The three leading contenders for the Division One title, Somerset, Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire, each had a profitable day, though Warwickshire swung the biggest hammer after dismissing Glamorgan for 69 at Sophia Gardens. Ethan Bamber was chief destroyer, with five for 28, passing 50 wickets for the season, while Ed Barnard (three for five) provided able backup. There were no demons in the dirt for the visitors, who eased to 154 for three.
Joe Clarke hit his fourth Championship century of the season to rescue Nottinghamshire from the doldrums of 20 for three as Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott made the most of a bile-coloured pitch. Liam Patterson-White (92) and the tail then sailed Notts past 350. Felix Organ and Nick Gubbins survived four overs of evening torment from Olly Stone and Dillon Pennington.
Somerset arrived at Grace Road to find the mood music gloomy after Leicestershire were charged with breaching pitch regulations during their match against Glamorgan in August. Leicestershire “strongly dispute the allegations”, but risk losing the 19 points from that game if the Cricket Discipline Panel finds against them, a kick in the teeth to their hopes of staying in Division One. Spirits will not have been any brighter when Somerset’s Josh Thomas and Tom Lammonby added 181 for the first wicket.
Thomas, just 21 pocketed his third hundred of the year. Derbyshire fought back from nought for two after two balls against Kent, thanks to an undefeated 129 from Martin Andersson and 47 extras. Bangladesh pace bowler Hasan Mahmud grabbed four wickets.
Promotion chasing Kent had four overs to bat and Ben Compton was inevitably [Ben] Aitchisoned. George Balderson, three for 35 and a run out, had a good day out against Gloucestershire at Old Trafford; while Essex had the best – just – of a relegation rumble against Yorkshire, who lost five for 18 after a prosperous morning.
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