Nathan Smith led Surrey to a dominant nine-wicket Rothesay County Championship win over Worcestershire that keeps them on course for a fourth straight Division One title.
Smith took six for 38 as Worcestershire were bowled out for just 125 in their second innings, losing their last five wickets for only 13 runs.
That left Surrey needing just 49 to win, and they knocked them off in 15 overs as Ryan Patel made an unbeaten 35 off 55 balls.
King of the Kookaburra! 👑
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 24, 2025
1⃣1⃣ overs
2⃣ maidens
3⃣8⃣ runs
6⃣ wickets
Nathan Smith's best first-class figures in England. 👊
Report, reaction & highlights 📲 https://t.co/GRbwUCEcR6
🤎 | #SurreyCricket https://t.co/Bpp7xLTOgM pic.twitter.com/0P5Sc5xRc4
Closest challengers Nottinghamshire could move ahead of Surrey with a win but seem set for a draw against Yorkshire after Finlay Bean scored an outstanding 224 to frustrate the hosts at Trent Bridge.
Yorkshire still trail by 73 in reply to Nottinghamshire’s 487 but a magnificent effort from Bean – who faced 489 deliveries – kept Yorkshire in touch with four wickets remaining still in the first innings.
Matthew Revis ended the day unbeaten on 54.
🗨️“We spoke at the start of the day on batting a long period of time, and I think that's one of my biggest strengths. It has been growing up, and I'm just glad I could do it today."
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) June 24, 2025
Fin Bean reflects on his Trent Bridge double.#NOTvYOR https://t.co/EEEzucUqo8
Third-placed Sussex were frustrated by the weather in their match against Durham, with rain and bad light interrupting play at the Riverside.
Sussex lead by 145 going into the final day, having bowled Worcestershire out for 327 before reaching 111 for four in their second innings.
Jofra Archer, playing his first red-ball game in four years, did not add to the wicket he took on Monday.
Hampshire are in control at Chelmsford after centuries from debutant Tilak Varma and Liam Dawson helped them to 453 and a sizeable advantage over Essex.
Varma, resuming on 98, added only two to his tally before falling to Simon Harmer, but Dawson then made 139 off 235 balls as Hampshire built a first-innings lead of 157.
An excellent day in the dirt at Chelmsford 🙌
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) June 24, 2025
Centuries from Tilak Varma and Liam Dawson helped us pile on the runs before the all-rounder picked up both openers, with Eddie Jack trapping the dangerous Jordan Cox 🎉
📺 Watch ESS v HAM highlights ⤵️
Tom Westley ended the day unbeaten on 50 for Essex but they remain 49 runs behind after reaching 108 for three.
Somerset were left to rue missed opportunities against Warwickshire.
The visitors ended day three with a lead of 263 after reaching 116 for three in their second innings, but they should have stopped Warwickshire well short of their eventual 351 but for a series of missed catches.
Division Two leaders Leicestershire are on course for victory over Glamorgan, who ended the third day still trailing by 92 runs after reaching 131 for three in their second innings.
Leicestershire declared on 576 for seven, with Ben Green unbeaten on 58 and Logan van Beek on 67.
Sam Northeast was unbeaten on 72 for Glamorgan at the close.
Close Day Three: 639-9 (142) 📊
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) June 24, 2025
519 runs in the day.
3 centurions.
265 run lead.
🌹 #RedRoseTogether pic.twitter.com/xdzhu5Rq7J
Lancashire piled up their best ever score in a match against Kent as they ended day three on 639 for nine in Blackpool.
Debutant Ashton Turner (154), Luke Wells (152) and Josh Bohannon (124) helped pile on the pain, hitting 13 of Lancashire’s 18 sixes.
Lancashire hold a lead of 265 over the visitors going into the final day.
Cameron Bancroft and Graeme van Buuren frustrated Derbyshire as Gloucestershire fought back at Bristol.
Centuries from Harry Came and Wayne Madsen helped Derbyshire score 398 for a first-innings lead of 211, but Bancroft ended the day unbeaten on 170 and Van Buuren on 105 as Gloucestershire reached stumps on 364 for three.
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