Somerset need only three points to secure Division One survival after James Hildreth’s fifth century of the season and 87 from Marcus Trescothick guided them to 360 for five and four batting points against Warwickshire at Taunton.
Having won the toss, Somerset soon lost Tom Abell – who was named LV Breakthrough Player of the Year earlier in the day – caught behind playing back to Oliver Hannon-Dalby for four. Trescothick was immediately into his stride and continued his superb form, although he lost Tom Cooper, who was bowled when trying to drive Rikki Clarke on the stroke of lunch. Hildreth was in fine touch and shared 101 with Trescothick and 74 with Luke Ronchi on a rain-affected afternoon.
Just as at Taunton, there was a minute’s silence held before play in memory of Brian Close as Yorkshire equalled Somerset’s record of 266 points in 2007 – the highest in either division since the introduction of two tiers – as they reached 241 for seven against Sussex at Headingley on a day twice interrupted by rain.
Sussex secured two of the nine points they require for survival, and were off to a fine start as Chris Jordan trapped Adam Lyth leg-before in the third over, before Yorkshire rebuilt to reach 106 for two. Sussex recovered either side of lunch, however, with Andrew Gale chopping on and Jonny Bairstow inside-edging through to the wicketkeeper, both off Steve Magoffin, who took his season’s tally to 64, and Yorkshire found themselves 145 for five when Gary Ballance carelessly found point for 55. Jack Leaning and Adil Rashid shared a breezy stand of 72 as the weather closed in but both fell before the close.
Nottinghamshire and Hampshire each collected three points in a game with ramifications in the battles both for second place and to avoid the drop. Nottinghamshire’s 340 all out means they failed to reach a fourth bonus point and must win the game to stand a chance of overtaking Middlesex. Riki Wessels scored his second century of the season as the home side fought back from 39 for three, all of which fell to with Fidel Edwards claiming six for 88.
Edwards got Hampshire off to a dream start as Brendan Taylor flicked the day’s fourth ball to midwicket, and Jake Libby and Samit Patel soon followed. Wessels shared 116 with Steven Mullaney and 82 with the left-handed debutant Billy Root, who was caught for a fluent 37 at first slip after the ball deflected off second. Edwards put paid to some lower-order resistance before Stuart Broad dismissed the nightwatchman Ryan Stevenson with the first ball of Hampshire’s reply.
In Division Two the two games with implications for the title race – Surrey v Northamptonshire and Lancashire’s visit to Essex – were completely washed out by rain. On a green wicket at Derby, Leicestershire reached an unlikely 329 as the debutant Zak Chappell made 96 from No10, sharing 79 with Rob Taylor and 104 with Ollie Freckingham for the last wicket after Mark Footitt – who finished with seven for 71 season – reduced Leicestershire to 154 for eight. In response, Derbyshire breezed to 54-0. In Bristol, Glamorgan reached 338 for four against Gloucestershire, thanks to England under-19 batsman Aneurin Donald’s unbeaten 91.
