Recap the last day in the penultimate round of 2014 LV= County Championship games with Chris Rogers’ double-century and Will Smith’s hundred, both unbeaten, salvaging draws for Middlesex and Hampshire respectively while Sussex snatched victory over Notts.
By Matt Somerford, Rob Barnett & Callum Dent
5.27pm – What a day that was in the LV= County Championship! Here’s how today’s action panned out:
Captain Chris Rogers’ 203 not out rescued a draw for Middlesex, who had been asked to follow on by Somerset at Taunton. The result makes Middlesex firm favourites to stay up in next week’s relegation decider with Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford.
Sussex, having declared their second innings shortly before lunch, dismissed Nottinghamshire for 193 to claim victory by 191 runs at Trent Bridge.
Hampshire, another side following on, held on for a draw versus Kent at the Ageas Bowl. Opener Will Smith’s unbeaten ton helped the hosts to finish nine down and deny Rob Key’s side the chance to chase a small target.
5.19pm – RESULT! Sussex (391 & 406/6d) beat Nottinghamshire (413 & 193) by 191 runs at Trent Bridge. Jordan bowls Harry Gurney to seal success for Sussex, who declared shortly before lunch setting Notts 385 to win. Sussex rise to fourth in Division One and look set to finish above third-placed Notts, whose season is now over.
5.12pm – Zaidi pins Luke Wood lbw so Sussex need just one more wicket to beat Notts.
Wicket: Magoffin picks up his fourth, trapping Fletch LBW for eight. Notts 183-8 #NottsvSuss
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 18, 2014
4.59pm – RESULT! Hampshire (351 & 248/9) draw with Kent (507) at the Ageas Bowl. Smith and Tomlinson keep Kent at bay, ending with 142 and two respectively. Hampshire, who stay second in Division Two, take five points to move 10 clear of third-placed Essex going into the last round of matches.
4.50pm – Notts lose a seventh scalp, Read bowled for 20 by Ashar Zaidi. Sussex are scenting victory.
4 - Four players have 5,000+ Championship runs from 2010 onwards: Rogers, Marcus Trescothick, Jimmy Adams and Ed Joyce. Output. @LV_Cricket
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) September 18, 2014
6,000 - Chris Rogers today became the first player to score more than 6,000 Championship runs since the start of 2010. Consistent.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) September 18, 2014
4.42pm – Hampshire’s last man James Tomlinson is holding up an end alongside Smith while Samit Patel falls to Steve Magoffin to leave Notts six down.
4.24pm – RESULT! Middlesex (223 & 328/4d) draw with Somerset (523/9d) at Taunton. Rogers is unbeaten on 203 from 386 balls and Neil Dexter 12 from 64 when the sides shake hands. That leaves Middlesex, who had to follow on, 19 points clear of Lancashire going into next week’s relegation decider between the teams at Emirates Old Trafford.
Fair to say that Sussex are attacking... pic.twitter.com/wvZcWZeCE0
— Dave Bracegirdle (@bracecricket) September 18, 2014
4.20pm – With a four off Jack Leach, heroic Middlesex captain Rogers raises a double-century that looks like making a draw certain at Taunton.
4.18pm – Tredwell bowls Imran Tahir, who had been digging in alongside centurion Will Smith. Hampshire are 77 in front with one wicket left. There are plenty of overs to go at the Ageas Bowl given the lack of morning play.
Jordan has Taylor caught behind for 46, making Notts 140 for five. Might Sussex push for an unlikely win?
3.58pm – England seamer Chris Jordan bowls Riki Wessels for 37, ending a stand of 69 with James Taylor. Notts are 131 for four, needing 254 more for victory over Sussex. Surely the sides will soon shake hands on a draw at Trent Bridge?
3.55pm – Chris Rogers has been on 190 since tea. He and Neil Dexter are holding firm as Middlesex, who lead Somerset by seven runs with six wickets left, close in on a valuable draw.
Coles (0) has been trapped lbw by Riley & Hampshire are now 208-8, a lead of 52 runs. Minimum of 30 overs remain in the day. #LVCC
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 18, 2014
Fifty partnership between James Taylor and Riki Wessels. Nottinghamshire 114-3, requiring 271 off 32 overs #NottsvSuss
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 18, 2014
3.41pm – Hampshire are seven down with Riley’s fellow spinner James Tredwell trapping Chris Wood in front for nought. The Ageas Bowl hosts lead by 51 with three wickets left.
