Somerset come out on top in low-scoring shootout, Worcestershire in command

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE ROUNDUP: Nottinghamshire declared at Southampton after hundreds for Jack Haynes and Lyndon James, while Warwickshire are well behind at Edgbaston

ECB Reporters Network | 23/07/2025 at 19:31

Utilta Bowl (day two of four): Nottinghamshire 578-8, Hampshire 90-0 - Hampshire trail by 498 runs with 10 wickets remaining

Lyndon James masterfully struck his maiden double century as title-chasing Nottinghamshire took control of their Rothesay County Championship clash with Hampshire.

James helped his side to maximum batting points with an awesome 203 not out, overtaking his previous personal best of 164.

With him, Jack Haynes took himself to a fourth hundred of the season – the most in Division One – while Brett Hutton's 71-run cameo allowed Nottinghamshire to declare on 578.

Joe Weatherley and Fletcha Middleton reached close with no damage for the hosts – ending on 90 without loss, in arrears by 498 runs.

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^{Jack Haynes made another century for Nottinghamshire (George Wood/Getty Images)}

Taunton (day two of four): Durham 145 & 190 Somerset 250 & 89-5 - Somerset win by five wickets

Jack Leach returned figures of 6 for 63 as Somerset wrapped up a five-wicket Rothesay County Championship Division One win over Durham inside two days at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.

From an overnight five for two in their second innings, trailing by 100 runs, the visitors were bowled out for 190, left-arm spinner Leach claiming his second six-fer in successive Championship games and off-spinner Archie Vaughan taking 4 for 85. Emilio Gay top-scored with 42, while Ben Raine contributed 36.

That left Somerset needing just 86 to win, a target they achieved in 19.2 overs, not without alarm, at just before 4pm, Tom Banton ending unbeaten on 33 and Callum Parkinson taking 4 for 39. They took 20 points from the game to Durham's three.

Edgbaston (day two of four): Worcestershire 333 & 31-0, Warwickshire 184 - Worcestershire lead by 180 runs with 10 wickets remaining

Ethan Brookes' dazzling century and Khurram Shahzad's dynamic six-fer left Worcestershire pressing for a much-needed Rothesay County Championship win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Brookes' career-best 140 (169 balls) against the club that released him lifted Worcestershire’s first innings to 333 before Shahzad took 6 for 42 to send the home side all out for 184. Kai Smith struck 68 and Beau Webster 57 to narrowly avert the follow on but Worcestershire closed the second day on 31 without loss, 180 ahead.

Bottom of Division One, Brett D’Oliveira's side is strongly-placed to complete a victory that would open the survival race right up – and have nerves jangling at a few clubs above them.