Wednesday 3 June 2015 07:16, UK
Leicestershire are on course for their first LV= County Championship win in 38 attempts after being set a modest target of 163 to beat Essex in their Division Two clash at Chelmsford.
The visitors go into the final day on 55-0 after Charlie Shreck (5-71) had claimed his best figures for the county to help bowl Essex out for 276 in their second innings.
Essex began the day on 43-2 and were 92-4, still 22 runs short of their first innings deficit, when Tom Westley (97) and Ryan ten Doeschate (77) came together.
With Ten Doeschate providing the main aggression, they gathered 128 in 32 overs and looked in such little trouble that it seemed the visitors would be left with a more formidable victory challenge.
But all that changed when Shreck found the edge to have Ten Doeschate caught in the slip cordon, making it 220-5 and, 36 runs later, Westley’s valiant effort was brought to an end when he was trapped in front by Ben Raine (3-59), just three runs short of his first century of the summer.
His removal led to a rapid decline in the innings as Shreck got to work and, of the last five batsmen, only James Foster (22) managed to reach double figures.
Raine and Clint McKay (2-57) provided Shreck with fine support and the trio were then able to put their feet up and watch Angus Robson (34 not out) and Matt Boyce (20 not out) get their side’s victory bid off to a sound start.
Shreck said: "There was a bit of anxiety when Westley and Ten Doeschate were going so well but there was no panic because we always felt we could get wickets with the new ball, and that's what happened.
"Clint McKay and Ben Raine bowled extremely well to exert pressure early on and I think it's the best we have performed as a unit.
"There is a sense of excitement in the dressing-room that we can go on to victory but it's vital that we keep calm to get over the line."
At The Oval, Australian one-day star James Faulkner showed that he can also play the longer game by hitting his maiden first-class century on his debut for leaders Lancashire against Surrey.
The 25-year-old all-rounder is a regular in Australia’s limited-overs squads but has only played one Test match so far.
However, he made a magnificent 121 here to rescue Lancashire after a bad start and they finished the third day on 342-8.
Surrey resumed on 435-8 and only added 13 more runs to their first innings total but they then made rapid headway through the Lancashire batting order.
Tom Curran (2-77) and Stuart Meaker (2-81) grabbed two wickets each as the visitors were reduced to 108-6, Alviro Petersen making 46.
But Faulkner and Jordan Clark (63) then put together a seventh-wicket partnership of 183 in 47 overs before both were dismissed by Matt Dunn (3-59).
Northamptonshire trail by 51 runs with six wickets remaining after being forced to follow on in their match against Glamorgan in Cardiff.
The visitors were 163-4 at stumps on day three and Rob Newton is leading the fight with 89 not out.
Replying to 371, Northants began the day on 79-5 and eventually reached 157 all out, Josh Cobb (54) and Adam Rossington (50) scoring the bulk of the runs.
Off-spinner Andrew Salter impressed with three wickets for just five runs for the hosts, but they have been made to work harder in the Northants second innings so far.
Graham Wagg (2-25) removed openers Stephen Peters (caught behind off the first ball of the innings) and Kyle Coetzer (4) cheaply but Rob Keogh (42) helped Newton add 107 for the third wicket.
And Rossington (25 not out) and Newton have put on an unbroken 34 for the fifth wicket so far.
Derbyshire's ground staff were absolved of any blame after the third day of the match against Gloucestershire was abandoned without a ball bowled.
High winds on Monday night had torn a section of the covers, allowing water to saturate a small area where the bowler's feet land, making it too dangerous for the game to resume.
Umpires Tim Robinson and Steve Garrett hoped the area would dry out in the sun and wind but, after a fourth inspection at 3.15pm, they decided it was still unfit for play.
Both Derbyshire and Gloucestershire backed the decision to call the game off for the day and the teams will now hope for decent weather on Wednesday.
Derbyshire are 77-2 in their first innings in reply to Gloucestershire's 329, heading into the final day.
