The leaders roared back at the champions on a sun-drenched day at Lord's and Somerset moved into a winning position down at Taunton...
DIVISION ONE
Hampshire 411 v Durham 242-7
Middlesex 270 v Yorkshire 235-6
Somerset 365 & 105-2 v Notts 138
Warks 219 & 12-0 v Lancs 152
DIVISION TWO
Gloucs 229 v Sussex 208-4
Kent 389-7-v Essex
Leics 96 & 283 v Glamorgan 199 & 11-1
Worcs 475-7d v Derbyshire 15-0
SIMPLY THE BESS
Dom Bess has never won the Championship. No surprise there, given he’s 19 and this is his first season. But then neither have Somerset, and they are 141. After last night’s calamity of losing five wickets for no runs, Bess guided Somerset from 322-9 to 365 all out via a super handy bonus point. Then when Notts were digging in, Bess grabbed his second 5-for in just his second game as Notts were dismissed for 138. This lad is a player.
Spin twins @DomBess99 & @jackleach1991 rip through Notts! They're 138 all out & @SomersetCCC are piling on the pressure here... pic.twitter.com/TwGvEThrbX
— County Championship (@CountyChamp) September 21, 2016
SIMPLY THE BRES
Hands up who reckons Tim Bresnan could still do a fine job for England? He took the prize wicket of Nick Gubbins early on Day Two, to break a big partnership, then removed James Franklin before walking out to bat with his side in crisis at 32-3. The big lad can give it some tap, but he was watchful and patient, ending up with 72*.
Brilliant from @timbresnan! The big man has steadied the ship for @YorkshireCCC & there's life in the champions yet https://t.co/3emA1EvFlB
— County Championship (@CountyChamp) September 21, 2016
TOBY CARVERY
One of the major factors in Bresnan's dig in was Toby Roland-Jones. He might have a run up as long as Heathrow's second runway but he flings it down quicker than Airbus' finest when he gets there. His 4-31 ripped out Yorkshire's middle order as he accounted for Lees, Ballance and Gale. Then after a gritty 116-run stand between Bresnan and Andrew Hodd, he accounted for the latter. His role was large as Middlesex took a big step towards the title...
That's for Toby Roland-Jones, who has 3 for 6! Yorkshire are 32-3 with Adam Lyth scoring all 32 of those runs https://t.co/XB1TloZGWL
— County Championship (@CountyChamp) September 21, 2016
DO THE HOKEY STOKESY
There’s a whole lot of frayed nerves at the bottom of Divison One. Hampshire are faring well against Durham, despite Ben Stokes’ half century, complete with shots like the one below. Should they win then it is a straight dogfight between Warwickshire and Lancashire and my that is tense. The home side lead by 79 runs in their second innings, with a dash of rain leading to a premature close and a ratcheting up of the already palpable tension.
NO AVERAGE JOE
Trust us when we say you really want to get to know talented youngster Joe Clarke. Honestly, you do. Sharpish. And not just because of this shiny profile we created on him. No, Joe, who recently received a call-up to the England Lions' winter tour of the UAE, is making waves this season. The 20-year-old wicket-keeper batsman struck his 5th Championship ton of 2016 in helping Worcestershire recover from 36-2 to declare on 475-7, smashing a career-best 194. Remember the name.
Some classy shots from @WorcsCCC youngster @joeclarke10 in his 194https://t.co/LQNqCwLSvc
— County Championship (@CountyChamp) September 21, 2016