Recap day two in the final round of 2014 LV= County Championship games. The relegation tussle between Lancashire and Middlesex is nicely poised while Hampshire and Essex, both battling for one promotion spot, had good days.
By Rob Barnett, Will Jackson & Callum Dent
6.45pm - As promised, here are the close of play scores.
Lancashire, on 259 for six, need another 41 runs tomorrow morning - in 14 overs - while denying Middlesex from taking three more wickets if they are to keep their survival hopes alive at Emirates Old Trafford.
Nick Compton struck 156 while Marcus Trescothick and Tom Abell contributed half-centuries, the latter’s unbeaten, as Somerset closed 66 runs ahead of champions Yorkshire on 319 for three at Headingley.
Varun Chopra and Jonathan Trott, who made 160 and 104 respectively, shared in a third-wicket stand of 191 as Warwickshire claimed the full allocation of bonus batting points needed to secure the runners-up spot in Division One. They will resume on 413 for eight, 212 runs ahead of Durham at Edgbaston.
Rob Keogh has 104 of Northamptonshire’s251 for seven, still 117 runs adrift of Sussex’s first-innings 368 at Wantage Road.
Hampshire are well placed to claim the win that secures promotion to the top flight at Cardiff. The visitors, for whom Jimmy Adams struck 91, lead by 360 on 175 for three after dismissing Glamorgan for just 172.
England international Moeen Ali’s unbeaten 70 held up promotion-chasing Essex’s victory charge. Worcestershire are 113 for two, still 234 runs adrift, after Jesse Ryder’s 120 not out lifted the hosts to 431 at the Essex County Ground.
After dismissing Kent for just 164, Will Tavare’s 101 not out gave Gloucestershire, on 208 for two, a lead of 223 at the Spitfire Ground.
Ben Slater and Wayne Madsen, with 73 and 66 not out respectively, took Derbyshire 310 runs in front on 162 for one against Leicestershire, who managed just 141 at the 3aaa County Ground.
Wicket - Barker caught Borthwick bowled Rushworth for 1. Stumps with Warwickshire 413-8 #YouBears
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) September 24, 2014
6.10pm - Tavare moves to a century at the Spitfire Ground just before stumps. Gloucestershire are 208 for two.
Durham seamer Rushworth collects a fourth scalp when Tim Ambrose edges behind.
We will round up the scores for you shortly.
Stumps on day two at the SWALEC stadium. Brilliant day for Hampshire, who are 175-3, a lead of 360 runs. Vince (32*), Alsop (0*). #LVCC
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 24, 2014
6.03pm - Warwickshire collect maximum batting bonus points at Edgbaston, meaning they secure the runners-up spot in Division One.
Adams falls nine short of a century at Cardiff, with Hampshire 169 for three. They are 354 runs ahead.
5.56pm - Lancashire are 259 for six at the close, Worcestershire are 113 for two and Derbyshire are 162 for one.
The players have left the field because of bad light. Hampshire are 148-2, Adams (76*), Vince (21*). A lead of 333 runs. #LVCC
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 24, 2014
5.37pm - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (242/5) v Middlesex (214): Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple is batting with a broken finger in possibly his last ever match of a 23-season career. The stage is set for him to get Lancashire to the required bonus points, although just maybe not today. Getting through tonight is the primary aim.
100 up for @RobKeogh91 #WellDoneKeogh pic.twitter.com/Sh7YRL1GKb
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) September 24, 2014
5.33pm - Keogh completes his century just before the close at Wantage Road. Northants end the day on 251 for seven, 117 adrift of Sussex.
Somerset are in the ascendancy at Headingley, closing on 319 for three. They lead by 66.
5.20pm - The new ball does the trick for Yorkshire. Compton is bowled by Steven Patterson for 156, leaving Somerset 51 ahead on 304 for three.
Derbyshire skipper Wayne Madsen has 50 to his name at the 3aaa County Ground.
5.13pm - Hampshire's Adams and Worcestershire's England international Moeen Ali move to half-centuries at Cardiff and the Essex County Ground respectively.
5.09pm - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (221/6) v Middlesex (214): The mathematics of this complicated situation has just been made slightly easier to figure out by Croft's dismissal. Lancashire must now make at least 300 and stop Middlesex from taking nine wickets in that time to keep afloat.
