COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE ROUNDUP: Surrey completed an innings victory to close the gap on leaders Nottinghamshire, who were beaten in a superb game at Durham
Chester-le-Street (day three of four): Nottinghamshire 407 & 347, Durham 664 & 92-3 - Durham win by seven wickets
An excellent team bowling effort and a vital fifty from Colin Ackermann helped Durham pick up a magnificent seven-wicket win against Nottinghamshire in the Rothesay County Championship, despite a brilliant century from Joe Clarke.
It was Durham's morning as the hosts picked up three of the nine wickets they needed including the vital scalp of Ben Slater, who made 74, which was his second half century of the match.
However, Clarke counterattacked either side of lunch and managed to take his side into the lead before notching up his first hundred of the season.
There was a late twist though as Durham’s bowling attack, led excellently by Ben Raine, roared back after tea and picked up five wickets to bowl Nottinghamshire out for 347.
Durham had 18 overs to get the 91 runs needed for the win and the chase got off to a dramatic start as the hosts lost two wickets at the hands of Mohammad Abbas, but the experienced head of Ackermann saw them home.
Related: Worcestershire bounce off canvas for Division One lifeline
Kia Oval (day four of four): Yorkshire 255 & 229, Surrey 512 - Surrey won by an innings and 28 runs
Occasional seamer Ryan Patel bowled Jonny Bairstow for 77 to claim his first wicket of the season as Surrey quickly completed a crushing County Championship victory by an innings and 28 runs after dismissing Yorkshire for 229 at the Kia Oval.
Patel, a 27-year-old batsman in his 68th first-class appearance but with just 22 previous wickets to his name, was in his fourth and final over before Surrey took the second new ball when he deceived Bairstow with a nip-backer that defeated an attempted drive and removed off stump.
With Bairstow, who had resumed on 64, went all remaining hope for Yorkshire after they had begun day four on 185 for six in their second innings, still 72 runs adrift. It was a great moment for the popular Patel, who leapt in celebration and was mobbed by his teammates.
Matthew Revis had already departed by then, for 13, lbw to Tom Lawes, and soon Yorkshire were 222 for 9 when Ben Coad (2) played on to Jordan Clark's sixth delivery with the second new ball.
The end came 45 minutes before lunch when Jordan Thompson, having smeared Lawes over cover point for six, holed out to deep mid on for 16, aiming another big hit against Clark, who finished with four for 45. Lawes took 3 for 47.
For Surrey, it extends a remarkable recent record at their Oval fortress. The win, their second of the campaign, propels them into second place in the Division One table behind early pace-setters Nottinghamshire and is the 18th victory from the 24 championship matches they have played at their headquarters since the start of the 2022 season. In that time, too, they have lost at home just once.
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.