Jonathan Trott’s majestic 99 set up a thrilling climax to Warwickshire’s crucial Specsavers County Championship tussle against reigning champions Middlesex at Edgbaston.
Standing in as captain for the injured Ian Bell, Trott’s performance propped up his side’s second innings and left Middlesex requiring another 198 runs on the final day to win.
Tom Helm bowled with pace and aggression to finish with figures of five for 59 as the visitors’ weakened attack did well to restrict the hosts to a second-innings 233.
???? @Trotty spoke to @brainhaldorf after his innings of 99 in a thrilling third day at Edgbaston
????#YouBears pic.twitter.com/VJV5FIi48R— Warwickshire CCC ???? (@WarwickshireCCC) July 5, 2017
Middlesex ended day three on 36 for two in pursuit of their target of 234, with victory for either side set to provide a welcome boost in their respective relegation battles.
Tim Rouse and James Hildreth did most of the damage as they shared a third-wicket stand of 144 as Somerset closed on 234 for three to lead by 289.
A first Somerset 50 for @Tim_Rouse!! Top knock here in Scarborough. Somerset 179/2 and lead by 234 runs#YORvSOM pic.twitter.com/oUkINi0iZD
— Somerset Cricket ???? (@SomersetCCC) July 5, 2017
Yorkshire had been hit by injuries to Liam Plunkett, who did most of the damage in Somerset’s first innings, and Ryan Sidebottom.
Resuming on 159 for seven, Yorkshire had earlier been dismissed for 213, with Adil Rashid the last man out on 49.
Burns scored an unbeaten 174 in a Surrey total of 410 for seven as they pursued 499 just to avoid having to bat again.
????Day 3 Highlights:
Man of the moment Rory Burns lead from the front with a remarkable 174 not out today. ????Surrey 410/7 pic.twitter.com/AdQSPEVUGC
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) July 5, 2017
Dominic Sibley also scored a dogged half-century as Surrey, who started the day on 113 for one in reply to Hampshire’s 648 for seven, just about managed to keep the match alive.
Alex Hughes also scored his first ton of the campaign as Derbyshire gained the upperhand on the third day of their Division Two match against Durham at Chesterfield.
REPORT: Alex Hughes (108) hits third career first-class century as Derbyshire set Durham 282 to win.
➡️ https://t.co/bGvFwJeX0J#DERvDUR pic.twitter.com/KlugHNPMQl
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) July 5, 2017
Hughes finished on 108 out of his side’s 214 to set Durham, who finished the day on 36 without loss, a target of 282 for victory on the final day.
Max Holden and Adam Rossington both hit the century mark as Northamptonshire reached 528 for seven in response to Kent’s mammoth 701 for seven declared at Beckenham.
Requiring 552 just to avoid the follow-on, the visitors resumed on 180 for one and lost Ben Duckett to only the sixth ball of the day.
100 up! @Rossington17 registers his first @CountyChamp TON of the season! 133 balls. 11×4 – 1×6. Super stuff Rosso ???? #Batted #KENvNOR pic.twitter.com/PfAD9V7L1L
— NCCC (@NorthantsCCC) July 5, 2017
But they were rescued by the fifth-wicket partners, with Holden lasting until the final hour of play for a career-best 153, and Rossington reaching a season’s best 112.
Clint McKay took four wickets to give Leicestershire hope that they can win their first game of the season against Sussex at Arundel.
The Australian fast bowler picked up four for 59 in searing heat as Sussex were bowled out for 262 and appeared to have squandered the advantage of winning the toss.
REACTION | Clint McKay praised his fellow seamers during his post-match interview with @RichMRae:https://t.co/0lo8mq8r26 pic.twitter.com/gkQB3vZrf7
— Leicestershire CCC???? (@leicsccc) July 5, 2017
But a two-paced pitch, which is expected to turn, gave seamers assistance all day and Sussex’s new-ball pair of Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer each picked up one of the Leicestershire openers as they closed on 77 for two.