Sussex are on the charge now as Lewis Hatchett removes Olly Stone while Warwickshire lose their fourth wicket for just 42 runs when Rikki Clarke departs to Collingwood.
50 NOT OUT! @BennySlats follows up his maiden f/c ton with another half-century! Derbyshire 115-1 (37.4), lead by 263; Madsen 41* #DERvLEI
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 24, 2014
5.03pm - Compton moves to 150 at Headingley. Yorkshire need a breakthrough fast.
Sussex are closing in on a first-innings lead. Northants are 150 behind with just four wickets remaining after Ashar Zaidi bowls Andrew Hall.
4.57pm - Paul Collingwood ends Chopra's superb knock of 160, Gareth Breese taking the catch, but Warwickshire are leading by 143 on 344 for five.
Hampshire lose a second, Liam Dawson becoming Dean Cosker's first victim in his fifth over.
150 up for Varun Chopra from 237 balls with 21 x fours. Warwickshire 335-4 #YouBears
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) September 24, 2014
4.44pm - Monty Panesar had an exciting cameo with the bat earlier on and now he is excelling with the ball. The left-arm spinner ousts Daryl Mitchell with his fourth delivery to reduce Worcestershire to 54 for two.
4.41pm - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (208/5) v Middlesex (214): The new ball is due and this could be the key to Lancashire's season. Steven Croft, who was dropped earlier this summer, has done brilliantly to register the first half-century of the game while Luke Procter is following up his four-wicket haul with important runs.
Promotion-chasing Hampshire are moving into a winning position at Cardiff. Will Smith departs to Jim Allenby for 39, but the visitors are 79 for one and leading by 264.
4.34pm - Rushworth strikes again at Edgbaston as Sam Hain is pinned leg before.
Kent seamer Griffiths takes his second scalp in as many individual overs when dismissing Gareth Roderick for a seven-ball duck.
5 - Since the start of 2013, Darren Stevens has scored the 5th most runs and taken the 5th most wickets in @LV_Cricket Division Two. Key.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) September 24, 2014
4.32pm - Luke Wells is the man to break the 99-run partnership between Duckett and Keogh by trapping the England Under-19 international lbw for 60 at Wantage Road.
4.26pm - Gloucestershire's Chris Dent falls three short of a fifty when he is dismissed by David Griffiths.
Somerset are in the lead now at Headingley, with Tom Abell moving to a half-century.
MILESTONE! Madsen has passed 1,000 @LV_Cricket runs in 2014, the second year in a row he's achieved the feat #P2bD pic.twitter.com/NmlKdfeQVx
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 24, 2014
4.21pm - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (200/5) v Middlesex (214): It appears, given the rate of scoring, that Lancashire are unlikely to reach 350 before the 110-over cut-off to earn their required bonus points. That being the case they can still keep alive their survival bid by denying Middlesex full bowling points. If that is the case Lancashire could lower their target to 300, as long as they lose eight wickets or less before the 110-over point.
Northamptonshire pair Rob Keogh and Ben Duckett are fighting hard and both advance to 50 as their side reach 166 for four, trailing Sussex by 202.
Will Tavare also makes a half-century, helping Gloucestershire to 104 without loss and a lead of 119 at the Spitfire Ground.
4.06pm - Trott does not last much longer as the in-form Chris Rushworth has him caught behind for 104 to leave Warwickshire 304 for three.
4pm - The milestones keep on coming as Jonathan Trott is the latest batsman to move to three figures. Warwickshire's lead is now 91 at Edgbaston.
3.57pm - A century for Nick Compton at Headingley. The right-hander's 146-ball ton takes Somerset to within 39 of Yorkshire's below-par first-innings total of 253.
3.45pm - Jesse Ryder is continuing his superb match at the Essex County Ground. The New Zealander followed his first-innings five-wicket haul with a century and now strikes early in the second. Richard Oliver is the man to go and Worcestershire are nine for one, 338 behind.
3.40pm - Gloucestershire are 74 without loss at the break, Derbyshire are 53 for one and Warwickshire are 273 for two courtesy of a stunning partnership between Jonathan Trott and Varun Chopra.
3.26pm - Lancashire finish the session on 165 for five and in need of a big partnership after tea.
