus points means that Durham consolidate their position in mid-table, meanwhile Notts will be anxiously looking over their shoulder due to sides below them picking up points in their respective fixtures.
The County Championship fixtures come in thick and fast as both sides are in action again on Thursday, with Durham travelling to Taunton to take on Somerset, while Notts host runaway leaders Surrey.
Hogg, who was making his first-class debut in this game, stepped up his game in the second innings with Durham one seamer down and he sealed the win with a fantastic spell on day four, one which the young quick could have only dreamt of when he was handed his Durham cap on Thursday.
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