Recap a thrilling day’s LV= County Championship action as Nottinghamshire went top of Division One with a one-wicket win over Lancashire while Somerset and Warwickshire were also victorious.
By Matt Somerford, Rob Barnett & Dominic Farrell
7pm - Here’s our close-of-play summary on a day that could look very significant in the final reckoning come the end of the season in Division One.
Remember, Glamorgan and Sussex Sharks are currently doing battle in the NatWest T20 Blast and we’ll have a full report online when that one finishes.
Somerset held on to beat Northamptonshireby 52 runs at Wantage Road, but not before half-centuries down the order from Adam Rossington, Andrew Hall and David Willey gave the bottom-of-the-table hosts hope of an improbable victory.
Nottinghamshire edged past Lancashireby one wicket in a low-scoring thriller at Aigburth. Chris Read’s unbeaten 40 was central to taking Notts top of the table and keeping the Red Rose second-from-bottom.
Warwickshire romped to victory by an innings and 188 runs against Durham at the Emirates Durham ICG. Jeetan Patel and Boyd Rankin took five and three wickets respectively as the hosts subsided dramatically after tea. Notts’ win at Lancashire keeps Durham’s head above water at the bottom.
Leicestershire are 56 for two heading into the final day against Worcestershire at New Road. Saving a draw will be the order of the day as the visitors need another 402 for victory.
Derbyshire are 216 for two and moving towards Gloucestershire’s 356 all out after day two at Cheltenham. Unbeaten half-centurions Wayne Madsen and Shivnarine Chanderpaul will have an eye on three figures tomorrow morning, while Will Gidman was earlier the last man out for the visitors having amassed 125.
Hampshire are 83 for one in their second innings against Essex, a lead of 44 after their bowlers earlier did a fine job of restricting the hosts to 285 all out at Colchester.
6.34pm - RESULT! Lancashire (225 & 205) lose to Nottinghamshire (261 & 170/9) by one wicket at Aigburth. The batsmen crossed on Adams’ dismissal, leaving last man Harry Gurney on strike. But the England one-day bowler holds his nerve to drive the winning run off Chapple. Delight for Notts, who go top after a breathless encounter. Lancashire miss out on the points that would have taken them above Durham and out of the bottom two.
6.32pm - Sensational drama at Liverpool! Kabir Ali makes it two wickets in the over as Parry catches Andre Adams and THE SCORES ARE LEVEL! Notts need one to win, with one wicket left.
Fletcher has just thumped a 4 but then edged Kabir to Smith at 2nd slip. Notts 163-8 need 7 more runs. Read 40* Adams new batsman #LanvNot
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) July 15, 2014
6.24pm - Leicestershire reach stumps without suffering further damage, meaning Lancashire versus Nottinghamshire is the only game left on-going. It shouldn’t be for much longer, with the visitors seven runs away from victory.
6.15pm - We’ve also reached stumps at Cheltenham, while Nottinghamshire are 18 runs away from victory.
6.08pm - Shivnarine Chanderpaul brings up 50 and Derbyshire are well-placed on 216 for two as they approach the close.
Hampshire reach stumps at 83 for one, 44 runs ahead of Essex with Michael Carberry 48 not out.
6.01pm - Joe Leach bowls Ned Eckersley and Leicestershire are 55 for two. It looks like they’ll face a huge struggle to save the game tomorrow.
5.54pm - Read and Fletcher are edging Nottinghamshire closer. The former has 30 and the score is 144 for seven. Just 26 more required, with Stephen Parry - replacing England-bound Simon Kerrigan - in his first spell of the match.
5.40pm - RESULT! Warwickshire (472) beat Durham (171 & 113) by an innings and 188 runs at the Emirates Durham IGC. It’s a resounding victory for Warwickshire, as Durham collapse from 75 for two to 113 all out in little more than 10 overs. Boyd Rankin bowled Mark Wood for 18 to round off matters and end with 3-18, but the visitors’ leading light with the ball was Jeetan Patel with 5-49.
5.34pm - Charles Morris traps Angus Robson lbw for eight and Leicestershire are 46 for one. Greg Smith is unbeaten on 32.
