A tense conclusion to the Specsavers County Championship season awaits at Edgbaston where Lancashire will start the final day on 28 for three in pursuit of a target of 347 to beat Warwickshire. Both sides know that defeat would, if Hampshire beat Durham at The Ageas Bowl, send them down to Division Two. And Lancashire in particular were left hoping from assistance from Paul Collingwood's side after the balance of power tilted strongly in Warwickshire's favour on the third day in Birmingham as a solid batting effort lifted their second innings to 279 for seven. Ian Bell's declaration after tea left Lancashire with an awkward 18 overs batting on the third evening and the visitors lost Rob Jones, Luke Procter...
Essex will require three runs with only one wicket in hand to avoid a last day follow on after reaching stumps on day three in Canterbury on 289 for nine. Responding to Kent’s 441 all out, Essex lost wickets at regular intervals in this Specsavers Championship top-of-the-table clash, but a priceless 10 th wicket stand worth 22 between David Masters and Matt Dixon has at least given the visitors a great chance to avoid batting again on the final day of the campaign. Batting for the first time by 11.35am on day three, Essex lost two wickets in the short 15-over spell through to lunch as Kent maintained their grip on events despite a determined knock from No.4 Dan Lawrence, who...
Durham off spinner Ryan Pringle reduced Hampshire’s Specsavers County Championship Division One survival hopes by grabbing his second career five-for at the Ageas Bowl. Pringle was the nemesis for Hampshire as they capitulated on the third day, with the wily turner restricting them to a lead of just 226. The hosts had been on a quest for quick runs to set up a hefty total for Durham to attempt to chase on the final day. It had started well as Jimmy Adams and Will Smith smashed the new ball around the large Ageas Bowl boundaries. The pair put on 50 in 9.4 overs before Adams was caught at Graham Onions short fine leg while attempting to sweep leg-spinner Scott Borthwick....
Harvey Hosein scored his maiden County Championship century but Derbyshire were forced to follow on after another impressive performance with the ball by Worcestershire paceman, Joe Leach, at New Road. Wicket-keeper Hosein registered his fourth successive fifty score and reached three figures off 240 balls with his 11th boundary - through mid-wicket off Ed Barnard. It was a perfect reminder of his potential in the week that Derbyshire signed Gary Wilson from Surrey on a three-year contract. But Leach followed up yesterday's century with his fifth five wicket haul of the campaign as Derbyshire were bowled out for 248. Only Hosein and Championship debutant Greg Cork (49) provided prolonged resistance as Derbyshire followed on - 227 in arrears. Then Leach...
Tim Bresnan completed one of the great hundreds of the county cricket summer at Lord’s, going to a seven-and-a-half hour 142 not out as Yorkshire turned the tables on title rivals Middlesex in thrilling fashion. Bresnan’s brilliant 293-ball knock hauled Yorkshire to 390 in reply to Middlesex’s first innings 270, with Ryan Sidebottom then following up his own batting heroics from No.11 by striking with the new ball as he and Jack Brooks dealt Middlesex two early blows before they recovered to 81 for 2 by the end of a gripping third day. Yorkshire, however, still lead by 39 runs. With 350 needed inside 110 first innings overs for the four batting bonus points that would keep alive...
