Wednesday 18 September 2019 19:41, UK
Gloucestershire took a major step towards regaining their Specsavers County Championship Division One status for the first time in 14 years by completing a six-wicket victory over Worcestershire at New Road.
The visitors resumed on 54-4 in pursuit of 115 after a nervy final session on Tuesday evening in the face of some disciplined bowling by the Worcestershire attack.
But on day three nightwatchman Josh Shaw and Miles Hammond found batting a lot easier and victory was secured within 50 minutes and 13.3 overs of the start of the day. Hammond ended unbeaten on 35 and Shaw 38 not out in an unbroken partnership worth 74.
Gloucestershire may now need only a handful of bonus points from their final home game against Northamptonshire - depending on the results of ongoing matches featuring promotion rivals Sussex and Durham.
Gloucestershire batted a lot more positively on day three and Shaw set the tone with a back-foot drive for four off Ed Barnard.
Hammond survived a confident lbw shout on 17 in one of the few scares of the morning before Shaw completed the victory with a cover drive to the boundary off Adam Finch.
Northamptonshire were left on the cusp of Championship promotion after another excellent day at Wantage Road where they were left needing two wickets for a thumping win over Durham. Northants vs Durham scorecard
Ned Eckersley's stubborn 54 not out in 117 balls allowed Durham to survive to the close of day three, albeit in a hopeless position at 212-8, requiring 402 to win.
He delayed Northamptonshire's victory that could seal their return to Division One. If Glamorgan fail to beat Leicestershire, Northamptonshire will be promoted. If Glamorgan win, Northamptonshire will need a maximum of four points from their final match against Gloucestershire next week.
They enjoyed another excellent day, adding 90 runs on the third morning thanks to Luke Procter's season's best 86 not out to take them to 315.
Kraigg Brathwaite scored an unbeaten 103 to keep Glamorgan on course for their fourth Championship Division Two win of the season against Leicestershire. Glamorgan vs Leics scorecard
The West Indies opener - playing the second fixture of a three-match stint with the Welsh county - proved himself to be a shrewd addition as Glamorgan declared on 251-5 with a lead of 423 in their bid to keep their slim hopes of promotion alive.
Leicestershire reached 32 for two by the end of the day, requiring an improbable 392 on Friday for the win, with Hassan Azad on 15 not out and the former Glamorgan batsman Mark Cosgrove on three.
Derbyshire ended a run of three championship defeats with a 181-run victory over Sussex that put paid to the visitors' promotion hopes. Derbys vs Sussex scorecard
Chasing a tough target of 345, Sussex folded against a depleted Derbyshire attack and were dismissed for 163 with Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Anuj Dal and Matt Critchley each taking three wickets.
Ollie Robinson had given them hope with five for 88 and Reece Topley claimed four for 58 after Derbyshire lost their last eight wickets for 77 to be bowled out for 437 but that was soon snuffed out as the home side celebrated with more than 24 overs left in the day.
Lancashire, despite Keaton Jennings' second-innings 97, lead Middlesex by 211 runs at Old Trafford, but with only two wickets in hand Dawid Malan's team will fancy their chances of a final-day victory. Lancs vs Middlesex scorecard
Watch Somerset take on title rivals Essex in the final round of the County Championship, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.15am on Monday.
