Rain thwarts Somerset's victory charge, Jake Lehmann denies the leaders

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE ROUNDUP: Top v bottom in the top tier ends in a draw after a display of resilience from Hants' Australian batter

ECB Reporters Network | 18/05/2026 at 17:53

Taunton (day four of four): Somerset 526-8d, Sussex 253 & 113-7 - match drawn

Somerset were denied the opportunity of a third County Championship victory of the season when rain brought a premature end to the Division One match with Sussex at Taunton.

The visitors could add only 17 runs to their overnight first innings score of 236 for 8 in reply to Somerset's 526 for 8 declared and were forced to follow on 273 runs behind.

Sussex then slid to 111 for 7 by tea, Craig Overton claiming 3 for 14 from 13 overs. But with two runs added at the start of the final session, the weather intervened, and no further play was possible.

Somerset took 15 points from a match they dominated, while Sussex had reason to be pleased with 10 from a below-par performance.

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^{Jake Lehmann steered Hampshire towards safety (Getty Images)}

Utilita Bowl (day four of four): Hampshire 214 & 207-6d, Nottinghamshire 229 - match drawn

Jake Lehmann converted a fifty into three figures at the sixth attempt as Hampshire avoided defeat at home in the County Championship for the first time in 10 months.

Champions and table-toppers Nottinghamshire had hoped to rip through the hosts on the final day to secure victory, but found Lehmann blocking their path.

The Australian, who qualifies as a domestic player, had scored five half-centuries – all in succession – earlier in the season before batting out the day for a 205-ball 102.

Both sides take 11 points from the match, enough to keep Nottinghamshire top, but not enough for Hampshire to escape the bottom.