Shropshire Star

Essex stay on course for championship title after draw with Lancashire

Only 32 overs were possible on the final day at Old Trafford, a result of a washed out first session and an early handshake between the sides.

Published

Essex remain on track for their first Specsavers County Championship title since 1992 after their top of the table clash with Lancashire ended in a predictable draw.

Only 32 overs were possible on the final day at Emirates Old Trafford, a result of a washed out first session and an early handshake between the sides after successive declarations took the match into the final hour.

There was enough time for Essex to progress from 115 for four to 202 for eight, with the visitors calling timing on their innings to prevent the Red Rose the prospect of a third bowling point. Both sides left with nine apiece to maintain a gap of 36 at the summit, with Ryan McLaren taking two of the wickets to fall, leaving him with four for 45.

At the other end of the table, Somerset scored a vital 169-run victory over Division Two-bound Warwickshire to give themselves hope in their own relegation battle.

The Bears resumed on 172 for six in a forlorn pursuit of a distant winning mark of 402 but were rolled over for 232 at Edgbaston. Former Warwickshire man Tim Groenewald took two wickets to finish with five for 58, including the bulwark Jeetan Patel for 42.

The rain also had its way at the Ageas Bowl as Hampshire’s draw against Surrey prevented them putting pressure on the top two. A 2pm restart left no chance to force a result but it was a day to remember for Ollie Pope, whose 100 not out was a maiden first-class century alongside Ben Foakes (83no).

The pair put on an unbroken 158 in quick time as the Brown Caps reached 280 for four, with the sides heading in as soon as Pope reached three figures.

There was another unsatisfactory draw at Headingley, where Yorkshire and Middlesex battled the elements in vain.

The White Rose took 11 points to their visitors’ nine, with Middlesex declaring on 272 for eight to end the match. Australian Adam Voges made 65 not out but Yorkshire were unable to force the clatter of wickets they needed to add a 12th point.

It was Daryl Mitchell’s day at Trent Bridge, as Worcestershire scuppered Division Two leaders Nottinghamshire’s designs on an undefeated season. The Pears sealed an eight-wicket win as Mitchell compiled 139no in 212 balls to tame the division’s strongest attack and reel in 226.

Joe Clarke played the supporting role with 28no in an unbroken 106-run stand, leaving just 15 points between the sides with two games to play.

Kent held off Durham in a nail-biting last-over finish at Chester-le-Street, a day that saw former England man Graham Onions enter the record books. Onions moved to 519 wickets for the county, passing Simon Brown’s mark by one, but could not add another at the end as Kent held out at 184 for nine.

Sam Billings was the key, making 70no in 96 balls, with last man and former Durham seamer Mitch Claydon successfully seeing off five deliveries.

Gloucestershire eased to a 10-wicket win at Leicestershire, Liam Norwell finishing with eight for 43 – the best second-tier analysis of the season. Norwell took the Foxes’ final three wickets in short order to dismiss them for 160, leaving a nominal target of 15 which detained the visiting openers all of 21 deliveries.

Richard Levi settled matters in Northamptonshire’s favour at Wantage Road, his unbeaten 53 securing a six-wicket win over Sussex.

Azharullah took the final Sussex wicket, leaving Jofra Archer high and dry on 81, and Levi did the heavy lifting to chase down 140 as his side picked up full points to stay in the promotion picture.

No play was possible between Derbyshire and Glamorgan, with the match abandoned without a ball bowled on day four.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.