3.37pm – All three games are back under way and Hampshire’s slide continues as first-innings centurion Sean Ervine is trapped in front by Adam Riley. Could Kent snatch victory?
3.21pm - Tea also arrives at a good time for Hampshire, who are 202 for five, leading by just 46.
3.17pm - Tea will allow Middlesex time to regroup after Overton's double strike. They are leading by 108 on 300 for four at the interval.
Nottinghamshire, in pursuit of an unlikely 385 to win, are 100 for three at the break.
3.07pm - Hampshire are on the ropes now. Adam Wheater makes just one before Kent's spinners combine, Tredwell taking the catch off Riley. Their lead is 40 with just five wickets in hand.
Century for @WillSmith_2! His second for Hampshire - what a week he is having! 194-4 now, a lead of 38 runs. #LVCCpic.twitter.com/5izQl42w5o
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 18, 2014
3.01pm - Kent are also keeping things interesting at the Ageas Bowl. Hampshire, leading by just 34, slip to 190 for four as Adam Riley pins Tom Alsop lbw. Will Smith is one short of a century at the other end.
2.47pm - Is there going to be an exciting finish on the cards at Taunton? Overton is hampering Middlesex's progress by taking a second scalp in as many individual overs as Eoin Morgan is bowled for a duck. The visitors are still in the red with six second-innings wickets remaining.
Excellent catch by Stevens in the slips gives Haggett his first wicket to dismiss Vince (27). Hampshire are now 178-3, a lead of 22 runs.
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 18, 2014
2.38pm - Denly adds just 10 more before he is trapped lbw by Craig Overton. The former Kent batsman's partnership with Chris Rogers, who has 179, was worth 144. Middlesex trail by 16.
2.23pm - Sussex spinner Ashar Zaidi requires just two balls to make an impact at Trent Bridge. England international Chris Jordan takes his second catch to dismiss Michael Lumb for 23, leaving Notts 62 for three.
2.05pm - Joe Denly moves to a half-century at Taunton as Middlesex continue to eat up Somerset's lead. The visitors are 35 behind on 265 for two.
. @vincey14 is now the leading runs scorer in #LVCC Division Two! Hampshire are 148-2, trailing Kent by 8 runs. #LVCC pic.twitter.com/50BCUJxoDO
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 18, 2014
1.53pm - Magoffin strikes again at Trent Bridge. First-innings centurion Jake Libby is next to fall, finding the hands of Chris Nash at short-leg. Notts are 36 for two.
1.31pm - Hampshire, trailing by 28, are reduced to 128 for two when James Tredwell bowls Liam Dawson for 40, ending a stand of 108 with Will Smith.
1.25pm - How will Nottinghamshire approach the final two sessions at Trent Bridge? Will they go all out for their victory target of 385 to end the season on a high or will they bat for the draw? They may be forced into opting for the latter after losing an early wicket, Alex Hales departing to Steve Magoffin for six.
Still hazy over the Quantocks but glorious sunshine greets the afternoon session at Taunton, over to the new ball... pic.twitter.com/zTuiO8xZnj
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 18, 2014
Smith (66*) & Dawson (28*) are out in the middle for the start of play. Hampshire are 110-1, trailing by 46 runs. #LVCC
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 18, 2014
12.35pm – Here are those scores:
Chris Rogers has 152 of Middlesex’s 230 for two as they seek to hold on for a draw that will aid their relegation fight. The visitors to Taunton are following on and trail Somerset by 70.
Luke Wells’ 79 from 62 balls helped Sussex declare their second innings on 406 for six shortly before lunch. Nottinghamshire , needing 385 to win at Trent Bridge, are 10 without loss .
There has been no play today at the Ageas Bowl where promotion-chasing Hampshire are 110 for one , following on against Kent who lead by 46 runs. Play is set to start at 1pm.
12.31pm – The two games that have had action this morning reach lunch. We’ll soon round up the scores.
12.27pm – Rogers goes to a rearguard 150! The Middlesex skipper is leading strong resistance as the relegation-threatened team seek a draw with Somerset.
