Draws at Old Trafford and The Oval; Sussex beat Middlesex and Durham stun Leicestershire
Monday 7 May 2018 18:06, UK
Nottinghamshire reclaimed top spot in Specsavers County Championship Division One with a 203-run victory over Hampshire at Trent Bridge.
Stuart Broad (3-57), Jake Ball (3-64) and Harry Gurney (3-57) each ended with three wickets but the home side were made to wait until midway through the evening session to complete the win as Hashim Amla scored a defiant 112 for Hampshire.
The South African started the day on 11 not out with Hampshire 111-3 chasing an unlikely 469 to win and their task became that much harder as night-watchman Chris Wood was bowled by Ball with only one added to the overnight score.
Broad removed Rilee Rossouw and Lewis McManus, Gurney ousted Liam Dawson and Brad Wheal before it was left to Ball, who had also got rid of Kyle Abbott, to dismiss Amla to seal the win. SCORECARD
Jack Leach hit a career-best 66 as Somerset survived an early Lancashire barrage on day four to earn a draw at Old Trafford.
The home side took four wickets before lunch, including James Anderson's first scalp of the season, and another two soon after to raise hopes of forcing an unlikely victory.
However, Leach combined with Craig Overton (5) and then Tim Groenewald (36no) in partnerships of 52 and 69, respectively before he was bowled by 21-year-old leggie Matt Parkinson (5-101) and the players shaking hands on a draw soon afterwards with Somerset 269-8. SCORECARD
Surrey and Worcestershire also played out a draw at The Oval with Surrey off-spinner Amar Virdi taking his maiden first-class five-for.
The 19-year-old ended with figures of 6-105 after taking all four of the Worcestershire wickets to fall on day four.
Ed Barnard (66) was the last man out as the visitors finished on 526, a first-innings lead of 92, and Surrey were 173-3 when the captains agreed on a draw, with Scott Borthwich unbeaten on 82. SCORECARD
In Division Two, captain Ben Brown scored an unbeaten 65 as Sussex survived a mid-order wobble to beat Middlesex by three wickets at Hove.
Needing 230 to win, the home side began the day on 35-2 and advanced to 113-2 before losing four wickets for just 13 runs either side of lunch.
Brown, batting at No 7, halted the slide and began to whittle away at the runs required, putting on 87 with Michael Burgess (22) for the seventh wicket as Jason Gillespie's unbeaten side claimed their first win of the season. SCORECARD
James Weighell took 7-32 as Durham completed a stunning comeback win to beat Leicestershire by 46 runs having had to follow on earlier in the match.
Beginning the final day on 233-1, Durham were eventually bowled out for 403 as Gavin Griffiths took a career-best 6-49 for Leicestershire.
Set 148 to win, Leicestershire were soon in trouble as Chris Rushworth (3-12) and Weighell made early inroads and when Michael Carberry (22) was dismissed, the visitors were 61-5.
Rushworth was forced out of the attack with a groin injury but Weighell continued to do damage, taking the last five wickets as Durham wrapped up a remarkable win late on the final day. SCORECARD