58 - @DijaRyder 's 120 in 117 balls for @EssexCricket against Worcestershire came from 58 scoring shots. Easy. pic.twitter.com/AcxBwKv1qT
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) September 24, 2014
Wicket. Godleman stumped by O'Brien off Sykes for 12; Derbyshire 35-1 (14.2); Slater 19*, lead by 183 #DERvLEI
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 24, 2014
3.12pm - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (160/5) v Middlesex (214): Four wickets in the afternoon session have severely hampered Lancashire's hopes of pulling off their escape act. With Buttler becoming Ravi Patel's 50th first-class wicket, the bottom half of the Red Rose's batting order are left needing to score 190.
Tea has been taken at Wantage Road with Northants 110 for four and at Headingley, where Somerset are 196 for two.
3.07pm - Essex have been dismissed for 431 by Worcestershire. Ryder finished unbeaten on 120 and has given his side a 347-run lead. Can they keep the pressure on Hampshire?
3.01pm - Jos Buttler and Steven Croft are rebuilding steadily for Lancashire, who need to score at least 300 in order to survive remember.
The big news from Wales is that despite dismissing Glamorgan cheaply, Hampshire will not enforce the follow on .
100 - for Varun Chopra. His second in @LV_Cricket 2014 and 16th in First Class career. 187 balls & 16 x fours. Warwickshire 223-2 #YouBears
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) September 24, 2014
2.47pm - Northants have lost their fourth wicket in Adam Rossington for just one, and Hampshire are closing in on a big first-innings lead as Imran Tahir bowls Graham Wagg for 23.
Monty Panesar made an entertaining 38 for Essex but he has perished after trying one shot too many, and Michael Hogan is the final Glamorgan wicket to fall to give Hampshire a lead of 185 as tea is taken.
WICKET..Middlebrook falls two short of his half-century as he is run out by Ashar Zaidi. Gone for 48, Northamptonshire 83 for 3 now #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) September 24, 2014
2.24pm - Joe Root decides to turn his arm over in search for a wicket, and is immediately rewarded as Trescothick edges to slip where Adam Lyth makes no mistake.
Jesse Ryder has made a crucial hundred for Essex on the day he signed a two-year deal with the county.
Another wicket for Hampshire means that they are in pole position to seal promotion no matter what Essex do.
WICKET! @Cotts1993 bowls Sheihk for his fourth wicket and Leicestershire are 141 all out with a deficit of 148 #DERvLEI
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 24, 2014
2.13pm - David Masters stuck around to add 71 with Ryder but has now fallen to Moeen Ali - his third wicket.
Ben Raine made 34 for Leicestershire to just about save them from the follow-on, but he has gone to leave them nine down and Matt Coles has taken the seventh Glamorgan wicket with 139 on the board.
Wicket - Brown gets inside edge to ful delivery and is bowled by Harris for 13. @LancsCCC 118-4 (43.5ov) #LanvMid
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 24, 2014
2.04pm - Benny Howell wraps up the Kent innings for 164 with his second wicket, and Gloucestershire go into their second innings with a lead of 15 runs.
1.59pm - Billings has fallen for a well-made 73 that has dragged Kent to within touching distance of the Gloucestershire score, while young Aneurin Donald has made just four in his first championship knock at the SWALEC Stadium.
1000 Championship runs this season for Trescothick!
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) September 24, 2014
1.51pm - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (111/3) v Middlesex (214): Prince has just been caught by Rogers with the score on Nelson. No sign of a raspberry beret.
1.48pm - It's been a good day for Somerset so far. Marcus Trescothick and Nick Compton have both made half-centuries as they advance to 125 for one.
Jesse Ryder and Sam Billings also went past fifty in their respective games but Rob Taylor has fallen cheaply for Leicestershire.
Two wickets in the first 6 overs after lunch. Allenby for 29 (caught Smith, bowled Wood) and then Wallace for 51 (bowled Wood)
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) September 24, 2014
1.37pm - ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (98/2) v Middlesex (214): Ashwell Prince has just gone past 17,000 first-class runs in what could be his final game at this level. Another 100 would be just the tonic for Lancashire after his 86-run stand with Luis Reece is ended by Toby Roland-Jones. There was a bit of debate about whether it was a no-ball, but the replays were inconclusive.
1.27pm - Hampshire have made an important breakthrough after the break with Chris Wood breaking a useful partnership between Jim Allenby and Mark Wallace.
