The heavy roller, the sun, five penalty runs and a hue and cry over a contentious not out decision in the final overs all added up to a gripping day at Old Trafford in the crucial promotion-relegation headlock.
After 21 wickets fell on the first day, only seven fell on the second, as Lancashire played with earthy grit to grind a lead of 292 over Somerset, who are chasing Surrey for a tilt at the title. Josh Bohannon’s 60 and an unbeaten 78 from Luke Wells, plus plucky innings from Rocky Flintoff and Harry Singh, frustrated Somerset, and nostrils later flared when George Balderson was adjudged not out after Craig Overton appeared to throw down his stumps from slip.
At the Oval, perennial understudy Ryan Patel hit a merry 134 to give Surrey a vital 153-run first innings lead over Durham. Durham then lost the nightwatcher Callum Parkinson to the first ball of their second innings as the sun dropped and Conor McKerr held a snorter at third slip.
Essex completed an innings victory over Warwickshire, who will want to forget a truly dismal five sessions at Edgbaston. Bundled out for 78 in their first innings, they made only 36 more in their second, once more bamboozled by Jamie Porter (six for 36) and Sam Cook (three for 36). Only Danny Briggs offered any ballast, with 51. In a bizarre morning session, Essex had added 43 more for the last wicket, as Warwickshire set nine fielders on the rope.
It had seemed easy pickings for Hampshire after they first pocketed maximum batting points, thanks to a Nick Gubbins double century, and then had Worcestershire 61 for five after Mohammad Abbas hit a magic patch. But a maiden first-class century from a bold Ethan Brookes and 94 from Gareth Roderick provided some fight – and crucially secured the much-loved Worcestershire’s place in Division One next season. Liam Dawson had time to add a fifth five-wicket haul of the season to his tally, before Hampshire declined to enforce the follow‑on.
It was another tricky day for Kent down in the bowels of the First Division, forced to follow on after Nottinghamshire first made 433, then dismissed them for 225, with four wickets for Farhan Ahmed. Tawanda Muyeye’s unbeaten 55 as the light faded was a lone bright spark.
In Division Two, Sussex shimmied a little closer towards promotion as a seventh-wicket stand of 112 between Jack Carson and John Simpson eased the game away from Gloucestershire, despite six wickets for Zafar Gohar. Chris Dent’s unbeaten 61 proved the early glue in Gloucestershire’s second innings.
A sprightly opening partnership of 115 between Adam Lyth and Finlay Bean sprinkled the sugar on Yorkshire’s day away to Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens, while a century from Mark Stoneman put Yorkshire’s promotion rivals Middlesex in a strong position against Derbyshire. After play, Stoneman revealed he would be leaving Lord’s at the end of the season as he hadn’t been offered another contract.
A career-best 135 from James Sales, the second century of his career, and a twinkle-toed 71 from Saif Zaib helped Northants lay down a chunky first-innings lead of 180 against Leicestershire – who then slipped to 69 for four.
Division One
Rose Bowl Hampshire 462 (NRT Gubbins 201 no; LA Dawson 109) and 3-0; Worcestershire 273 (EA Brookes 132).
Canterbury Nottinghamshire 433 (BT Slater 160); Kent 225 and 85-0.
Old Trafford Lancashire 140 and 298-7; Somerset 146.
The Oval Durham 262 and 1-1; Surrey 415 (RS Patel 134).
Edgbaston Warwickshire 78 and 114; Essex 232.
Essex (19pts) beat Warwickshire (3pts) by an innings and 40 runs.
Division Two
Derby Derbyshire 173 and 74-3; Middlesex 358 (MD Stoneman 115).
Cardiff Yorkshire 361 and 116-1; Glamorgan 239.
Bristol Gloucestershire 109 and 140-3; Sussex 311.
Northampton Leicestershire 203 and 69-4; Northamptonshire 383 (JJG Sales 135).
It’s slipping away, the light, the year, the Championship. But we still have six days left and nothing is yet decided – other than the happy news of Worcestershire’s Division One status.
Play starts at 10.30 am – see you (t)here.
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