County Championship Review: Hampshire close the gap in Division One

In the final round of county championship matches for three weeks,Hampshire moved to within three points of leaders Surrey in Division One after completing a ten wicket victory against Somerset at Taunton inside three days.

Holding a 69 run lead on first innings, the hosts were shot out for just 69 with Keith Barker taking 6 for 27 to leave Hampshire the simple task of just one run to win.

At Old Trafford, Lancashire went down to an innings and 56 runs defeat at the hands of Essex.

Dan Lawrence’s 120 set up Essex’s first innings total of 391. Lancashire were dismissed for 103 with Sam Cook taking 4 for 18 in only 13 overs. Essex enforced the follow on with Lancashire being bowled out for 232 with Dane Vilas top scoring with 62 and Simon Harmer picking up 5 for 89 to give Essex’s second win of the season.

The match between Yorkshire and Warwickshire at Headingly ended in a draw. Warwickshire posted 244 in their first innings with Michael Burgess falling four short of a century.

Yorkshire replied with 449 thanks to the in form Adam Lyth who made 145. Warwickshire ended the final day on 252 for 3 with unbeaten centuries from Sam Hain and Will Rhodes after at once stage slumping to 25 for 3.

In the other match in Division One the game between Kent and Northamptonshire at Northampton also finished in a draw in a match dominated by the bat.

Kent declared their first innings on 519 for 9 with Ben Compton hitting 140 and half centuries from Zak Crawley, Daniel Bell-Drummond and Jack Leaning. Northants replied with a score of 430 with Luke Procter top scoring with 76. Kent declared their second innings on 170 for 1 with Crawley making 84.

In Division Two Middlesex moved eight points clear at the top of the table after beating Durham by six wickets at Lords for their fourth championship win of the season and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

The hosts dismissed Durham for 188 in their second innings with Toby Roland-Jones finishing with 6 for 35 and wicketkeeper John Simpson taking five catches to go with his four in the first innings.

Middlesex were left 117 to win, with an unbeaten 39 from departing captain Peter Handscomb who returns back to Australia.

Second placed Nottinghamshire kept up the pressure on leaders Middlesex by beating Derbyshire by ten wickets at Trent Bridge.

In their second innings Derbyshire were dismissed for 262 with three wickets apiece from James Pattinson and Dane Paterson.

Notts were left a target of 165 which they knocked off without losing a wicket with Haseeb Hameed finishing on 93.

At Worcester, the hosts defeated Leicestershire by an innings and 259 runs. Worcestershire declared their first innings on 577 for 6 dec with Azhar Ali hitting 225 and Jack Haynes 127 in reply to Leicestershire’s 148. The visitors were dismissed for 170 in their second innings with Matthew Waite taking 4 for 35 to move up to third in the table.

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