CCD1: Sussex centuries halt Yorkshire's title charge
Sunday 23 August 2015 20:30, UK
Centuries from Michael Yardy and Ben Brown helped Sussex halt Yorkshire's charge to a seventh successive victory in the LV County Championship Division One on Sunday.
Yardy, who is retiring at the end of the season, made 124, while Brown hit 106 not out as Sussex reached 493-7 in reply to Yorkshire's 494 on the third day at Hove.
The hosts' aggressive hitting was also enough to earn them maximum batting points for the first time this summer.
Neil Dexter's 13th first-class century helped Middlesex take control of their clash with Durham at Chester-le-Street.
Middlesex reached 280 in their second innings with Dexter making 112, despite Durham seamer Chris Rushworth taking his seventh five-wicket haul of the season.
But the visitors' march to victory has been blunted by Scott Borthwick (68 not out) as Durham go into the final day on 134-5, needing 308 to win.
Second-placed Middlesex have also been running the risk of a points deduction, slowing to an over-rate of minus four before finally turning to Ollie Rayner four overs from the close.
Meanwhile, Worcestershire were forced to battle hard against the weather and Somerset at Taunton, where Ross Whiteley and Ben Cox both hit half centuries.
After heavy rain delayed the start until mid afternoon, only 22 overs were possible, but Whiteley (78 not out) and Cox (52 not out) fought through them with few scares as Worcestershire closed on 172-4 in their first innings, trailing the hosts by 393.
With more rain forecast for Monday, a game that could be crucial for both side's chances of staying in the First Division looks likely to end in a draw.
The weather also played its part at Trent Bridge, where a frustrated Nottinghamshire enforced the follow-on against Warwickshire before rain washed out the final session of the third day.
Warwickshire had been dismissed for 260 in their first innings, with Jake Ball (3-35) the outstanding bowler for the home side.
Warwickshire then reached 42 without loss second time around when the rain forced the players off for an early tea, and the conditions failed to improve as a total of 43 overs were lost.
The visitors may be hoping for more rain as they head into the final day trailing by 298 runs.
