A thrilling day brought victories for Yorkshire, Lancashire, Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire in Division One, while Essex and Hampshire triumped in the second tier.
By Rob Barnett & Matthew Sherry
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6.35pm - Right then, with all the games done and dusted, it's time to round up the results...
Adam Lyth and Kane Williamson steered Yorkshire to a comfortable nine-wicket win over Sussex at Scarborough.
Alex Hales, whose day was completed by being included in England's Royal London One-Day International squad to face India, struck an unbeaten hundred as Nottinghamshire chased 211 to beat Northamptonshire by five wickets at Wantage Road.
Jeetan Patel claimed eight match wickets as Warwickshire beat Somerset by 215 runs at Taunton.
Tom Smith was the hero as Lancashire dramatically chased 107 to beat Durham by one wicket at Emirates Old Trafford.
Essex took the two wickets they needed today to beat Glamorgan at Swansea, in the end by 63 runs.
Rain aided Leicestershire as they drew with Surrey at Grace Road.
A complete bowling performance helped Hampshire dismiss Kent for 304 to win by 196 runs at the Spitfire Ground.
6.28pm - RESULT! Durham (340 & 187) lose to Lancashire (421 & 107/9) by one wicket at Emirates Old Trafford. What a dramatic finish it was; Simon Kerrigan and Tom Smith were the heroes, hitting 14 and 35 respectively! Lancashire climb out of the relegation zone at their opponents' expense.
Meanwhile, Leicestershire and Surrey drew at Grace Road.
Bailey has chipped Hastings to Stoneman at mid off and @LancsCCC in last chance saloon now. 90-9 with 17 needed and Simon Kerrigan now in
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 18, 2014
Wicket! Chapple gets one that keeps a bit low and is bowled by Stokes. @LancsCCC 89-8 needc 18
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 18, 2014
4 then 2 to Tom Smith! 22 needed to win #LanvDur
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 18, 2014
5.46pm - Just as Lancashire looked to be getting on top, they lose two quickly! Ben Stokes gets the double breakthrough, ousting Alex Davies and Stephen Parry.
Nice back foot square cut for 4 by Tom Smith. @LancsCCC 66-5 need 41 off 12.2 overs
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 18, 2014
Leics 147-6...O'Brien c Roy b Batty 15
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 18, 2014
5.06pm – Soon after the resumption at Grace Road Stuart Meaker ousts Dan Redfern for 64, making Leicestershire 143 for five and leaving Surrey after another five scalps for victory.
Prince gone, lbw to Hastings for 6. @LancsCCC 36-5 need 71 off 20.5 overs #LanvDur
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 18, 2014
Good news..starting again at 5pm and 21 overs left
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 18, 2014
4.48pm – RESULT! Yorkshire (493 & 106/1) defeat Sussex (368 & 230) by nine wickets at Scarborough. The White Rose are six points clear of Notts at the top of Division One as Adam Lyth and Kane Williamson steer them to victory.
Wicket! Croft is caught at slip by Borthwick off his glove from a Hastings delivery. @LancsCCC 31-4 need 76 off 22 overs #LanvDur
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 18, 2014
The current scene at Grace Road but still pretty wet out there pic.twitter.com/SAW8Ytlzta
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 18, 2014
4.36pm – RESULT! Warwickshire (367 & 322/7) beat Somerset (286 & 188) by 215 runs at Taunton. Warwickshire go second in Division One, for the time being, as Patel bowls Peter Trego for 42. Somerset’s title challenge is all but over.
Lees gone! Hobden gets him caught at mid-off for 46 off a top-edge. 88-1.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) August 18, 2014
4.27pm – Jeetan Patel bowls Alfonso Thomas to put Warwickshire one wicket away from victory.
John Hastings has Usman Khawaja caught behind and Chris Rushworth traps Paul Horton in front to leave Lancashire 22 for three, chasing 107.
WICKET - Gregory is caught behind off the bowling of Gordon for 2! Somerset - 181-8 #YouBears#2togo
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) August 18, 2014
Reece has gone this time, drives at Rushworth but edges to keeper Mustard. @LancsCCC 5-1 need 102 from 33.1 overs #LanvDur
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 18, 2014
3.48pm - Lancashire are chasing 107 versus Durham, John Hastings bowling Luis Reece with a no-ball. Yorkshire have reached tea on 18 without loss pursuing 106, while Somerset have entered the interval seven down.
And that's tea. Yorks need another 88 at 18-0 after 7 of 39 overs. Lees 11, Lyth 7.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) August 18, 2014
Bowled him!! Tom Bailey scatters Rushworth's stumps & Durham 187 all out
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 18, 2014
RESULT! Nottinghamshire (388 & 211/5) beat Northamptonshire (260 &338) by five wickets at Wantage Road - Hales, who was dropped on 83, reaches a superb century as Nottinghamshire complete an impressive victory. Riki Wessels ended on 29 out.
