Worcestershire in charge despite Essex fightback, unstoppable Kyle Abbott strikes again

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE ROUNDUP: Somerset enforce the follow-on against Sussex after wickets for Craig Overton, while Ben Foakes helps give Surrey a lead over Yorkshire

ECB Reporters Network | 17/05/2025 at 19:03

Taunton (day two of four): Somerset 388, Sussex 152 & 127-4 - Sussex are 59 runs behind with six second-innings wickets remaining

Craig Overton played the starring role as Somerset moved into a strong position on the second day of the County Championship Division One match with Sussex at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.

Having extended their first innings score to 338 all out, Archie Vaughan, last man out for 80 and Nathan McAndrew claiming 4 for 71, the hosts skittled their opponents for 152, Overton claiming 3 for 30 and three fine slip catches to help establish a lead of 186. Daniel Hughes top-scored with 38, while Migael Pretorius took 3 for 24.

Sussex were made to follow on and reached 127 for 4 by stumps, with openers Tom Haines and Daniel Hughes out for 50 and 40 respectively. They trailed by 59 runs.

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^{Somerset seamer Craig Overton celebrates taking the wicket of Sussex captain John Simpson (Dave Vokes)}

Edgbaston (day two of four): Hampshire 300 & 159-6, Warwickshire 194 - Hampshire lead by 265 runs behind with four second-innings wickets remaining

High-class fast bowling from Kyle Abbott put Hampshire in command against Warwickshire in their County Championship tussle at Edgbaston.

Abbott took 5 for 47, his second five-for in successive games, as Warwickshire were bowled out for 194 to sustain a first innings deficit of 106. It was superb, pitched up, swing bowling at the head of a strong collective effort from a seam attack against which only Ed Barnard (58, 55 balls) looked comfortable.

Hampshire then leaned hard on Fletcha Middleton's 76 (124 balls) as they reached 159 for 6 in their second innings. They lead by 265 overall, a significant advantage on a pitch still assisting the seamers.

New Road (day two of four): Worcestershire 358 & 58-5, Essex 157 - Worcestershire lead by 259 runs with five second-innings wickets remaining

Worcestershire's seam bowlers produced their best performance of the season to blow away Essex's batters and put them in complete control on day two at New Road

In a clinical bowling display, wickets were shared amongst the pace bowlers, with Tom Taylor's 15-over spell of 3 for 23 the standout performance.

Robin Das top-scored with a resilient 44, but when he was dismissed by Matthew Waite, Essex were up against it, and were eventually bundled out for 157.

The home side navigated the final session to reach 58 for 5 at the close, though are are in the driving seat heading into day three.

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^{Durham captain Alex Lees gets down to defend a delivery (Thomas Ridley)}

Kia Oval (day two of four): Yorkshire 255, Surrey 384-7 - Surrey lead by 129 runs with three first-innings wickets remaining

Ben Foakes maintained his fine form with the bat by hitting 86 to fashion a solid Surrey lead in their County Championship encounter with Yorkshire at the Kia Oval.

Foakes, who hit a career-high 174 not out against Warwickshire earlier this week, followed it up with another vital knock to guide the home side to 384 for 7 at stumps on day two, 129 in front.

Australian left-hander Kurtis Patterson also sparkled on his Surrey debut with 85, but after he and Dan Lawrence fell in rapid succession, they needed Foakes – aided by the lower-middle order – to cement their advantage.

Medium-pacer George Hill, fresh from recording a nine-wicket match haul in Yorkshire's previous game at Essex, was again the pick of the visitors' bowlers with figures of 4 for 58.

Lead image: Anthony Marsh