Nottinghamshire charge to innings victory over Worcestershire

Nottinghamshire completed a rousing innings victory over Worcestershire despite the first two days being lost to the weather at New Road.

Day four began with the visitors at the crease and they added 96 brisk runs, for the loss of three wickets before declaring on 300 for nine – a lead of 190.

That left the burden on the bowlers to get a result over the line and they did so in style, dismissing the Pears for 149 in 38.2 overs.

In-form Jake Ball did the heavy lifting, taking five for 59, while Luke Fletcher and Harry Gurney took two wickets each.

All of that left returning England star Stuart Broad in the shade, though he did manage the important scalp of Joe Clarke.

Broad had earlier collided with Fletcher while the pair batted together and briefly required the physio’s attention.

Somerset made it two wins from two in Specsavers County Championship Division One, taking nine Yorkshire wickets to wrap up a 118-run success.

The White Rose resumed on 49 for one chasing 321 but things began going awry when Cheteshwar Pujara nicked the first ball of the day, from Lewis Gregory.

Somerset chipped away with regular breakthroughs throughout the day, Craig Overton with three for 43 and Gregory, Tim Groenewald and Tom Abell each struck twice.

Jack Leaning offered the only significant resistance with 68, but his side left with just three points to Somerset’s 20.

Defending champions Essex settled for a draw against Hampshire on a day that saw England opener Alastair Cook bank 84 in his first knock of the season.

With a positive outcome never on the cards, all eyes were on Cook after a lean winter on Test duty. He faced 138 balls before being caught behind off Chris Wood.

Bracing conditions at the Ageas Bowl saw eight Essex players take to the field in beanie hats, with Australian Peter Siddle wearing his to bowl and finishing with three for 62.

Surrey batted out for a draw against Lancashire at Old Trafford after following on. The Red Rose were left needing six wickets in the final session but managed only two as the Brown Caps finished 199 for six.

Four of those fell at Tom Bailey’s hand, while there were 57 runs for a battling Ben Foakes.

In Division Two, rain ran roughshod over the schedule.

An exciting finale between Sussex and Gloucestershire fell foul of persistent showers at Hove.

The visitors were due to resume the final day on 108 for six, requiring 59 runs to win, but both teams were left wondering.

No play was possible at Lord’s either, though any prospect of a result between Middlesex and Glamorgan had long since disappeared in a match that stretched to just 58 overs across two innings.

Northamptonshire and Durham were washed out again – meaning not a single ball was bowled in the match.

It was the first complete abandonment at Wantage Road since 1981, leaving both sides with five points.

Leicestershire and Derbyshire did see action at Grace Road, mopping up 11 and 10 bonus points respectively in a match which did not get under way until the final session on day two.