Wednesday 15 May 2019 20:47, UK
James Hildreth top-scored with 90 as Specsavers County Championship Division One leaders Somerset fought hard to stay on terms with Surrey on day two at Taunton.
Azhar Ali and Steve Davies also weighed in with half-centuries and shared in stands of 94 and 70 with Hildreth for the second and fifth wickets respectively as the hosts reached the close on 243-5 still 137 runs behind.
Rikki Clarke had earlier scored an unbeaten 59 to help Surrey achieve 380 in their first innings and then claimed the key wicket of Hildreth in the final session to give the defending champions a potentially crucial advantage at the halfway stage.
Simon Harmer saved Essex with the bat before causing panic with the ball in their clash with Nottinghamshire at Chelmsford. Essex vs Notts scorecard
Harmer scored an invaluable 43 runs during an 81-run stand with Peter Siddle for the ninth wicket after Nottinghamshire, led by Luke Fletcher - who celebrated his fifth career five-wicket haul - and spinner Matt Carter, had ripped Essex's middle order apart.
Having secured a 54-run first-innings lead, Harmer then found impeccable spin to claim figures of 4-32, including two wickets in two balls.
The South African's efforts meant Nottinghamshire ended the day on 90-6, with a slender lead of 36 and facing a battle to save the match.
Gary Ballance's unbeaten half-century helped get Yorkshire back into their clash with Kent at Canterbury. Kent vs Yorkshire scorecard
The home side had take an 86-run lead thanks to a second championship hundred of the season from rookie wicketkeeper-batsman Ollie Robinson.
After dismissing Kent for 296, Yorkshire closed on 166-3 in their second innings to lead by 80 runs going into the third day of this finely poised Division One game.
Ballance, who won the last of his 23 Test caps in July 2017, reached stumps unbeaten on 57.
A searing post-tea burst from Kyle Abbott put Hampshire in total command against Warwickshire on the second day at Edgbaston. Warks vs Hampshire scorecard
After Hampshire were lifted to a solid 354 by Tom Alsop's classy, career-best 150, the home side advanced to 135-3 before South African paceman Abbott took three wickets for four runs in eight balls.
Suddenly, the follow-on figure of 204 was far from a formality for the hosts and they still have work to do to reach it, having closed day two on 184-7.
Ollie Rayner took four wickets on his first appearance of the season to keep Middlesex in control on the second day of their County Championship Division Two clash against Leicestershire at Lord's. Middlesex vs Leics scorecard
The off-spinner removed Leicestershire's half-centurions Harry Dearden and Colin Ackermann, who had threatened to take the game away from the home side with a fifth-wicket partnership of 110.
Earlier, Rayner had also pulled off a fine reaction catch at second slip to account for Foxes captain Paul Horton, with the visitors losing four wickets for 23 runs during the evening session.
Gloucestershire tightened their stranglehold on Glamorgan on day two at Newport. Glamorgan vs Gloucs scorecard
Ryan Higgins moved to three figures as Gloucestershire added another 103 runs to their overnight 360 for six, before reducing Glamorgan to 241 for eight - needing another 73 runs to avoid following on at Spytty Park.
To add to the hosts' troubles, Chris Cooke is unlikely to take any further part in the game after the captain injured his ankle while turning for a second run.
Gloucestershire made sure of maximum batting points, with Higgins and Graeme Van Buuren sharing a partnership of 96 for the seventh wicket, before the latter was leg before wicket to Timm Van Der Gugten for 25.
Leicestershire closed on 257-9, still trailing by 92 runs after the Seaxes posted a total of 349 in the morning.
Riki Wessels marked his home Division Two debut for Worcestershire with a superb century as his side established control against Durham at New Road. Worcs vs Durham scorecard
The 33-year-old reached three figures off 120 balls with four sixes and 13 fours and entertained the sun-drenched crowd with a series of sparkling strokes.
It was the 23rd first-class hundred of his career and first since making the move from Nottinghamshire to Worcestershire on a three-year contract.
He was eventually dismissed for 118 from 133 balls after hitting four sixes and 16 fours as Worcestershire closed on 321-6 and a lead of 48.
Keaton Jennings fell agonisingly short of a century before Lancashire's strong start was checked by a fine new-ball spell from Northamptonshire. Lancs vs Northants scorecard
Opener Jennings hit his second half-century of the season but was three runs short of his first century of 2019 when he became the new ball's first victim on day two.
The hosts had been 188 for two but slipped to 209-6 before Dane Vilas and Tom Bailey's unbeaten 67-run stand steered their side to a lead of 46 runs with four wickets intact.
Jennings' 97 and Rob Jones' 67 had seemed to give Lancashire control but Luke Wood hit back and finished the day with 3-44, while Ben Sanderson took two for 32.
