Find out what happened across the LV= Insurance County Championship on the second day of the ninth round of the 2021 competition
Group 1
Worcestershire v Durham
Worcester (second day of four): Worcestershire 131 & 99-3, Durham 381
David Bedingham propelled Durham into a position of strength with his third century of the season on day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship encounter with Worcestershire at New Road.
The competition’s leading run scorer hit a chanceless 121 to take his tally for the summer to 787 at an average of 71.54.
Bedingham and Michael Jones (78) shared a fifth wicket stand of 171 to help Durham to 381 all out and a first innings lead of 250.
Worcestershire rallied after a disappointing first session, in claiming six wickets for 76 to secure maximum bowling points with Josh Tongue returning 4 for 73 from 25 overs.
But there is still sufficient encouragement in the pitch for the bowlers and Matthew Potts picked up two wickets as Worcestershire limped to 99 for 3 by the close despite an unbeaten Jake Libby half century.
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Essex v Nottinghamshire
Chelmsford (second day of four): Nottinghamshire 248-6
No play was possible on day two of Essex and Nottinghamshire’s crucial LV= Insurance County Championship fixture at the Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford due to rain.
Large puddles developed throughout a morning and early afternoon of heavy rain at the River End of the ground. Umpires Ian Blackwell and Neil Mallender eventually called off the day just before 4pm.
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Derbyshire v Warwickshire
Derby (first day of four): Warwickshire 274 & 132-7, Derbyshire 121
Warwickshire pace bowlers Craig Miles and Liam Norwell demolished Derbyshire before the home side hit back strongly on day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship match at Derby.
The pair shared nine wickets to skittle Derbyshire for 121 but after Warwickshire chose not to enforce the follow on, Michael Cohen took 3 for 26 as the visitors collapsed to 132 for 7 , a lead of 285.
Miles took 5 for 30, including a post-lunch spell of 3 for 5 in five overs, and Norwell 4 for 24 as Derbyshire’s last eight wickets fell for 45 in 14 overs.
The day’s wicket count reached 18 despite Sam Hain’s 46 but Warwickshire are still favourites to complete a fourth victory in Group 1.
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Group 2
Somerset v Hampshire
Taunton (second day of four): Somerset 360, Hampshire 285-7
Lewis McManus led a determined Hampshire fightback on the second day of the County Championship match with Somerset at Taunton.
The wicketkeeper walked to the crease with his side 110 for 5 and trailing by 250 on first innings before contributing 91 not out, off 160 balls, with 12 fours, and helping them close on 285 for 7.
Sam Northeast made 67, while a disciplined Somerset bowling performance brought three wickets for Josh Davey and two each for Marchant de Lange and Tom Abell.
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Leicestershire v Gloucestershire
Leicester (second day of four): Leicestershire 451, Gloucestershire 158 & 5-1
Group Two leaders Gloucestershire are in danger of slipping to a second consecutive defeat after Leicestershire took firm control on the second day of their LV=Insurance County Championship match.
After seeing their points advantage shrink when they were beaten heavily by Surrey last week, Gloucestershire were bowled out for 158 in reply to Leicestershire’s 451 as left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson - seemingly none the worse for a painful blow on the left forearm while batting - took 5 for 45 on a turning pitch with the added hazard of variable bounce.
Parkinson struck again after skipper Colin Ackermann enforced the follow-on, having Chris Dent caught at slip in the last over of the day, and Gloucestershire will resume five for one, needing a further 288 to make Leicestershire bat again.
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Lewis McManus and Dawid Malan batting for Hampshire and Yorkshire, respectively
Group 3
Yorkshire v Sussex
Headingley (second day of four): Sussex 313, Yorkshire 272-2
Sussex’s 16-year-old debutant Dan Ibrahim became the LV= Insurance County Championship’s youngest ever half-centurion before Dawid Malan’s unbeaten 103 put Yorkshire on top during day two at Emerald Headingley.
All-rounder Ibrahim, 16 years and 299 days, moved from 37 overnight to 55 in Sussex’s first-innings 313 before lunch.
Malan, in his first county appearance of the summer, then steered Yorkshire’s reply of 272 for 2 from 74 overs. Gary Ballance also made 74 not out.
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Kent v Northamptonshire
Canterbury (second day of four): Northamptonshire 362-5
Play was abandoned without a ball being bowled on day two of Kent’s LV= Insurance County Championship game with Northants at Canterbury.
The visitors were set to resume on 362 for 5 after dominating for most of the first day, but rain set in overnight and continued throughout the morning. With the outfield covered in puddles and no prospect of an improvement the umpires decided to call stumps at 3.35pm.
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Glamorgan v Lancashire
Cardiff (second day of four): Lancashire 173 & 164, Glamorgan 150 & 137-3
Glamorgan have left themselves well placed to claim a second LV=Insurance County Championship win of the season on another eventful day in their match against Lancashire in Cardiff.
The visitors started the day the happy of the two teams, but a collapse let Glamorgan back into the match as Lancashire were bowled out for 164 in their second innings.
Joe Cooke and David Lloyd put on the highest stand of the match so far as Glamorgan reached the close at 137 for 3 with 51 runs needed for victory.
While Glamorgan will feel that victory is not too far away the regularity with which wickets have fallen in this match means that an unlikely Lancashire win cannot be ruled out.