RESULT! Hampshire (380 & 311/5dec) beat Kent (191 & 304) by 196 runs at Canterbury - It's all over at Canterbury, Calum Haggett bowling by James Tomlinson to secure a crucial win for Division Two promotion chasers Hampshire.
Magoffin gone! He's been bowled by Rashid and Yorkshire need 106 in 39 overs. 230 all out.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) August 18, 2014
ALL OUT.. Sussex are bowled out for 230 at Scarborough so Yorkshire require 106 to win this @LV_Cricket match #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) August 18, 2014
Barrow is caught at first slip off Patel and we are 142 for 6.
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) August 18, 2014
3.04pm - Dawson strikes again, Mitchell Claydon the man to go. Sussex are also nine down with Lewis Hatchett caught at silly mid-off off Adil Rashid. The rain has stopped in Leicester, yet they remain off the field.
2.46pm - Notts lose a wicket as James Taylor edges Neil Wagner - who grabs the first scalp of his spell with Northants - behind for 37 with a further 61 runs required for victory.
They are off for rain at Grace Road, while Hampshire have grabbed the seventh and eighth Kent wickets, Darren Stevens and Sam Billings falling to Liam Dawson and Danny Briggs respectively.
2.25pm - Another huge breakthrough comes Yorkshire's way as Luke Wright is trapped lbw for a fine 113. The White Rose now seem certain to win.
... stepping over the boundary and then jumping back onto the field to take the catch! Somerset - 94-5 #YouBears#5togo
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) August 18, 2014
WICKET - Compton pulls Gordon to Trott at deep square leg, who takes the catch before throwing the ball up into the air...
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) August 18, 2014
Wicket! MacLeod is run out by a great piece of work by Tom Bailey, hitting stumps at bowlers end. Durham 139-7 lead by 58 runs #LanvDur
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 18, 2014
Leics 99-4..Eckersley c Burns b Batty 25
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 18, 2014
1.53pm - A few wickets go early after lunch as Ben Brown falls lbw to Steven Patterson, Sam Northeast is run out for 21 with Kent still requiring a further 309 to win and James Hildreth hits Jeetan Patel to mid-on.
1.46pm - Alex Hales' sparkling form goes on, the Notts opener having moved beyond 50 straight after the interval.
1.14pm – Here are the scores on the doors:
Centurion Luke Wright is holding up leaders Yorkshire’s victory bid with 106 of 175 for five in Sussex’s second innings, putting the visitors to Scarborough 50 ahead. Steffan Piolet added 127 with Wright but fell just before lunch.
Nottinghamshire, chasing 211 to beat Northamptonshire and keep the pressure on Yorkshire, are 93 for three after recovering from 28 for three at Wantage Road.
Somerset, batting for a draw after being set 404 to win by Warwickshire, are 83 for three at Taunton.
Durham have lost five wickets this morning, three to Simon Kerrigan who has 4-42, to slip to 129 for six in their second innings, only 48 ahead of Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford.
Essex took the two wickets they needed today to beat Glamorgan at Swansea, in the end by 63 runs.
Surrey quickly topped up their second innings to 279 for five declared, setting Leicestershire an improbable 387 for victory, and have the Grace Road hosts 82 for three.
Hampshire have reduced Kent, who are chasing a theoretical 501, from 95 for two to 187 for five at the Spitfire Ground.
100 - Jeetan Patel has become the third bowler after Hogan and Magoffin to take 100 @LV_Cricket wickets since the start of 2013. Consistent.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) August 18, 2014
1pm – Yorkshire break through on the brink of lunch, Steven Patterson having Steffan Piolet held at third slip for 32 to end a stand of 127 with Wright.
Stephen Parry bowls Phil Mustard as Durhsm lose a sixth scalp.
While waiting for the lunch scores, here’s the report of Essex’s win today.
WICKET | Boyce gets a brute from Meaker and ball balloons up to Roy at second slip. 55-3
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) August 18, 2014
12.40pm –Luke Wright raises a smooth century, from 115 balls, that could save Sussex from defeat to Yorkshire.
Surrey and Meaker have a second strike, Greg Smith caught behind for 24.
Game on! Stokes is caught at bat/pad by Steven Croft off Simon Kerrigan for 2. Durham 103-5 lead by 22 runs #LanvDur
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 18, 2014
196 - Since the start of 2011 Monty Panesar has taken 196 Championship wickets - the most by a spinner - with 11 five-wicket hauls. Output.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) August 18, 2014
That's the 100 partnership between @lukewright204 and @Spiolet14 as Sussex are now 149 for 4 with a lead of 24 #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) August 18, 2014
12.20pm – Hampshire close in on victory with Chris Wood accounting for Fabian Cowdrey to leave Kent five down.
