Somerset march into second spot despite Milton’s maiden century

County Championship debutant Alex Milton’s maiden century for Worcestershire failed to stop Somerset moving up to second behind runaway Specsavers Division One leaders Surrey.

Milton, the 22-year-old wicketkeeper, stole the limelight with an unbeaten 104, albeit in a 141-run defeat for the hosts at New Road.

Jamie Overton (four for 82) helped to put Somerset on course for victory, but No7 Milton then shared a club-record last-wicket stand of 136 in almost 40 overs with Steve Magoffin, completing a 172-ball century with his 15th four to add to one six.

Set 443 to win, Worcestershire were dismissed for 301 when Magoffin speared a catch into the off-side off Craig Overton, and they stay adrift at the bottom of the table.

In Division Two, Gloucestershire leapfrogged Durham into seventh after bowling the visitors out for 298 to complete a 41-run win at Cheltenham.

Durham appeared well-placed on occasions to reach a testing target of 340. But despite 62 from opener Cameron Steel, and then Mark Wood’s unbeaten 61 at No 8, the home seamers had the final say, left-armer Matt Taylor (four for 31) doing the most damage.

Matt Critchley took a career-best six for 106 – to finish with match figures of 10 for 194 – as Derbyshire beat Northamptonshire by 39 runs at Chesterfield.

Young leg-spinning all-rounder Critchley, 21, was following up his second-innings half-century to stop visiting captain Alex Wakeley, with 68 to add to his hundred first time around, pulling off a famous ground-record chase as Northants were bowled out for 274 on the stroke of lunch.