Play is scheduled to get underway at 1pm with 67 overs remaining in the day. Hampshire 110-1, trailing by 46 runs. #LVCC
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 18, 2014
DECLARATION: Sussex declare on 406 for 6 setting Nottinghamshire a target of 385 to win this @LV_Cricket match, with 70 overs left today
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) September 18, 2014
12.10pm – Wells falls the ball after hitting Samit Patel for six. Wells struck 13 fours and two sixes in his 79 from 62 balls, dominating a stand of 78 with Brown.
12.01pm - Ben Brown deposits England Under-19 seamer Luke Wood over the rope and Sussex's lead has gone beyond 350.
Sussex 372-5 after 67 overs. Will we see any sign of a declaration before lunch? #NottsvSuss
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 18, 2014
11.37am - That break has been clocked at two minutes. We're up and running again with Johann Myburgh to complete his over.
Meanwhile at Trent Bridge, Wells takes 15 from a Keedy over and that Sussex declaration can't be far off now. Wells gets to a half-century from 50 balls and Sussex are 317 runs in front.
11.35am - The players are off at Taunton for bad light. Middlesex are 194 for two with Rogers unbeaten on 132 while Denly has 18. The visitors are 106 behind.
It could be a short break...the umpires want the players to return.
WICKET..Joyce departs for a fantastic 149. His eighth first-class century of the season, an incredible effort @edjoyce24 . 320/5 lead is 298
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) September 18, 2014
11.19am - Rogers and Denly have brought up a 50-run stand for Middlesex while Sussex have gone past 300 at Trent Bridge. Three fours in one over from Keedy accelerates the scoring rate further.
11.13am - The reports from the Ageas Bowl are that the rain has got lighter. A start is probably still some way off yet because of all the water that has fallen on the outfield.
11.01am - Gurney concedes a couple of boundaries in the same over - with Ed Joyce and new man Luke Wells sharing them - to build Sussex's lead to 256 runs.
Down at Taunton, Rogers hits successive boundaries off Leach while Joe Denly has made a positive start too, taking 11 from his first 12 balls.
Century for the @Middlesex_CCC captain Chris Rogers as he tries to save vital game at @SomersetCCC . @BBC5LSX pic.twitter.com/LIFGECh84p
— BBC TMS (@bbctms) September 18, 2014
10.46am - Sussex are looking for those quick runs this morning. Luke Wright lifts Harry Gurney for six, but the risk-taking comes at a cost as he tamely chips Luke Fletcher to Gary Keedy.
10.37am - Somerset have grabbed the first of the nine wickets they need at Taunton. After Chris Rogers played out an Alfonso Thomas maiden, Dawid Malan fails to negotiate the first ball from Jack Leach at the other end. Marcus Trescothick takes the catch and gets reward for his decision to go with spin straight away.
Play has started at the county ground. Somerset need 9 wickets to win the game!
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) September 18, 2014
10.20am - We have confirmation that the start will be delayed at the Ageas Bowl. That's no bad thing for Hampshire because if they can escape with a draw the five extra points would move them 10 clear of third-placed Essex in the promotion race.
10.12am - We may have a few delayed starts this morning. The weather doesn't look good in that picture from Taunton while the news from the Ageas Bowl is not much better.
The covers are actually on at Southampton and it is raining fairly heavily.
Murky, muggy and misty morning in Taunton. Quantock Hills are not visible at all... pic.twitter.com/EVyn0D2Xxw
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 18, 2014
10am - Welcome to our live blog of today's LV= County Championship action. After the record-breaking antics of yesterday, highlighted by Chris Rushworth's 15 wickets at Durham , we are down to three games today. Here's where we stand:
Middlesex begin on 140 for one after being asked to follow on with skipper Chris Rogers three runs away from a century as his side looks to hold on for a draw against Somerset to aid their fight against the drop.
Sussex cantered to 244 for three before bad light brought an end to play last night with a lead of 222 runs over Nottinghamshire . Ed Joyce hit his seventh century of the season and more quick runs will be on the agenda this morning to push for a result.
Hampshire start the day 46 runs behind Kent after they were asked to follow on. The hosts were making a better fist of it second time around to be 110 for one and looking for a draw, at least, to boost their promotion claims.