Kerrigan makes Michael Richardson his third lbw victim of the innings, putting Durham in further trouble.
12.07pm – Oliver Hannon-Dalby strikes twice in an over, dismissing Johann Myburgh for 23 and Tom Abell, to leave Somerset three down and put Warwickshire on course for a win that will keep them firmly in the title race.
Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple traps Scott Borthwick in front for 20, making Durham just 11 in front with seven wickets left.
Surrey enjoy an early breakthrough, Stuart Meaker bowling Angus Robson.
Yorkshire will need to bat again. Sussex 131-4, lead by six. #countycricketlive
— CulleyCricket (@CulleyCricket) August 18, 2014
ACTION SHOT: Check out the state of the stumps after @david_willey dismisses Lumb #NORVNOTSpic.twitter.com/eBucpPxdXH
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) August 18, 2014
11.49am – David Willey rearranges Michael Lumb’s stumps, leaving Notts in a spot of bother at 28 for three and needing another 183 to win.
9 - Since 2002 @EssexCricket are unbeaten in nine away Championship matches against Glamorgan, winning four and drawing five. Maintained.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) August 18, 2014
Close. Piolet edge goes to ground as Bresnan can't cling on at gully, 15, off Brooks. 108-4.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) August 18, 2014
11.36am – RESULT! Essex (286 & 222) beat Glamorgan (161 & 284) by 63 runs at Swansea. The Welsh county gave it a good go, but Tom Westley has Michael Hogan caught and bowled for 25 to end a last-wicket stand of 43 with Dean Cosker. Panesar took 6-118. Essex go second in Division Two, but only temporarily.
Warwickshire’s Jeetan Patel gets Marcus Trescothick lbw early in Somerset’s effort to save the game and Hampshire’s Coles strikes again in the same fashion, snaring Adam Riley.
Surrey declare on 279-6...Roy 44*, Tremlett 5*...lead is 386..minimum of 88 overs left today
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 18, 2014
11.26am – Surrey are flying along, seemingly to set up a declaration. Jason Roy is unbeaten on 35 from 16 balls as Steven Davies holes out off Nathan Buck for 38 with the visitors 372 in front.
Notts slip to nine for two when Azhar traps nightwatchman Ajmal Shahzad in front.
Lancashire’s Simon Kerrigan likewise snares Keaton Jennings for 20, leaving Durham 73 for two.
Hampshire’s Matt Coles has Daniel Bell-Drummond caught behind for 44, making Kent 106 for three.
11.11am – Essex move one wicket away from beating Glamorgan as Monty Panesar has Graham Wagg taken at bat/pad for 64, the spinner’s 11th scalp of the game.
Notts, chasing 211 to beat Northants and keep the pressure on Yorkshire at the top of Division One, are nought for one when Muhammad Azhar Ullah ousts Steven Mullaney.
We will start at 11.20am at Scarborough. Five overs lost from the day's allocation.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) August 18, 2014
Good morning. Surrey are batting on at Grace Road
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) August 18, 2014
10.50am – While waiting for the action to start, here’s news that young Worcestershire batsman Tom Fell has signed a one-year contract extension until the end of the 2016 season.
10.40am – Good morning and welcome to our LV= County Championship blog. Yesterday Gloucestershire beat Division Two leaders Worcestershire. The other seven games will end today. Here’s how they stand:
Title-chasing Nottinghamshire require 211 on the final day to beat Northamptonshire after they negotiated the last over of day three to be none for none.
Leaders Yorkshire are on top against Sussex at Scarborough, but head into the final day with time also a factor. Sussex are 98 for fourand 27 runs adrift.
Somerset are one without loss against Warwickshire after the Bears declared with a lead of 404 in a game where the loser’s title bid will almost be over.
Durham are 59 for one in their second innings against Lancashire and, with a deficit of 22 runs, head into the final day knowing a draw will keep them above their rivals in the relegation zone.
Essex need two wickets to complete victory over Glamorgan, who survived the extra half hour to be 237 for eight in their pursuit of 348.
Kent will start the final day on 98 for two and looking to bat through for a draw after Hampshire set them a giant chase of 501.
Surrey skipper Gary Wilson must decide whether to declare overnight with his side on 217 for four - with a lead of 324 - and needing victory to boost their promotion bid against Leicestershire.
A lovely day @leicscccpic.twitter.com/nJCmXBMEop
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 18, 2014