Monday 14 July 2014 20:06, UK
Division One's bottom side Northamptonshire slipped towards their ninth County Championship defeat of the season after being reduced to 108-5 chasing a target of 404 by stumps on day three against Somerset at Wantage Road.
Somerset seamers Lewis Gregory (2-23) and Alfonso Thomas (2-25) each claimed two wickets and left-arm spinner George Dockrell (1-6) removed Northants opener James Kettleborough for 58 late in the day.
The visitors had earlier advanced their second innings from an overnight 72-3 to a declaration at 249-8 in the afternoon session.
Opener Chris Jones top scored with a season's-best 87 and there were also solid contributions from James Hildreth (43) and Gregory (40no).
Somerset were without wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter, who requires surgery after suffering a fractured cheekbone and broken nose when he was hit in the face while batting in the first innings.
Nottinghamshire's Steven Mullaney scored 82 runs against former county Lancashire but could not prevent the hosts enjoying the better of day two at Liverpool.
The Division One title chasers responded to Lancashire's 225 with 261 all out, a score which Mullaney underpinned with 12 fours in 149 balls having been dropped four times.
Lancashire, faced with 30 overs of batting before close, reached 55-2 in their second innings - a lead of 19 - before bad light interrupted play at 5.30pm.
The players did not return and the hosts will begin day three 19 ahead with Ashwell Prince and Usman Khawaja at the crease. Seventeen overs were lost.
Notts would have been in a far stronger position but for a loss of their last five wickets for 26 runs, including their last four for nine in 22 balls. Lancashire captain Glen Chapple took three of the last four to finish with 4-73 from 22 overs.
At Chester-le-Street, Sam Hain scored his second century in seven first-class matches as Warwickshire made 472 in their first innings and then reduced Durham to 62-3 in reply by the close of day two.
The Hong Kong-born right-hander, on 12 overnight, reached his hundred off 188 balls and remained unbeaten on 109 after enjoying a seventh-wicket stand of 101 with Rikki Clarke (54).
Durham's response was twice interrupted by rain and bad light, cutting 21 overs from the day's allocation, and they struggled against impressive bowling from Keith Barker (2-22).
