Kent complete easy win over Worcestershire in Division Two

Kent dented Worcestershire's promotion bid by mopping up the visitors' last four wickets and knocking off the 12 runs required to clinch a 10-wicket victory.

Having dismissed Worcestershire for 251, Kent openers Sean Dickson and Daniel Bell-Drummond did the rest in just six minutes at Canterbury.

Resuming on 213-6 - 27 behind - they lost Ben Cox (39) early, Matt Coles finding his outside edge and James Tredwell claiming the catch at second slip.

Joe Leach (three) then nicked Darren Stevens behind, and Kyle Abbott lifted his back foot during a half-hearted lbw appeal, allowing Billings to whip off the bails for a gift stumping.

Ed Barnard sliced a drive against Stevens which flew to Alex Gidman at short third man and the Kent openers knocked off the runs to move top of the table.

Fast bowler Ben Sanderson took 7-22 as Northamptonshire hammered Glamorgan by 251 runs at Swansea, the hosts skittled out for just 95 in their second innings. 

The visitors began day three on 230-7 and added a further 31 before declaring on 261-9, a lead of 346. Sanderson struck when he found the edge of first innings centurion Nick Selman (0) and then Will Bragg (2) before Owen Morgan (0) was bowled by Rory Kleinveldt to leave the hosts 2-3. 

Sanderson then ripped through the middle order, aided by spinner Graeme White, Aneurin Donald (28) and Mark Wallace (28no) saving the hosts from serious embarrassment. 

At Colchester, Sussex hold the upper-hand against Essex thanks to Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer who both starred with bat and ball on day three.

After the pair had helped the visitors enjoy an unexpected first innings lead, thanks to a seventh wicket stand of 140, they then struck with the ball to leave Essex stuttering in their second knock.

With one day remaining, the Eagles have edged into a 73-run lead with six wickets remaining.

After the hosts had made 358 in their first innings, Sussex appeared to be struggling when they slipped to 173-6 on day two.

But Jordan and Archer - who were both born in Barbados - rescued their hopes with a 207-ball partnership that helped Sussex post a 90-run lead.

Jordan went on to claim a maiden First-Class hundred, making 131 from 190 deliveries, after spending more than five hours at the crease. He struck 14 boundaries, as he raced past his previous highest score of 92.

Archer weighed-in with 73 (off 115), while Danny Briggs added 49 before being trapped by Graham Napier who ended with 5-114 on his home ground.

Essex, who had expected to earn a slender first innings lead, were suddenly under pressure when batting for a second time. By the time they had cleared the deficit they had already lost three wickets, with Jordan and Archer taking all three between them.

And from 111-4, and a lead of just 21, Ryan ten Doeschate and James Foster steadied the ship by adding an unbeaten 52 in 19 overs.

However, Sussex will begin the final day in the better spirits while Essex may still harbour ambitions of regaining top spot in the table from Kent.

And at Grace Road, Derbyshire have battled their way back into the match against Leicestershire.

From 199-6 overnight, the visiting tail wagged early on day three as they made 362 all out - a deficit of just 18 runs.

When the hosts batted again in their second innings, they quickly slipped to 30-3 as Tom Milnes struck twice.

Mark Pettini and Mark Cosgrove then put on 73 for the fourth wicket before the latter was bowled by Shiv Thakor for 49.

Four deliveries later, and without adding any further runs, Pettini fell for 32, trapped leg before by teenage debutant Callum Parkinson.

The 19-year-old Bolton-born player also took four wickets in the first innings and the visitors will feel confident heading into the final day with the Foxes 127 runs ahead with five wickets remaining.