The Cricketer goes around the grounds as the first batch of red-ball matches come to an end before the T20 Blast...
Emirates Riverside (second day of four): Durham 337-9 v Derbyshire
Paul Coughlin and Ned Eckersley shared a record-breaking stand for Durham on a frustrating rain affected day for North Group leaders Derbyshire in the Bob Willis Trophy match at Emirates Riverside.
The pair took their seventh-wicket stand to 157 in 49 overs, a Durham record against Derbyshire, before Matt Critchley bowled Coughlin for a career-best 90 from 146 balls.
The leg-spinner then bowled Matty Potts two balls later but Eckersley was unbeaten on 78 with Durham 337 for 9 when rain arrived shortly after lunch, wiping out 57 overs from the day's allocation.
Grace Road (second day of four): Leicestershire 222 v Nottinghamshire 221-2
Openers Ben Slater and Haseeb Hameed put together a partnership of 200 as Nottinghamshire laid the foundations to build a formidable first innings lead in their Bob Willis Trophy match against Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground.
In so doing they broke a record for the first wicket for Nottinghamshire against Leicestershire, beating the 159 compiled by George Gunn and Garnet Lee at Trent Bridge in 1919.
Headingley (second day of four): Yorkshire 178-6 v Lancashire
Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth moved to within 14 runs of a fourth Roses first-class career century during a weather-affected but entertaining day two of the Bob Willis Trophy clash with Lancashire at Emerald Headingley.
Both sides enjoyed periods of dominance during an uninterrupted morning, which saw Yorkshire advance their first innings from eight to 53 without loss before slipping to 78 for four, including two wickets in three balls for allrounder Danny Lamb.
No play was possible between 2.15pm and 4.45pm, with the hosts later advancing their first innings from 98 for four after 36 overs to close on 178 for six from 66. Lyth reached 86 not out off 197 balls.
Northampton (second day of four): Glamorgan 259 v Northamptonshire 288-5
If Northamptonshire’s policy of using the Bob Willis Trophy as a development competition is to be deemed a success, they need more stories like this second day at Wantage Road. Charlie Thurston made 115, his maiden century for Northamptonshire, and Ben Curran 82 as they responded to Glamorgan’s 259 with 288 for 5.
Thurston and Curran, both 24, have limited top-level experience but have been handed extended opportunities this season. Both have looked comfortable in their first XI appearances but were in need of scores to underline their potential.
So it would have been to the relief of the pair and the club - taking some flak for their results despite their stated intentions - that both delivered. They shared a second-wicket partnership of 176 as Northamptonshire finally realised runs from their top order.
A maiden first-class hundred for Tom Lammonby
Taunton (second day of four): Somerset 237 & 223-1 v Gloucestershire 76 & 14-3
Tom Abell and Tom Lammonby hit unbeaten centuries as Somerset set Gloucestershire an unlikely victory target of 385 on the second day of the Bob Willis Trophy match at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.
A day totally dominated by the home side saw Gloucestershire bowled out for 76 from an overnight 13 for four, Craig Overton claiming four for 25 and Josh Davey three for 21.
That gave Somerset a first innings lead of 161. Skipper Abell and Lammonby then both finished 101 not out after an unbroken second-wicket stand of 211 had guided their side to 223 for one when Abell declared, aware of the forecast of rain on the final two days.
It was 20-year-old Lammonby’s maiden first class century to follow his maiden first class wicket in Gloucestershire’s first innings. The visitors were left with a tricky eight overs to negotiate, losing Ben Charlesworth, Chris Dent and Tom Lace before closing on 14 for three.
Worcester (second day of four): Warwickshire 355-9 v Worcestershire 170-0
Charlie Morris completed a five-wicket haul before Daryl Mitchell and Jake Libby sparkled with the bat as Worcestershire struck back strongly on the second day of the Bob Willis Trophy derby encounter with Warwickshire at Blackfinch New Road.
County paceman Morris picked up four wickets today and ended with figures of 5 for 80 as Warwickshire, who were 228-3 overnight, lost six wickets for 47 runs before declaring at 355 for 9, with Will Rhodes making a career best 207.
Mitchell and Libby then again showed their quality during an unbroken opening partnership of 170 from 58 overs.
Arundel (second day of four): Hampshire v Essex 146-2
Sir Alastair Cook smoothly reached his 182nd first-class half-century around the rain as Essex totted up the runs against Hampshire at Arundel.
Former England captain Cook appeared in little danger with his second fifty of the Bob Willis Trophy and ended the day on 75.
Only 47 overs were bowled on Sunday, after no play on the first day, as rain continued to frustrate the top two teams in the South Division.
Charlie Thurston's first hundred for Northamptonshire
Radlett (second day of four): Sussex 293 & 33-4 v Middlesex 203
A devastating late spell from seamer Tim Murtagh fired Middlesex back into contention in their Bob Willis Trophy clash against Sussex at Radlett.
Murtagh grabbed three wickets, including two in two balls – with Miguel Cummins claiming the other – as Sussex crumbled to 4 for 4 in their second innings, eventually reaching 33 for 4 at stumps.
That left the visitors holding an overall advantage of 123 after bowling their hosts out for 203 earlier in the day, with teenage off-spinner Jack Carson returning career-best figures of 4 for 46.
Middlesex had slumped to 80 for 6 before John Simpson, debutant Blake Cullen and Cummins all rallied with the bat to keep their side within striking distance.
The Kia Oval (second day of four): Kent 342 v Surrey 239-7
Ben Foakes, scoring a brilliant 88 not out after emerging from England’s bio-secure Test bubble, and Darren Stevens, still a remarkable threat with the ball four months into his 45th year, shared second day honours in the Bob Willis Trophy at the Kia Oval.
Foakes’ high-class effort, in his first first-class innings since last September, kept Surrey afloat at 239 for 7 in reply to Kent’s 342, but once again it was Stevens – with 3 for 27 from 18 overs, nine of which were maidens – who stood out even with impressive displays from his fellow seamers Matt Milnes and Harry Podmore.
Milnes produced the ball of the day to bowl Jamie Smith for 28, and he and Podmore both picked up two wickets, but it was Stevens who returned in the late afternoon sunshine to add the scalp of Rikki Clarke to two earlier strikes and make sure Kent stayed on top at the midway point of a fascinating contest.
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