Wednesday’s County Championship cricket sees Warwickshire boost title hopes with two-day win vs Essex; Somerset still in title mix; Warwickshire boosted their Rothesay County Championship title challenge by securing an eight-wicket win over Essex in two days. Sam Hain’s unbeaten 88 helped the Bears to a first-innings lead of 57 and then Manav Suthar’s five for 75 saw Essex bowled out for 189 in their second innings. Zen Malik’s 51 and an unbeaten 22 from Hain saw the visitors ease to their target of 133 for the loss of two wickets. Somerset also remain in the hunt for the title after putting themselves in a strong position against Yorkshire.
Talismanic all-rounder Craig Overton top-scored with 64 off 111 balls as Division One leaders Somerset recovered from 86 for eight to 201 all out in reply to Yorkshire’s first-innings 212 all out. After falling as one of eight wickets for Yorkshire’s excellent new-ball quick Ben Cliff, he then struck twice with the new ball himself as the hosts advanced their second innings to 128 for six and a lead of 139. Sussex have the advantage at Hove as they ended the day on 308 for six in reply to Nottinghamshire’s 240. Tom Clarke hit 89 and Charlie Tear (50) and Tom Price (56 not out) scored half-centuries to put the hosts in charge.
A brilliant unbeaten 124 from opener Nick Gubbins put Hampshire in total control against Leicestershire. Gubbins hit 15 fours in his 224-ball knock as Hants piled up 255 for three in their second innings, a lead of 225. Asa Tribe’s magnificent 142 not out steered Glamorgan into an even better position against Surrey in their second innings. Tribe’s brilliant century led his county to 339 for five in their second innings, a whopping 356 ahead.
In Division Two, Kent look set to keep their promotion hopes alive as closed day two on 84 for two in their chase of 140 against Lancashire. The hosts took their first-innings total to 214 and a lead of 53 as Zak Crawley made 84 before Matt Milnes, Khaled Ahmed and Keith Dudgeon all took three wickets to help bowl Lancashire out for 192 in their second innings. They slipped to 22 for two in their chase but Sam Northeast (23) and Tawanda Muyeye (37) put them on the verge of victory. An unbeaten 87 by Adam Hose and Brett D’Oliveira’s 82 helped Worcestershire fight back against Durham.
Responding to Durham’s 465 all out, the visitors posted 270 for five at the end of day two. Northamptonshire trail Derbyshire by 62 runs after being bowled out for 310 while Middlesex will aim to build a big lead against Gloucestershire, currently 47 ahead with 10 second-innings wickets intact. or stream no contract with NOW.
All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports
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