Roundup: Vince dazzles but Lancs on track to win
The day’s main event started at 5.35pm at Southport, as Lancashire started their chase of 140 against Hampshire for their first win of the season. With Keith Barker kicking up dust at one end, and Mohammad Abbas slipping in on silent cat paws at the other, it was never going to be easy. First innings centurion Phil Salt snicked Abbas’s fourth ball through to James Vince; and George Balderson was snaffled behind off Barker the following over (5-2). But Josh Bohannon and Dane Vilas, reprieved by Vince at first slip just before the close, reduced the target to 92 at stumps.
Earlier Vince, sleeves pulled up a hitch and a bit, shirt unbuttoned, had danced to 87. He is in the form of his life, averaging 70, but the door is surely closed on any further England selection. Out came the peachy straight drive, the peachy off-drive, but no-one was able to stay with him quite long enough to set Lancashire a more pressing target, though Kyle Abbott’s gung-ho 23 was handy. Balderson grabbed three wickets, while George Bell, aiming at Barker’s footholes, grabbed his first, to the evident disgruntlement of Liam Dawson – who later consoled himself with a waffle cone from the ice cream van.
A scintillating century by Jamie Smith, off just 70 balls, gave Surrey a chance of their highest successful run chase against Kent. Dom Sibley, 61 not out off 212, played the role of the wily old pro. Essex set Somerset a hefty 466 to win, and were well on their way to victory, Matthew Critchley adding a half century and two wickets to his first-innings hundred. A century from Joe Clarke kept Nottinghamshire hopes semi-alive following on against Warwickshire.
In Division Two, Yorkshire’s search for their first win of the season stumbled into the dark woods as first Derbyshire cracked 453, spearheaded by a fifth-wicket stand of 277 between Leus du Plooy (170) and Haider Ali (146); and then Yorks lost late wickets, closing with 65 still needed, four wickets left. The match destiny rests with Shan Masood, unbeaten on 68.
It was Bas de Leede day at The Riverside, an unbeaten 85 helping Durham to 630, before he snaffled three for 25, leaving Glamorgan in deep trouble. Sussex take a lead of 297 into the final day at Hove against Worcestershire, and Leicestershire were 350 all out at Gloucestershire, 18 runs behind their hosts.
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Another thrilling CC day – with Jamie Smith lighting up Canterbury, Lancs giving their supporters a scare at Southport and Yorkshire locked in a desperate struggle at Chesterfield. We’ll be back in the morning to keep an eye on these, and more, with all eight games still in play as we go into the final day. Thanks for all your messages, have a lovely evening, good night!
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