Tuesday 26 September 2017 18:52, UK
Somerset have put themselves in a strong position to claim the win they need to stay in Specsavers County Championship Division One after day two at Taunton.
Having bowled relegation rivals Middlesex out for 142, earning a first innings lead of 94, an unbeaten 82 from James Hildreth helped Somerset to extend that lead to 253 as they closed on 159-3.
Earlier, left-arm spinner Jack Leach had taken 4-54 while Craig Overton finished with figures of 3-7 as Middlesex toiled on a turning track.
Should Somerset emerge victorious at Taunton they would overtake Middlesex, who would in turn be relying on Hampshire picking up fewer than six points from their clash with already-relegated Warwickshire to remain in the top flight.
Despite Hampshire skittling Warwickshire for 188 on day two at Edgbaston, that remains a realistic possibility as the visitors were then bowled out for 116.
After day one was abandoned without a ball being bowled, Hampshire quickly had Warwickshire in trouble at 28-5 on the second morning. Dominic Sibley led the recovery and carried his bat for 92, Fidel Edwards was the pick of the Hampshire bowlers, taking 5-49.
Captain George Bailey made 55 for Hampshire, in reply, but was one of only two batsmen to reach double figures.
On a busy day off the field at Old Trafford, in which Lancashire announced two new signings, one departure and a restructuring of the board, they also earned a 67-run first innings lead over Surrey, only for the visitors' openers to wipe it out before stumps.
After Surrey declared on 201-8 on day one, Lancashire began day two on 17-0 but suffered a top-order collapse soon after Alex Davies (54) reached his half-century.
However, a century from Steven Croft (115) got the innings back on track and they had reached 268 when the last wicket fell. Mark Stoneman (44no) and Rory Burns (27no) swiftly wiped out the deficit for Surrey though and they will start day three on 79-0.
Having made sure of their Division One status on day one, Yorkshire had a second day to forget at Chelmsford as they were bundled out for just 111.
Replying to champions Essex's 227, Adam Lyth top-scored with 35 as Jamie Porter (3-29), Simon Harmer (3-26) and Neil Wagner (3-21) each picked up three wickets.
Essex were 6-2 early in their second innings but an unbeaten stand of 128 from Nick Browne (53no) and Dan Lawrence (75no) took them to 134-2 at stumps, a lead of 250.
