Notts stretch their lead at top
Press release 26 April 2010
With no game for Yorkshire who were entertaining India A at Headingley, Nottinghamshire stretched their lead at the top of the LV= County Championship table to nine points with a draw against Kent at Tunbridge Wells. In a high scoring game which saw Notts post a first innings score of 462 – including a hundred from Notts skipper Chris Read - the title contenders hopes of a win had faded by the third day. A season's best 197 from Kent’s Darren Stevens helping his side to an impressive first innings score of 570 in reply - leading the game towards an inevitable draw.
Somerset’s third straight LV= County Championship victory moved Marcus Trescothick’s side towards the summit of the Division One table. Their latest win against Warwickshire at Edgbaston came thanks to an inspired performance by slow left-armer Murali Kartik who finished with match figures of 11-72. Having been set 312 to win on the third day the Bears were skittled for just 130, surrendering their last nine wickets for just 70 runs. Warwickshire's consistently poor form with the bat – having collected fewer batting points than any other side in Division One so far this summer – means they remain at the bottom of the first division table on 68 points.
Joining them are Hampshire, who were unlucky to be denied a victory at the Rose Bowl against Essex. Setting the visitors 328 to win, Hampshire looked favourites as Essex slumped to 16-4 but Ravi Bopara and James Foster managed to steady the ship before the heavens opened around tea time on the final day and the game petered out in to a draw. The result brought eight points to each side.
In Division Two Surrey's dismal season continues. Their latest defeat, inside three days to Leicestershire at the Oval, keeps them at the bottom of the second division table having won only one LV= County Championship game all season. Will Jefferson’s first innings hundred helped Leicestershire post an impressive first innings score of 479. In reply, Surrey were bowled out for a meagre 236 and then 183 following on. Leicestershire’s off-spinner Jigar Naik taking his best first class figures of 7-96 as Surrey were sent spinning to defeat by an innings and 60 runs.
Elsewhere, Northamptonshire moved up to third place with a win over Middlesex at Lord's. Northants captain, Andrew Hall, impressing with both bat and ball as the visitors beat Middlesex by nine wickets.
Sussex will be hoping to put Derbyshire under pressure on the final day of their game at Derby today, although rain is likely to dampen their ambitions in their effort to make ground on Division Two leaders Glamorgan.
The next round of LV= County Championship Division One matches begin on Monday 28 June when title holders Durham entertain Warwickshire at the Riverside hoping to get their season back on track. The only other game sees Yorkshire travel across the Pennines to take on Lancashire in the war of the county roses.
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