Northants set 321 to beat Lancashire, Shoaib Bashir grabs the headlines at Derby

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO ROUNDUP: Mohammad Abbas and Shoaib Bashir got off the mark for their new county, while no play was possible at a windswept Chester-le-Street

ECB Reporters Network | 05/04/2026 at 19:00

Chester-le-Street (day three of four): Durham 335 & 83-2, Kent 197 - Durham lead by 221 runs with eight wickets remaining

High winds from Storm Dave caused damage to the Banks Homes Riverside, and as a result, there was no play on day three of Durham's County Championship with Kent.

The county issued a statement this morning informing spectators that they weren't able to attend due to the damage to the ground.

The ground then reopened to the public later in the day, but prospects of play continued to dwindle due to a wet area on the pitch after one of the covers blew off overnight into a stand.

The current match scenario sees Durham in the ascendancy as they closed on 83 for 2 on day two, a lead of 221 runs.

David Bedingham and Ben McKinney were playing nicely for the hosts as they made it to 32 not out and 27 not out respectively, and will resume at the crease on day four.

Related: Luis Reece: My emotional week

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^{No play was possible at the Riverside (Stu Forster/Getty Images)}

Northampton (day three of four): Lancashire 384 & 194, Northamptonshire 258 & 9-1 -Northamptonshire need another 312 runs to win with nine second-innings wickets remaining

Northamptonshire's Australian quick bowler Harry Conway claimed 4 for 38, including three in one over, on a dramatic third day of this County Championship match against Lancashire at Wantage Road.

Bowling aggressively and finding plenty of bounce and movement, the tall Australian's initial burst either side of lunch helped reduce Lancashire to 18 for 4, and while Luke Wells made 40, no top-order batter looked comfortable, leg-spinner Calvin Harrison also claiming 4 for 55.

But with batting growing far easier against the older ball, Ajeet Singh Dale (44 not out) and Tom Bailey (35) put on 69 for the ninth wicket as Lancashire closed on 194, setting Northamptonshire 321 to win.

With four overs to face before stumps, Northamptonshire quickly lost Ricardo Vasconcelos, caught behind off James Anderson, but closed on 9 for 1, needing another 312 to win.

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^{Anuf Dal led the way with three wickets for Derbyshire Getty Images)}

Derby (day three of four): Derbyshire 625-8d, Worcestershire 312 & 68-1 - Worcestershire are 245 runs behind with nine second-innings wickets remaining

England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was in the spotlight for contrasting reasons as Derbyshire tightened their grip on the County Championship Division Two match against Worcestershire at the County Ground in Derby.

Bashir celebrated his first Derbyshire wicket following his winter move from Somerset, but was also responsible for an incident that cost the hosts five penalty runs.

The 22-year-old had figures of 1 for 27 from seven overs, but it was Anuj Dal who took first innings bowling honours, claiming 3 for 22 as Worcestershire were dismissed for 312 with Dan Lategan scoring 89 and skipper Brett D’Oliveira 50.

Following on, Mohammad Abbas opened his Derbyshire account, but Lategan again played well to be unbeaten on 43 from 87 balls at the close with the visitors 68 for 1, still 245 behind.