Elgar and Gregory frustrate Middlesex

Champions Middlesex appear to be on course for the fourth successive draw of an uninspired Division One title defence after Somerset enjoyed the best of a sun-kissed second day at Lord’s.

As the Middlesex bowlers endured a wicketless morning session, centuries by Dean Elgar and Lewis Gregory allowed the visitors to bat on until well after tea before their declaration on 443 for nine.

Middlesex went in at stumps on 42 without loss – a first-innings deficit of 401.

The Somerset pair put on a record sixth-wicket stand that rescued their side from 80 for six to the riches of four batting bonus points. Elgar crunched a season-best 158 while Gregory, in hitting 137, posted his maiden first-class century in his 78th innings.

Adam Lyth scored a battling century as pushed hard for victory over at Headingley.

Yorkshire, replying to 123, reached 273 all out. Lyth notched his first four-day hundred of the season and the 22nd of his first-class career. The Yorkshire opening batsman topped three figures after lunch off 234 balls, having spent 71 minutes in the nineties, and later saw Lancashire reach 141 for four, a deficit of nine.

Sean Ervine collected a sublime 203 to hand his side a first-innings total of 515. domination did not stop there as they left floundering on 49 for six – still 316 behind the follow on.

A century from Billy Godleman, his third of the season, has given

the opportunity of ending a barren sequence of results against

Godleman made 121 as his side reached 363, a firstinnings lead of 134 on the second day of their Division Two match at Trent Bridge.

Without a Championship win anywhere since July 2015, Derbyshire also have not defeated their local rivals in Nottingham for 15 years.

Third-placed produced an excellent response after conceding their second-highest total in matches against at Hove.

Luke Wells followed his 258 in his last appearance at Hove with 155, Luke Wright made 87 and David Wiese a rapid 66 before Sussex declared on 579 for eight.

But Worcestershire openers Daryl Mitchell (85no) and Brett D’Oliveira (43no) prospered as they reached 139 without loss at the close.

Max Holden’s maiden century, 124, in only his sixth first-class game left

kicking themselves for dropping him twice early on against

at Chester-leStreet.