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County Championship Division One: Nick Compton ton gives Middlesex control at Lord's

Nick Compton of Middlesex bats during day two of the pre-season friendly between Surrey and Middlesex at The Kia Oval
Image: Nick Compton made 131 for Middlesex at Lord's

On a day when England's batsmen struggled in the fourth and final Test barely five miles south of the Thames in SE11, Middlesex batsman Nick Compton dominated centre stage at Lord's by hitting a season's best 131 against Durham.

The 33-year-old batted for almost five and a half hours to help Middlesex reach 408-6 for a 204-run lead at the mid-point of the Specsavers County Championship Division One clash.

Resuming on their overnight score of 100-1 and in response to Durham's below-par 204, Compton set out his stall to bat for much of the second day alongside second-wicket partner Nick Gubbins.

In the end, the pair gloried in sunny afternoon conditions through to 4.06pm in adding 247 for the second wicket until Gubbins went for 145 - a single short of his 1,000th championship run for the summer.

A record-breaking stand of 107 for the 10th wicket between Lancashire's Jordan Clark and Kyle Jarvis was the highlight of an even day two against Yorkshire at Old Trafford.

Kyle Jarvis of Lancashire bats during day two of the Specsavers County Championship: Division One match at Yorkshire
Image: Kyle Jarvis hit 57 in a last-wicket stand of 107 for Lancashire

Lancashire are searching for their first championship win in seven for a couple of reasons; firstly to extinguish any fears of a relegation fight and also to reignite a title challenge such is the jam-packed nature of the Division One table.

They started day two at 299-7 having lost six wickets for 61 runs after tea on day one. But half-centuries for Clark and last man Jarvis, plus 45 for Arron Lilley fired them to 494 all out during an exhilarating morning's batting.

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Clark hit a career-best 84 not out and Jarvis 57, his maiden first-class century, before seeing Yorkshire respond with 136-2 from 62 overs after lunch. Alex Lees top-scoring with 62 not out.

Seamer Sam Curran, 18, took the starring role with five wickets as Warwickshire and Surrey delivered a superb day of county cricket at Edgbaston.

Sam Curran of Surrey appeals successfully for the wicket of Rob Newton of Northamptonshire
Image: Sam Curran's 5-44 saw Warwickshire bowled out for 247

Curran, playing only his 13th first-class match, took 5-44, including a devastating burst of 3-2 in 18 balls, to leave the home side reeling at 101-6 in reply to Surrey's 252.

But led by Keith Barker (62) and Ian Bell (43), Warwickshire recovered to reach 247, a deficit of just five runs, before Surrey reached 33-1 second time round in 15 overs up to the close.

Andy Carter enjoyed a dream return to his old stomping ground by claiming four wickets on his Hampshire debut in their crucial match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Carter, who left Nottingham for Derbyshire last September before switching to Hampshire last month, took 4-52 as the home county were bowled out for 245 in 75 overs.

Andy Carter of Derbyshire
Image: Andy Carter picked up four wickets on his Hampshire debut

The tall fast bowler rocked Notts with a burst of three wickets for just six runs in 12 deliveries at the start of the day.

That helped reduce Notts to 91-6 in reply to Hampshire's 319 and they could have been facing a much bigger first-innings deficit but for captain Chris Read, who made an unbeaten 70 from No 8 to help his side get within 74 runs of their opponents.

Batting for a second time, Jimmy Adams reached the close on 68 not out as Hampshire ended on 106-1, for an overall lead of 180.

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