Clarke sees Surrey rout Essex to stretch advantage
RIKKI CLARKE helped himself to four second innings wickets as Surrey routed Essex to go 43 points clear at the top of the Specsavers County Championship table.
Clarke, who contributed 56 to the leaders’ first-innings total of 351, took his match tally to 8-75 after the home side were asked to follow-on at Chelmsford to ease the visitors to a 10-wicket victory inside three days.
Essex had started the day at 13 without loss and still trailing by 212 runs, and although Ravi Bopara’s unbeaten 81 meant Surrey had to bat again, they needed just two to win and skipper Rory Burns duly obliged from the fourth ball to clinch an eighth successive victory for the first time since 1999.
Kyle Abbott registered his best bowling figures of the season to help Hampshire to a 114-run victory in their relegation battle with Worcestershire.
The South African paceman ended with 6-39 from 14 overs at New Road as Worcestershire, who resumed on 120-8, were dismissed for 133.
Abbott claimed one of the two remaining wickets to follow up Wednesday’s first career hat-trick and finish with eight wickets in the game.
In Division Two, leaders Warwickshire’s attempt to press for victory over Durham were thwarted by the weather at Edgbaston.
After heading into lunch on 28-1, a lead of 46, rain started towards the end of the interval and continued throughout the day, meaning 70 overs in total had been lost.
Chasing Sussex took full advantage as Ollie Robinson’s five-wicket blitz paved the way for a 274-run win over Leicestershire at Hove with a day to spare. Robinson, who had taken 5-24 in the first innings, followed up with a return of 5-43 in the second.