Captain Abell puts Somerset on pole in the title race
tItLE hopefuls SOMERSET enjoyed an excellent day with both bat and ball to take command of their Specsavers County Championship Division One match against
YORKSHIRE at taunton. the visitors collapsed from 86 for three to 103 all out before lunch, a first-innings deficit of 96, with spinner Roelof van der Merwe taking three quick wickets. Somerset closed on 269 for five at the end of day two to lead by 365. Captain tom abell scored 62, while James hildreth (58) and tom Banton (43) provided fine support before bad light ended play early.
ESSEX’S title challenge hit a buffer at Edgbaston following a marathon maiden century by WARWICKSHIRE batsman Matt Lamb. the 23-yearold was at the crease for seven hours as he crafted a knock of 173 to help his side reach 517 and take them a long way towards securing the draw which would move Warwickshire to the brink of safety from relegation. Essex, who reached 31 for one in reply by the close, will need to produce something remarkable over the remaining two days to keep pace with Somerset.
HAMPSHIRE captain James Vince hit 91 off just 59 balls, including 18 fours, in the second innings to put his side in control against SURREY. the 28-year-old put on 129 for the fourth wicket with Sam Northeast (73) in just 16.3 overs as hampshire built a lead of 283, finishing the second day on 296 for six. all-rounder Darren Stevens finished with figures of five for 39 as
KENT bowled out NOTTS for 124 to leave them on the verge of relegation. Stevens followed up his 88 with the bat by taking his 500th first-class wicket on the way to helping establish a first-innings lead of 180 at trent Bridge. Sam Billings then hit 100 off 106 balls, with Zak Crawley adding a rapid 82, as Kent finished on 236 for eight and with a lead of 416 runs. In Division two, LANCASHIRE allrounder Josh Bohannon hit a maiden century to help his side to a first-innings lead over DERBYSHIRE at Old trafford. after a lost morning because of rain, the Division two leaders moved from their overnight 20 for one to 269 for two — a lead of 25 with eight wickets remaining. Bohannon went on to finish on 150, with Keaton Jennings the only wicket to fall during the second day.
SUSSEX built a lead of 113 against second-placed GLOUCESTERSHIRE on the second day at Bristol thanks to Phil Salt (64) and Luke Wells (42). David Payne took three for 58 for the hosts.