5.28pm - Jimmy Adams falls in the first over of left-arm spin from Tim Phillips. The score is 39 for one, making Hampshire and Essex all square.
Two wickets in as many balls brings Patel a five-for and Durham’s race is almost run on 91 for nine.
Wicket Watch: Siddle bumped out by Chappy http://t.co/TkfAiIDSMa
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) July 15, 2014
5.18pm - Siddle is gone without scoring as the Croft and Chapple combination does the trick once more. Much rests on Read now, with Luke Fletcher joining him on 119 for seven.
Wayne Madsen is 63 not out, with Derbyshire 177 for two. Batting certainly seems a much more favourable past-time at Cheltenham than it does at Liverpool!
5.12pm - Another big wicket for Lancashire - they all are at this stage. Kyle Hogg has Riki Wessels caught by Ashwell Prince for 28 to end a very useful partnership of 37 alongside Chris Read. Notts are 116 for six, needing 52 more, as Peter Siddle joins Read.
Phil Mustard becomes the fourth Durham batsman to go for a duck and it’s 80 for seven as Patel strikes again.
5.08pm - Boyd Rankin claims his second wicket, nipping one back to trap Paul Collingwood lbw. Durham are 80 for six and Warwickshire will have strong designs on wrapping up things up this evening.
WICKET. Another wicket goes down as Jennings plays on to his stumps. Rankin with his first wicket of the innings. 75-5 now, Jennings made 37
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) July 15, 2014
4.57pm - Leicestershire are eight without loss in the early stages of their second innings. With the nominal target being 458, their primary focus will be on saving the game.
4.53pm - Michael Richardson is out for 30, caught at short-leg by Sam Hain off Jeetan Patel and the New Zealand spinner strikes again two balls later! Gordon Muchall departs without troubling the scorers and Durham are in deep trouble on 75 for four.
Worcestershire declare on 416-8. A lead of 457. Ajmal 53*.
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) July 15, 2014
Essex all out for 285 and a lead of 39 runs. Tim Phillips run out for 12 going for a second run leaving Monty Panesar 13 not out.. #EssvHam
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 15, 2014
4.39pm -RESULT! Somerset (375 & 249/8d) beat Northamptonshire (221 & 351) by 52 runs at Wantage Road. Hall is the last man to go, for 66, with Craig Overton the successful bowler. That was supposed to be a procession for Somerset but some superb work from Northants’ lower-middle order and tail produced unexpected drama. Somerset move to the top of Division One but that will change when Nottinghamshire's game with Lancashire ends.
4.36pm - Samit Patel goes for 21 and that’s a huge wicket for Lancashire. Steven Croft displays his customary excellence at backward point to give Glen Chapple his second scalp. Nottinghamshire are 79 for five and need 91 more to win.
4.34pm - Big breakthrough for Somerset! Lewis Gregory pins Willey lbw to record a five-wicket haul. Northants require 53 more but Hall has only last man Muhammad Azhar Ullah for company.
4.27pm - A six also takes Willey through to a typically swashbuckling half-century. Northamptonshire are 54 runs away from a remarkable triumph.
4.24pm - It’s been quite a collapse from Essex after tea, but last man Monty Panesar just announced himself with a six off Liam Dawson.
WICKET Sajid Mahmood bowled by Liam Dawson for 0. 260 for 9 #EssvHam
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 15, 2014
4.17pm - One brings two as Rimmington strikes again in his next over, Greg Smith edging behind.
Andrew Hall and David Willey are still there after tea at Wantage Road. Northants need 64 runs more for victory.
4.12pm - Essex are seven down as Nathan Rimmington traps Graham Napier lbw for nine - his first wicket for Hampshire.
They’ve got to tea at Liverpool, with Nottinghamshire needing 101 more for victory with six wickets in hand. There’s sure to be drama in 20 minutes’ time.
Wicket Watch: Tommy gets Taylor caught behind by Buttler http://t.co/KjJ37xO5o1
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) July 15, 2014
3.53pm – Drama at Liverpool! Tom Smith pins Michael Lumb lbw for 22 and has James Taylor caught behind in the same over, making Notts 53 for four.
