Surrey thrash Nottinghamshire to edge close to the title

Surrey took another step towards winning the Specsavers County Championship as they thrashed Nottinghamshire at the Oval.

The Division One leaders won by an innings and 125 runs after dismissing Notts for 149 three overs after lunch on the third day.

Conor McKerr returned figures of four for 26 in his seventh first-class match while former South Africa Test star Morne Morkel took three for 39.

Surrey’s eighth win of the season moves them closer to a first title since 2002.

Nearest challengers Somerset need to take eight wickets on the final day of their clash with Yorkshire to avoid falling further behind.

Tom Abell hit an unbeaten 132 as Somerset declared on 339 for seven at Headingley, setting Yorkshire a victory target of 419.

And the White Rose lost openers Harry Brook and Adam Lyth before stumps as they ended the day eight for two.

Lancashire are off the bottom after they completed a four-wicket win against fellow strugglers Worcestershire.

Set 314 to win, the Red Rose recovered from 63 for four and 178 for six to record victory, thanks to Dane Vilas (107) and Josh Bohannon (78) putting on an unbeaten 139-run stand.

Reigning champions Essex are in a dominant position against Hampshire after three days, with the visitors following on and still 246 runs behind with eight wickets remaining.

Division Two leaders Warwickshire are closing in on an instant return to the top tier after thrashing bottom club Glamorgan by an innings and 35 runs.

Jeetan Patel took seven wickets as Warwickshire bowled out the hosts for 265, after earlier ending their first innings on 503.

Middlesex kept themselves in the promotion race with a 55-run win against second-placed Sussex.

Sussex were set 231 for victory at Lord’s but were bowled out for 175 in 44.5 overs, with James Fuller taking three for 37 and Ethan Bamber three for 50.

Third-placed Kent will hope to complete victory on the final day against Derbyshire, who are 83 for two following on and still 78 behind.

Kent enforced the follow-on after Derbyshire collapsed from 301 for three to 400 all out, replying to 561.

In the second tier’s other game, Gloucestershire are heading towards just their third win of the season.

They require four more scalps on the final day after opponents Leicestershire slipped to 117 for six.

Skipper Chris Dent earlier hit an unbeaten 214 as Gloucestershire scored 402 for four declared in their second innings.