The Cricketer rounds up the action from the second day of the latest round of matches in Division One and Division Two
Dan Lawrence scored a century for Essex against Hampshire
Essex vs Hampshire
Dan Lawrence made his first Specsavers County Championship century in nearly a year to underpin one of Essex’s best days with the bat this summer.
Coincidentally the 21-year-old’s seventh of eight first-class hundreds came in a famous victory against Hampshire at Southampton in the penultimate game of last season.
But Lawrence has struggled, like most of his team-mates, for runs in Essex’s post-title-winning campaign and had just one half-century to his name previously this summer.
He started circumspectly, and was outscored at one point in his first century partnership by Ryan ten Doeschate, who came in two wickets later, but picked up with the return of the confidence that brought him an England Lions call-up in the winter. He was 114 not out from 192 balls at stumps.
Essex finished the day on 263 for six, only the fourth time this season they have gone beyond 300 in an innings.
Surrey vs Nottinghamshire
Tom Curran’s 5-28 forced Nottinghamshire to follow on at the Kia Oval after they were bowled out in some disarray for 101 in reply to Surrey’s 375.
Nottinghamshire did rally in the final session of day two, reaching stumps on 83 for two in their second innings, but they still trail by 191 and Division One leaders Surrey – 32 points ahead of nearest rivals Somerset before this round of matches and seeking their eighth win of the campaign – look like taking another significant step towards their first Specsavers County Championship title since 2002.
Lancashire vs Worcestershire
Worcestershire dominated the second day of their clash against Lancashire with both bat and ball to sit in a commanding position heading into day three.
They took just 14.5 overs to wrap up the remaining five wickets of Lancashire’s first innings and claim a lead of 61 at Southport.
The visitors then recovered from an early wobble to bat themselves firmly in the ascendancy and pile the pressure on bottom-of-the-table Lancashire.
Chasing target of 314, Lancashire closed eight for none.
Gloucestershire vs Leicestershire
Ryan Higgins claimed four wickets as Gloucestershire’s seamers seized control on the second day of the match with Leicestershire at Bristol.
The former Middlesex allrounder returned 4-26 from 15 overs to help dismiss the visitors for 111 in reply to 202, night-watchman Gavin Griffiths top-scoring with 36 not out, having gone in at No.3.
Higgins was well supported by David Payne (2-52), Craig Miles (2-18) and Matt Taylor (2-7), who all got the ball to swing and nip about off the seam after Leicestershire had begun the day on 11 for one.
By the close Gloucestershire had cemented their advantage, Miles Hammond making 68 and Chris Dent 61 not out in a second innings total of 152 for one, which meant they led by 243.
Derbyshire vs Kent
Kent’s promotion drive ran into a Derbyshire roadblock on another day of batting dominance in the match at Derby.
After Kent had amassed 561 with Grant Stewart scoring 85 and Matt Henry a career-best 81 from 75 balls, Derbyshire made a spirited reply to close on 210 for two, 351 behind.
Billy Godleman scored 71 and Wayne Madsen an unbeaten 60 on a lifeless pitch although Derbyshire seamer Tony Palladino finished with 5-113, the 15th five-wicket haul of his career.
Middlesex vs Sussex
A stoic unbeaten half-century from Dawid Malan kept alive Middlesex’s hopes of victory over promotion-chasing Sussex on day two at Lord’s.
The Middlesex skipper, recently discarded by England, produced a timely return to form, hitting 69 not out to guide the hosts to 210 for five, a lead of 208 in an absorbing three sessions at the Home of Cricket.
His was a study in defiance and concentration, containing just five boundaries, but the runs may yet prove crucial as Middlesex search for a third win in a row to keep their own slim hopes of promotion alive.
This was proper old-fashioned, hard-nosed county cricket, every run earnt and every almost every wicket prized out on a pitch offering encouragement to the bowlers and occasionally keeping low at the Nursery End.
Reports courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network
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