Middlesex overturn Yorkshire as Essex run riot
On a day when there was more speculation about Middlesex leaving Lord’s, the club got their first win since relegation, turning over Yorkshire by six wickets. George Hill gathered a stoical 75 as Middlesex were set 158 to win. Despite Ben Coad zoning in on Mark Stoneman’s pads in the first over, the middle order reached the target painstakingly.
At Kidderminster, Durham hurried to their first Division One victory since 2016. Set 458 to win, Worcestershire’s hopes floated away when Jake Libby was caught off Ben Raine, leaving the Pears 135 for six. Paul Coughlin finished with four for 45. Ollie Robinson again caught the eye as he and Graham Clark set up the declaration.
Essex polished their position at the top of Division One with a second win of the season, whistling through Lancashire before lunch to win by an innings. The attack made the most of a pitch that skittled low sometimes, and Lancashire had no reply after losing four top order batters in 16 balls. Jamie Porter took home three for 24, Shane Snater pocketed seven in the match.
Surrey are eyeing victory at Canterbury, after centuries for Dan Lawrence and Dom Sibley were followed by Dan Worrall scything through Kent, his three for 18 including Zak Crawley for four.
A record-breaking stand of 370 between Will Young (156) and Joe Clarke (209) led to a glut of runs at Taunton.
Somerset only took one wicket all day and applauded Clarke and Young off at stumps, new owners of Nottinghamshire’s record for the third wicket, one that had been on the books since 1903.
Glamorgan were pummelled at Wantage Road by an unbeaten double hundred from Northamptonshire’s Indian international Karun Nair, who has found the County Championship very much to his liking.
Sussex’s Ollie Robinson grabbed two wickets in three balls to send Gloucestershire into a spin. Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins and Fletcha Middleton both made hundreds against Warwickshire on a flat pitch at the Rose Bowl.
With three games in the bag, and six to take over to day four, it’s good night from me!