Hamish Marshall gets Slater caught behind for 70 after an alliance of 81 with Wayne Madsen.
Leicestershire’s Sykes snares Shaaiq Choudhry for 25 shortly before tea arrives at New Road with Worcestershire 348 for eight, 389 ahead.
Derbyshire are 116 for two at the interval and Durham 55 for two.
3.42pm – Tea is taken in two of the games. Northants are bravely fighting for a draw and, just whisper it, a win on 320 for eight with Hall on 53 and David Willey 35. They need 84 more with two wickets left.
Essex are 253 for six, seven ahead of Hampshire on first innings.
3.34pm – Worcestershire’s Leach, having just hit his fourth six, is dismissed by James Sykes for 74.
Wicket! Mullaney trapped in front by Tom Smith for 14, Notts 41-2 need another 129 to win #LanvNot
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) July 15, 2014
50 up for @AndrewHall99 Northants are 296/8 #GoSteelbacks
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) July 15, 2014
3.16pm – Agony for Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who falls one short of a maiden senior century. Having struck Dan Redfern for two consecutive sixes in the previous over to reach 99, he is bowled by the spinner to break a 100-run partnership with Leach.
Ben Slater bags a fifty for Derbyshire and Hampshire seamer Tomlinson a second scalp this afternoon with James Foster his victim for 18.
3.01pm – Ravi Bopara is lbw to James Tomlinson for a patient 79 that occupied 254 balls.
Glen Chapple ousts Alex Hales early in Nott’s victory chase.
2.55pm – Division Two leaders Worcestershire continue their domination of bottom side Leicestershire as Joe Leach raises a fifty. Worcestershire’s lead is more than 300.
Excellent weather here at @Liverpool_CC, smashing ground #LancsvNottspic.twitter.com/LNqYZKr4gS
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) July 15, 2014
WICKET! Rossington is trapped lbw by Overton for a sublime 62. Northants are 251/8 trailing by 152 runs
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) July 15, 2014
2.40pm – Lancashire are all out for 205 when Samit Patel accounts for Stephen Parry for 16 of a pesky partnership of 36 with Kabir. Notts need 170 to go top of Division One!
Will Gidman, who hit a hundred earlier today, traps Billy Godleman lbw to make Derbyshire 34 for one in the 18th over of their reply to 356. Gidman has figures of 7-4-6-1.
WICKET. Barker has an eighth wicket in the match now as Borthwick edges to Porterfield at third slip to go for 0. We are 4-2 after 3 overs.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) July 15, 2014
50 for Rossington! @Rossington17 brings up his fifty off 110 deliveries here at the County Ground. Northants 224/7. pic.twitter.com/njTeZSUrfA
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) July 15, 2014
2.22pm – Adam Rossington resists Somerset’s victory charge with a fifty, getting there with a six off Alfonso Thomas! Rossington and Andrew Hall have added 76 for the eighth wicket.
2.16pm – Barker is on fire! Having taken six first-innings scalps, he has Mark Stoneman held at third slip from the second ball of Durham’s follow-on.
Briggs makes it two breakthroughs in two overs by sending Ryan ten Doeschate on his way.
Thanks to the 500 schoolchildren for coming along to the @brewindolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival today! Fantastic! pic.twitter.com/8SqeouQePu
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) July 15, 2014
Somerset have taken the new ball with Northants 211/7
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) July 15, 2014
2.09pm – Durham are dismissed for 171, 301 behind Warwickshire on first innings, when Jeetan Patel has Graham Onions cheaply stumped. The visitors enforce the follow-on.
Lancashire slump to 170 for nine with Fletcher removing Joss Buttler, for 25, and Kyle Hogg in consecutive balls. Kabir Ali averts a hat-trick.
Danny Briggs bowls Jesse Ryder for 69, ending an alliance worth 114 with Ravi Bopara.
Shreck soon traps Ben Cox in front for his second strike of the afternoon.
Play is back underway here at the County Ground and Northants are 211/7 with Rossington (43*) and Hall (9*). pic.twitter.com/2471AHc2BX
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) July 15, 2014
1.56pm – John Hastings’ resistance ends when Keith Barker makes it two wickets in two overs since lunch, the Australian all-rounder falling for 51 to leave Durham nine down.
