The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day two of round three of the Vitality County Championship in 2024
Chelmsford (day two of four): Lancashire 146 & 10-1, Essex 377 - Lancashire are 221 runs behind with nine second-innings wickets remaining
Tom Westley kick-started his season with an innings that helped underpin Essex’s commanding position against Lancashire in the County Championship at Chelmsford.
The Essex captain chalked up 1,130 runs last season but had contributed just 56 in four innings this time around. However, his fluent 81 from 138 balls signalled a personal return to form and helped Essex construct a 231 first-innings lead against ailing Lancashire.
By the close of play, Lancashire had lost captain Keaton Jennings while crawling to 10-1 in 10 evening overs as they battled to avoid an innings defeat.
In a throwback to earlier times, there was a Cook scoring runs near the top of the Essex order, though this was the unlikely figure of Sam rather than Sir Alastair. The nightwatchman hung around for nearly two and a half hours and 126 balls for a highest first-class score that marooned him one run short of a maiden fifty.
Liam Dawson took his September form into round three (Getty Images)
Southampton (day two of four): Warwickshire 455, Hampshire 140-1 - Hampshire are 315 behind with nine first-innings wickets remaining
Liam Dawson claimed his 10th first-class five-wicket haul but Hampshire and Warwickshire's Vitality County Championship clash slowed to a glacial pace on day two at Utilita Bowl.
Left-arm spinner Dawson had five five-fors this time last year, but after a personal best season with 49 scalps, he now has double that number after chipping away at the Bears on a flat pitch.
His 5 for 146 stopped Warwickshire at 455 before Fletcha Middleton and Nick Gubbins unhurriedly scored half-centuries in reply.
The duo put on 124 together for the unbroken second wicket to get Hampshire to 140 for one – 315 behind the visitors – at the end of the day.
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Canterbury (day two of four): Kent 244, Surrey 18-1 - Surrey are 59 runs behind with nine first-innings wickets remaining
Dom Sibley hit an unbeaten 87 as Surrey dominated Kent on day two of their Vitality County Championship derby at Canterbury, reaching 185 for 1 at stumps in reply to the hosts' 244 all out.
Cameron Steel and Tom Lawes both took three wickets apiece as Surrey limited Kent to 244 and although night-watcher George Garrett outshone his batting partners with a career-best 48, any hopes that might look competitive vanished as Sibley and Rory Burns put on 147 for the opening wicket.
Garrett eventually got Burns for 69, but Sibley and Dan Lawrence batted through to stumps, at which point Surrey were just 59 behind.
Craig Overton shone with the bat at Taunton (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Taunton (day two of four): Nottinghamshire 193 & 38-1, Somerset 454 - Nottinghamshire are 223 runs behind with nine second-innings wickets remaining
Craig Overton hit an unbeaten 95 off 111 balls as Somerset tightened their grip on the second day of the Vitality County Championship First Division match with Nottinghamshire at Taunton.
From an overnight 116 for one, the hosts were bowled out for 454, building a first innings lead of 261 after being 246 for seven. Sean Dickson made 72, Tom Banton 83, Migael Pretorius 77 and nightwatchman Josh Davey 45, while leg-spinner Calvin Harrison claimed four for 93
By the close, Notts had made 38 for one in their second innings, Ben Slater falling to a brilliant running catch by Dickson at mid-wicket off Davey, and still trailed by 223.
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Kidderminster (day two of four): Durham 244 & 319-5, Worcestershire 184 - Durham lead by 379 runs with five second-innings wickets remaining
Centurion David Bedingham and Scott Borthwick propelled Durham into a position of considerable strength to push for a first victory of the season against Worcestershire in the battle of the two promoted teams in the County Championship at Chester Road.
Their bowlers went to work in the morning session and collected the final six Worcestershire wickets to establish a first-innings lead of 60 on a wicket still offering some assistance to the seamers but with enough pace to encourage stroke-play.
Then Bedingham, in particular, and Durham captain Borthwick went to town during a third-wicket partnership of 195 in just 34 overs.
Bedingham continued the form he had shown after making his Test breakthrough for South Africa in the winter with 56 on his debut against India and scores of 39, 110, 32 and 87 versus New Zealand.
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