Wicket Claydon b Miles 1. Kent 119/8 (52.2 overs) Billings 40* Griffiths 0* #KENvGLO
— Kent Cricket (@kentcricket) September 24, 2014
1.00pm - Durham have made a quick breakthrough after an early lunch was taken, with Chris Rushworth removing Will Porterfield for 28.
James Tredwell has become the seventh man to fall at the Spitfire Ground as play continues after the rain break.
12.50pm – Here are those scores:
Lancashire , needing 350 to retain their hopes of staying up, have moved steadily to 88 for one in response to Middlesex’s 214 in the relegation decider at Emirates Old Trafford.
Somerset are 78 for one in reply to Yorkshire’s 253 at Headingley.
Sussex extended their first innings to 368 thanks to fifties from Ashar Zaidi and Steve Magoffin. Northamptonshire are 17 for two in reply.
Rain cut short the morning session at Edgbaston where Warwickshire are going well on 113 for one in reply to Durham’s 201.
Promotion-chasing Essex are building a healthy lead over Division Two leaders Worcestershire at the Essex County Ground. The hosts are 282 for seven in their first innings, 198 in front.
Glamorgan are 100 for three , responding to second-placed Hampshire’s 357 at the SWALEC Stadium.
Bottom side Leicestershire have slipped to 97 for seven in reply to Derbyshire’s 289 at the 3aaa County Ground.
Rain curtailed the morning session at the Spitfire Ground, where Kent are 116 for six in response to Gloucestershire’s 179.
WICKET..Magoffin again! Kettleborough is bowled for a duck and Northants are 17 for 2. Wicket number 69 for Mags #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) September 24, 2014
12.33pm – ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (88/1) v Middlesex (214): The morning session has gone to script for Lancashire. They are tracking along nicely towards the 350 they need to keep their survival bid alive and lost only Paul Horton before lunch. Reece and Prince have been untroubled in adding 76 - the biggest partnership of the game - and it is worth noting that Middlesex are behind on the over rate.
Lunch is arriving in the other games. There’ll soon be a round-up of the scores.
12.24pm – An early lunch is being taken at Edgbaston and the Spitfire Ground.
Magoffin, buoyed by his fifty, soon has Stephan Peters caught behind.
Worcestershire’s Charles Morris has two wickets in as many overs, Graham Napier following Vilani cheaply to make Essex 268 for seven.
12.10pm – Sussex are all out for 368 , Stone snaring Magoffin for 51 and Chris Liddle for nought in the same over.
Leicestershire lose two more wickets, Cotton getting Niall O’Brien caught behind and Alex Hughes ousting Angus Robson. Division Two’s bottom side are in trouble at 63 for seven.
WICKET Kishen Velani hooks Charles Morris and is caught at fine leg by Jack Shantry for 9. 264 for 6. #EssvWor
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) September 24, 2014
11.55am – ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire (64/1) v Middlesex (214): Luis Reece and Ashwell Prince have registered the first 50-run stand of the match and with the ball doing a whole lot less than yesterday, Lancashire have reason to believe this escape act is on. There's still plenty of ground to be covered yet, but they could hardly have asked to be in a better position.
11.48am – Breakthroughs seem to be coming in pairs today. Hampshire’s Chris Wood cleans up Chris Cooke in the same over that he dismissed Jacques Rudolph.
Myburgh departs to Stephen Patterson as Somerset lose a first wicket.
Rain now intervenes at the Spitfire Ground where Kent are 116 for six, responding to Gloucestershire’s 179.
WICKET: Jacques Rudolph departs for 29, bowled by Wood. Glamorgan are now 50/2. Wallace on 21, Cooke coming in to bat.
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) September 24, 2014
11.41am – Rain interrupts at Edgbaston where half-centurion Varun Chopra and Will Porterfield are going well on 113 for one in reply to Durham’s 201.
Northants finally end Sussex’s eighth-wicket stand on 113, Olly Stone bowling Zaidi for 88. Magoffin’s 46 is his highest score for Sussex, whore are 316 for eight.
Tom Wells is caught behind off Ben Cotton, leaving Leicestershire 63 for five in reply to Derbyshire’s 289.
