Championship Digest: Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Find out what happened on day three of the latest round of LV= Insurance County Championship matches

DIVISION ONE

The Oval (third day of four): Surrey 673-7d, Kent 331 & 121-0 (f/o) - Kent trail by 221 runs with 10 second-innings wickets in hand

Scorecard

Tom Lawes took four wickets on his LV= Insurance County Championship debut as leaders Surrey forced Kent to follow on at The Kia Oval.

The 19-year-old, swinging the ball consistently against the right-handers, sparked a collapse by taking 3 for 10 in the space of 18 balls either side of lunch after Kent, fortified by Daniel Bell-Drummond’s century, had been 216 for 2.

They were bowled out for 331 with Lawes, a product of Surrey’s academy and Cranleigh School, finishing with 4 for 51.

Kent followed on with a hefty deficit of 342 but openers Ben Compton and Joe Denly dug in to reach 121 for 0 at stumps. It was an impressive effort although they still trail by 221 with work to do on the final day.

***

Northampton (third day of four): Northamptonshire 451, Warwickshire 396-8 - Warwickshire trail by 55 runs with two first-innings wickets in hand

Scorecard

Dom Sibley posted his second County Championship century of the campaign as Warwickshire frustrated Northamptonshire’s hopes of pushing for victory at Wantage Road.

Sibley’s patient knock of 102 was backed up by a belligerent 77 from 80 balls by Michael Burgess, ensuring the visitors passed the follow-on target and closed on 396 for 8, just 55 behind.

Nathan McAndrew struck his maiden Bears half-century, an undefeated 54 prior to stumps, while Northamptonshire seamer Jack White ended the day with figures of 4 for 62.

However, it looks unlikely either of the sides – who have registered just one Championship win between them so far this season – will find a way of increasing that tally on day four.

^{Ryan Higgins celebrates a wicket against Lancashire [Michael Steele/Getty Images]}

Bristol (third day of four): Gloucestershire 337 & 99-3, Lancashire 402 - Gloucestershire lead by 34 runs

Scorecard

Half-centuries from Steven Croft and Luke Wood helped Lancashire move into a potentially winning position on the third day of the County Championship match with Gloucestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.

Croft was dismissed for 80 and Wood 50 as the visitors extended their first innings total from an overnight 226 for 4 to 402 all out, a lead of 65. Ryan Higgins claimed 3 for 55.

By the close, Gloucestershire had struggled to 99 for 3 in their second innings, just 34 in front, with Miles Hammond unbeaten on 25. But rain is forecast tomorrow and could come to their aid.

DIVISION TWO

Nottingham (third day of four): Nottinghamshire 551-8d, Middlesex 376 & 63-0 - Middlesex trail by 112 runs with 10 second-innings wickets in hand

Scorecard

Middlesex face a battle to save a draw after Division Two leaders Nottinghamshire continued to hold the upper hand in their top-of-the-table clash in the County Championship.

Despite an impressive fightback from 106 for 5, Middlesex were forced to follow on 175 runs behind after Nottinghamshire had dismissed them for 376.

Openers Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson survived 20 overs to take Middlesex to 63 without loss at the close. They could be in for a tough final day with Nottinghamshire still 112 in front, although a benign pitch may make their task easier.

James Pattinson finished with 4 for 65 and Dane Paterson 3 for 97 after John Simpson (92), Max Holden (86) and Luke Hollman (52) had mounted a gritty effort to keep their side in the game in response to Nottinghamshire’s 551 for 8 declared.

^{Jack Brooks bowling against Derbyshire [Bryn Lennon/Getty Images]}

Hove (third day of four): Derbyshire 551-8d & 127-7, Sussex 337 - Derbyshire lead by 341 runs with three second-innings wickets in hand

Scorecard

Derbyshire’s surprising decision not to enforce the follow-on against Sussex reduced their chances of winning a match they had dominated – and even gave their opponents an outside chance of pulling off an astonishing victory.

When Sussex were bowled out for 337 in this County Championship match, losing their last five wickets for 38 runs and their last three in the space of four Hayden Kerr deliveries to concede a first innings advantage of 214, they looked down and out and not relishing the prospect of being put back in.

But Derbyshire decided to bat again and when they slumped to 54 for 5, with Jack Brooks putting in a four-wicket burst, Sussex sensed the chance to pinch an outrageous win. Billy Godleman was well caught by Tom Alsop at first slip off Sean Hunt in the second over.

Then Brooks stepped up. He had Brooke Guest lbw for eight before dismissing the first innings hero Wayne Madsen first ball, caught behind. In his next over Brooks dismissed Leus du Plooy, who miscued to midwicket, and in his next over Shan Masood dragged a wide ball onto his stumps.

Anuj Dal and Kerr fell near the close and Derbyshire closed on 127 for 7, a lead of 341. They are still favourites to win the game but Sussex can now see an escape route.

Worcester (third day of four): Worcestershire 271 & 199, Glamorgan 139 & 232-5 - Glamorgan trail by 100 runs with five second-innings wickets in hand

Scorecard

Colin Ingram hit a superb century – his second in two games in the County Championship – to keep Glamorgan in the hunt to chase down a 332 target against Worcestershire at New Road.

Ingram has seized the opportunity to fill the gap left by Australian star Marnus Labuschagne and been making the most of his return to red-ball cricket.

He had played only game in that format in four years before this season but has responded with 83 versus Durham and 178 against Sussex in his previous two Championship appearances this season.

Ingram was finally dismissed shortly before the close for 102 and the second new ball will be available first thing on Wednesday morning with 100 required by the visitors.