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Yorkshire and Hampshire face battle to avoid drop in County Championship

Kent move into the promotion spots in Division Two

Saturday 1 September 2018 18:46, UK

TAUNTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: during Day Three of the Specsavers County Championship Division One match between Somerset and Worcestershire at The Cooper Associates County Ground on April 22, 2018 in Taunton, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Image: Lewis Gregory took four second-innings wickets as Somerset hammered relegation-threatened Yorkshire

Yorkshire and Hampshire remain in big danger of relegation after comprehensive defeats to Somerset and Essex respectively in Specsavers County Championship Division One.

The White Rose occupy the final relegation spot after their 224-run thrashing at Headingley, with Hampshire one place and one point above them after an innings-and-52-run thumping at Chelmsford.

Kane Williamson (52) and nightwatchman Josh Shaw (42) put on 90 for Yorkshire's third wicket - Adam Lyth (4) and Harry Brook (0) having exited the previous night - as they chased a nominal target of 419.

SCARBOROUGH, ENGLAND - AUG 19:Yorkshire's Kane Williamson after reaching his half century during day one of the Specsavers Championship Division One match between Yorkshire and Worcestershire at North Marine Road on August 19, 2018 in Scarborough, England. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Getty Images)*** Kane Williamson ***
Image: Kane Williamson was the only Yorkshire batsman to pass 50

But the hosts collapsed once Shaw was out lbw to Lewis Gregory (4-33), with Craig Overton (2-45) accounting for Williamson and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (0) and brother Jamie (4-25) castling Gary Ballance (4) and Jack Leaning (2) as Yorkshire lost six wickets for 49 runs. SCORECARD

David Willey (34) and Matt Fisher (19) kept Somerset waiting before the away side picked up the final two wickets to dismiss Yorkshire for 194 and move 32 points behind table-toppers Surrey.

Hampshire's Tom Alsop (51 off 142), Sam Northeast (41 off 101) and Gareth Berg (37 off 109) offered some resistance at Essex, but Peter Siddle (5-48) and Simon Harmer (4-64) ensured the visitors were skittled for 211 by the defending champions. SCORECARD

Simon Harmer celebrates taking the wicket of Steven Croft
Image: Spinner Simon Harmer sealed victory for Essex

Kent shot into the promotion spots in Division Two after Joe Denly (4-36) and Adam Riley (4-68) helped them wrap up a six-wicket victory at Derbyshire. SCORECARD

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Denly - who hit a century earlier in the game - took the final four wickets with his part-time leg-spin as Derbyshire were dismissed for 270, with Harvey Hosein left stranded on 66.

The Canterbury side now lead third-placed Sussex by nine points after reaching their target of 110 in 19.2 overs.

Leicestershire's bid for promotion, however, suffered another hit as they lost to Gloucestershire by 328 runs in Bristol. SCORECARD

during the tour match between Leicestershire and Sri Lanka at Grace Road on May 14, 2016 in Leicester, England.
Image: Ned Eckersley was dismissed for eight as Ryan Higgins finished with four wickets for Gloucestershire

The fifth-placed Foxes have lost two in a row after their eight-wicket thrashing by Kent last month, having won four of their previous five, and now trail Kent by 39 points.

Leicestershire resumed day four on 117-6, needing a further 377 runs for an unlikely victory, but were skittled for 165 with former Middlesex all-rounder Ryan Higgins claiming 4-28 to finish with eight wickets in the match.

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