Notts’ Luke Fletcher snares Glen Chapple for 19 and Leicestershire’s Charlie Shreck ousts Alexi Kervezee for 75, halting a 131-run stand with Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
WICKET. Barker gets his fifth wicket as he tempts Wood into a tentative nibble outside his off-stump. Wood made 15, we are 165-7.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) July 15, 2014
1.20pm - Here is the state of play around the grounds at lunch:
Division One
Somerset need three wickets to secure victory at Wantage Road after half-centurion Kyle Coetzer was bowled by Lewis Gregory the ball before the break. Gregory has 10 wickets in the match and Northants are 193 for seven.
John Hastings’ half-century hardly disguised Durham’s problems as they lost four morning-session wickets to be 161 for sevenagainst Warwickshire at the Emirates Durham ICG. They trail by 311 runs.
Harry Gurney has put Nottinghamshire in the box seat against Lancashire with four wickets this morning to leave the hosts 154 for six and holding a lead of 118 runs.
Division Two
Fifties from Alexei Kervezee and Tom Kohler-Cadmore have helped Worcestershire extend their lead to 214 runs against Leicestershire at New Road. The hosts are 173 for three.
Will Gidman was last man out for 125 as Gloucestershire’s first innings ended at 356. Tom Taylor claimed his maiden first-class five-wicket haul. Derbyshire are eight without loss in reply.
Ravi Bopara and Jesse Ryder have both hit half-centuries in an unbroken in 95-run stand. Essex are 168 for two and trailing Hampshire by 78 runs.
1.04pm - Coetzer is bowled at Wantage Road to prompt lunch. A bad time to lose his wicket so close to the break. Somerset will sense their chance to push for victory after they've had a couple of sandwiches. The lunch scores are filtering through now, so I'll update you from around the grounds shortly.
12.57pm - Tom Kohler-Cadmore follows Kervezee to a half-century. Their stand is now worth 118 runs.
50 for Kyle! @MeerGoose11(52*) brings up his fifty off 142 deliveries. Northants are 186/6 with @Rossington17 (29*) at the crease with him.
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) July 15, 2014
12.46pm - Ravi Bopara beats Jesse Ryder to 50 with a couple of boundaries in the same Danny Briggs over. Ryder follows him soon after. The Kiwi might have been second to the miletsone, but he got there far quicker - from 74 balls. Bopara took 167 deliveries.
WELL BOWLED! @TomTaylor43 claimed maiden first-class 5-fer with figures of 5-58. Well bowled Tommy! #GLOvDER#P2bDpic.twitter.com/FX8LvrPlwe
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) July 15, 2014
12.34pm - Gloucestershire have been bowled out for 356. Will Gidman is the last to go for 125 when he's bowled by Mark Footitt. It was a strange innings with Gidman and Will Tavare both making centuries, otherwise Hamish Marshall (45) was the only player to get beyond 10.
12.30pm - Northants are fighting at Wantage Road with seventh-wicket pair Kyle Coetzer and on-loan Adam Rossington bringing up a 50-run stand. Somerset look like they will be made to work for the final four wickets they need for a win to put them amongst the pace-setters in Division One.
Essex 129 for 2 from 51 overs. Ravi Bopara 40, Jesse Ryder 38. Essex have scored 59 runs in 24 overs this morning. #EssvHam
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 15, 2014
12.25pm - After a bit of a lull around the grounds we have a couple of wickets and Durham's morning session worsens still. Scott Borthwick has been trapped lbw by Boyd Rankin to leave them 116 for seven.
At Liverpool, Notts left-armer Gurney has a third wicket this morning as one keeps a little low on Ashwell Prince and strikes him in front.
There is some good news for the batsmen - on a morning when a lot of wickets have fallen. Alexei Kervezee brings up his half-century from 99 balls to have Worcestershire 125 for three and ahead of last-placed Leicestershire by 166 runs.
100 up for the loss of six wickets. Borthwick has 37, Hastings 14. We need 323 to avoid the follow-on.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) July 15, 2014
11.57am - Gurney has a second wicket this morning as new man Steven Croft falls to a superb catch by James Taylor. It was a low chance, perhaps making Taylor the ideal man for the job, but he still moved smartly to his left at cover to snap it up.
