Worcestershire overcome winless Kent, Lancashire set Durham 336

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO ROUNDUP: Derbyshire face another day of batting after being asked to follow on in their home clash with Gloucestershire

ECB Reporters Network | 26/04/2026 at 18:21

Derby (day three of four): Gloucestershire 498, Derbyshire 281 & 117-3 - Derbyshire are 100 runs behind with seven second-innings wickets remaining

Gloucestershire's bowlers raised hopes of a first win of the season on day three of the County Championship match against Derbyshire at the County Ground.

After losing the opening three Division Two games, the visitors have a good chance of forcing victory at Derby after dismissing the hosts for 281 and then reducing them to 117 for 3, still 100 behind.

Spinner Graeme van Buuren took 3 for 31 and seamer Gabe Bell 3 for 84, with Wayne Madsen, 65, the only Derbyshire player to pass 50.

When they followed on, trailing by 217, Harry Came and Caleb Jewell both went cheaply before Madsen fell for a second time to increase the pressure on Derbyshire.

Before play began, there was news of another injury replacement, this time for Gloucestershire, who brought in Craig Miles for Henry Brookes.

The on-loan pace bowler, who made a career-best 89 on day two, had left the field towards the end of the evening session with what appeared to be a hamstring problem and, following an assessment in the morning, was unable to continue.

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^{Graeme van Buuren moved Gloucestershire closer to a first win of the season (Getty Images)}

Chester-le-Street (day three of four): Lancashire 370 & 260-9d, Durham 295 - Durham need 336 runs to win

Lancashire's Paul Coughlin came back to haunt his former county, Durham, as he hit his second first-class century to put his side in the ascendancy on the third day of their County Championship fixture.

Lancashire came into the day on top, holding a first innings lead of 75 after bowling Durham out for 295 on day two, but they were left reeling after Matthew Potts blew away their top order to leave them 72 for 6.

However, a partnership of 131 between Michael Jones and Coughlin halted the slide for the Red Rose, as they both passed fifty and built a big lead for the visitors.

Jones fell after tea, but Coughlin notched three figures for the first time in a Lancashire shirt, and they declared on 260 for 9, setting Durham a target of 336 to win.

Related: The big tease in the big smoke

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^{Lancashire wriggled out of a tough-looking situation (Thomas Ridley)}

New Road (day three of four): Kent 196 & 249, Worcestershire 447 - Worcestershire won by an innings and two runs

Worcestershire completed an innings-and-two-runs demolition of Kent on the third day of their County Championship fixture at New Road.

Brett D'Oliveira's side followed up an impressive win over Middlesex at Lord's with another strong performance to see off a Kent side which was second-best in all departments and remains without a win after three games.

After Worcestershire's first innings ended at 447 (Matthew Waite 53 not out, 93 balls), Matt Milnes four for 81) in the first over of the day, Kent were bowled out second time round for 249.

Seventh-wicket pair Chris Benjamin (77 not out, 105) and Keith Dudgeon (41, 52) added 71, but none of the top six passed 31, three of them swept away by Tom Taylor, who finished with 5 for 56.