Warwickshire win at Headingley, close finish beckons at Taunton

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO ROUNDUP: A draw appears almost inevitable at Utilita Bowl, where Ben Brown struck his first century as Hampshire captain after taking over from James Vince

Southampton (day three of four): Durham 511, Hampshire 429-7 - Hampshire lead by 82 runs with three first-innings wickets remaining

Ben Brown scored his first century as Hampshire captain to eliminate fears of an innings defeat to Durham in the County Championship.

Hampshire were still 92 runs away from avoiding the follow-on when Toby Albert was the sixth man to depart, but Brown and Felix Organ ticked through the required runs with a 164 stand.

Brown replaced James Vince, who has moved to Dubai, as club captain in the winter and led from the front with a patient unbeaten 143.

Hampshire ended the day on 429 for 7, trailing by 82, with Organ, Mark Stoneman and Nick Gubbins also recording half-centuries, with Matthew Potts' 3 for 62 the best for Durham's bowlers.

Related: Zak Crawley lights the spark of Kent's comeback

^{Jordan Cox receives treatment after suffering a side injury (Harry Trump/Getty Images)}

Taunton (day three of four): Essex 206 & 259, Somerset 145 & 216-6 - Somerset need another 105 runs to win with four second-innings wickets remaining

An injury to centurion Jordan Cox marred a strong Essex display on the third day of the County Championship Division One match with Somerset at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.

Fresh from his recall to the England squad, Cox extended his overnight score of 61 to an unbeaten 103 as his side stretched their second innings total from 163 for four to 259 all out. But he retired hurt immediately on reaching three figures, having collapsed clutching his lower left side after taking the single that put him on 99.

Cox took no further part in the Essex innings and was replaced in the field when Somerset began their quest for 321 to win on a pitch still offering assistance to seam and spin. They closed on 216 for 6, Lewis Gregory making 57 and James Rew 65 not out.

Related: England and Essex's Jordan Cox suffers injury scare

^{The man in the middle... Hampshire captain Ben Brown (Getty Images)}

Headingley (day three of four): Yorkshire 205 & 252, Warwickshire 232 & 186-5 - Warwickshire won by five wickets

Warwickshire completed a level-headed chase of 185 on day three to beat Yorkshire by five wickets at Headingley, securing their second County Championship victory of the season.

The Bears started the day on 15 without loss, and openers Rob Yates and Alex Davies contributed 41 and 31, respectively. However, they reached lunch with a 20-point haul by no means secure at 109 for 4, needing 76 more.

But they were able to move into the top three places in the Division One table midway through the afternoon tea thanks to first-class debutant Zen Malik, who finished 49 not out off 73 balls, including a pulled six off George Hill to win it.

While Warwickshire won their second game in four at the start of this season, Yorkshire have now lost two from four and are in the top flight’s bottom three.

^{Lead image: Yorkshire Cricket/SWPix.com}

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