A rare dismissal in the #LVCC yesterday when @cheteshwar1 was given out 'handling the ball'. Take a look http://t.co/4v16hz6j8F
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) September 24, 2014
Excellent 100 partnership between @asharzaidi1981 and @magsy64 who are unbeaten on 82 and 40 respectively. Sussex 349 for 7 now #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) September 24, 2014
11.21am – Again, one scalp brings another, this time for Worcestershire. Brett D’Oliveira traps James Foster in front for 48. By the way, Foster’s stand with Nick Browne was worth 118, the same as the opener’s individual score.
WICKET Nick Browne shoulders arms and is bowled by Moeen Ali for 118. 224-4 and we are in the 78th over. #EssvWor
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) September 24, 2014
11.13am – One breakthrough brings two for Gloucestershire, Liam Norwell having Calum Haggett caught behind for a duck.
Ashar Zaidi moves to 68, his highest score for Sussex.
10 - Mark Footitt (34.1%) is on course to become the 10th player since 1992 to take at least a third of a team's wickets in a season. Share.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) September 24, 2014
11.04am – David Payne breaks a stand of 51 between Darren Stevens and Sam Billings, snaring the former for 23. Kent are 98 for five in reply to Gloucestershire’s 179.
Somerset’s reply is under way with Marcus Trescothick and Johann Myburgh opening the innings.
50 for Varun Chopra, from 70 balls with 8 x fours. Warwickshire 93-1 #YouBears
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) September 24, 2014
Wicket - Horton lbw 7 to Murtagh. @Lancs 12-1 (6.2ov) #LanvMid
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 24, 2014
10.54am – Peter Trego, armed with the second new ball, makes Jack Brooks his fourth victim, ending a last-wicket stand of 40. Jack Leaning is unbeaten on 57 in Yorkshire's 253 all out .
Essex reach 200 to register a first batting point and Leicestershire lose two early wickets, Tony Palladino removing Ned Eckersley and Dan Redfern in consecutive overs.
Play has started at the County Ground and @SussexCCC are 306/7 with Zaibi (58*) and Magoffin (22*) at the crease. pic.twitter.com/witJQ8gT82
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) September 24, 2014
10.38am – There is a slightly delayed start at the Essex County Ground where play is set to begin at 10.45am.
Hampshire make an early breakthrough, Matt Coles bowling Will Bragg for nought.
10.30am – ecb.co.uk’s Matt Somerford at Lancashire v Middlesex (214): We have woken to glorious sunshine in Manchester and it is set to remain that way all day according to the forecasters. That is just what Lancashire were hoping for on a day they must score 350 - barring declarations or Middlesex failing to take all three bowling bonus points - to avoid being relegated. It is a massive day for the Red Rose.
10.25am – Hello and welcome to our LV= County Championship blog. The last round of 2014 games enter their second day, standing as follows:
Middlesex , needing six points to stay up and relegate Lancashire , struggled to 214 all out at Emirates Old Trafford, scraping a vital bonus point through a determined last-wicket partnership to frustrate the hosts.
Champions Yorkshire suffered something of a hangover on the first day against Somerset at Headingley. They reached 241 for nine at stumps, Alex Lees the stand-out performer with 83.
Durham were dismissed for 201 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Keith Barker extracted some revenge for Saturday's loss in the Royal London One-Day Cup final with 5-59 before the hosts reached 77 for one at the close.
Sussex reached 300 for seven against relegated Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. Luke Wells made 81 as the visitors fought back from a difficult first session, when Muhammad Azhar Ullah took three wickets.
Promotion-chasing Essex skittled leaders Worcestershire for 84 at the Essex County Ground. Jesse Ryder took five wickets in as many overs before the hosts reached 198 for three at the close, a lead of 114, with Nick Browne posting an unbeaten century.
James Vince and Sean Ervine hit hundreds to rescue second-placed Hampshire at the SWALEC Stadium against Glamorgan . The visitors were struggling on 53 for five before Vince and Ervine shared 225 to lift their side to 357 all out.
Gloucestershire were dismissed for 179 on a day when 14 wickets fell at the Spitfire Ground. Mitchell Claydon took 5-61 but Kent struggled in reply, reaching 83 for four.
Ben Slater hit a maiden first-class century as Derbyshire posted 289 against Leicestershire at the 3aaa County Ground, where Cheteshwar Pujara had earlier been given out handled the ball. The visitors lost two late wickets as they reached 25 for two at the close.
Morning everyone. A very different picture at Old Trafford today, where a full days play is expected... #middlesex150 pic.twitter.com/M44XFmEl79
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 24, 2014