11.52am - Durham's morning gets worse. Phil Mustard is gone and that's three wickets inside the first hour to leave them 83 for six. Will Porterfield holds the catch off Clarke. Durham have lost three for five in a run of 34 balls.
WICKET! Maiden five-wicket haul for @TomTaylor43 as he removes Jake Taylor for 9. caught at slip. Gloucestershire 329-9 #GLOvDER
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) July 15, 2014
11.46am - After keeping up his curious record Khawaja immediately departs. He nicks off to Harry Gurney on 53 and Chris Read takes the catch. Lancashire are 99 for three and 63 runs ahead.
11.43am - Usman Khawaja moves to his third half-century in his fourth game since joining Lancashire last month. The Aussie has had a mixed bag under the Red Rose. He's failed to get past 10 four times and when he has, he has reached 50 every time.
11.36am - Moments after Will Gidman reaches his century he loses his partner Tom Smith. Tom Taylor claims his fourth wicket, caught by Wes Durston, and Gloucestershire are 319 for eight.
Gloucestershire 319-7. Will Gidman 100 not out off 178 balls, with 16 fours.
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) July 15, 2014
11.28am - And another for Barker. Paul Collingwood lasts just two deliveries before edging to Rikki Clarke at second slip.
11.25am - Keith Barker has his third wicket at the Emirates Durham ICG as Gordon Muchall is trapped in front. Durham are 78 for four and in some bother when they really wanted a solid stand at the start of the day to settle them as they set after Warwickshire's 472.
Wicket! 9 wickets now for Lewis! Stone is caught in the slips for 4 and @NorthantsCCC for 117/6.
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) July 15, 2014
11.16am - There might just be a bit in these wickets this morning because we have our third bowled from three dismissals so far. Tony Palladino does the job this time as Adam Rouse misses one. Will Gidman has moved to 97 and Gloucestershire are 313 for seven.
11.09am - Liam Dawson has knocked over Tom Westley at Colchester. The hosts have added just a leg-bye so far this morning.
11.03am - It has taken Nathan Buck five balls to strike at New Road. He's rearranged Richard Oliver's stumps after the opener added a couple of runs to the overnight score.
10.45am - Andrew Flintoff has been warming up with Lancashire's players before play at Liverpool. Before anyone gets carried away he's not the man to replace Simon Kerrigan - who has headed off down to London to join England's Test squad. As already stated another spinner, Stephen Parry, is in the XI now.
5 - The five leading county run-scorers (all comps) since the start of 2013 are: Vince, Allenby, Klinger, Mitchell and Prince. Answer.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) July 15, 2014
10.30am - Welcome to today's live blog of the six LV= County Championship matches. We will almost certainly have a winner at Wantage Road today.
How early the result comes will depend on whether Somerset can quickly mop up the five wickets they need, or if Northants' tail do the unlikely and spend the day scoring the 296 runs they require for a first win of the campaign.
Good morning from Liverpool where we are set to start on time at 11am with Stephen Parry replacing Simon Kerrigan in the Lancashire team
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) July 15, 2014
Division One
Northamptonshire are 108 for five in their second innings, needing a further 296 runs to beat Somerset at Wantage Road.
Lancashire are 55 for two - a lead of 19 runs - in their second innings against Nottinghamshire at Aigburth.
Durham are 62 for three, a deficit of 410 runs against Warwickshire at halfway at the Emirates Durham ICG. Sam Hain brought up an unbeaten century in his team’s 472 all out.
Division Two
Worcestershire are 48 for two, with Richard Oliver unbeaten on 35, as they lead Leicestershire by 89 at New Road. Saeed Ajmal took 4-66 as the visitors were all out for 280 on day two.
Essex are 70 for one in response to Hampshire’s 246 all out after the first-day washout at Colchester. The visiting side recovered from 97 for seven as Adam Wheater scored 107 against his former county.
Gloucestershire won the toss and closed the opening day against Derbyshire on 304 for six at Cheltenham. Will Tavare hit 135 and Will Gidman is 88 not out overnight.