Nicholson claims six of the best

Matt Nicholson © Getty Images

Australian paceman Matthew Nicholson claimed six Glamorgan wickets on an amazing final morning as the Liverpool Victoria County Championship’s bottom club spectacularly messed up their run-chase at Northamptonshire.

The Welsh side seemed to have the edge in their Division Two clash at Wantage Road.

Northamptonshire added just three runs to their overnight score of 397 when their final wicket fell - Usman Afzaal's excellent innings ended on 151 by Robert Croft.

That left the visitors needing 225 to win but they were all out for 56 just after lunch.

Nicholson took 6-23 to inspire the dramatic collapse.

Paceman Steve Kirby will be reported after umpire Neil Mallender ordered Gloucestershire to take him off as their drawn game with Derbyshire in Division Two ended in controversy at Bristol.

In the last but one over Kirby let fly with a ball which thudded into the chest of tail-ender Andy Gray, who dropped his bat and ripped off a glove and turned away from Kirby's attempt to say sorry. They later shook hands.

Gloucestershire had set Derbyshire a target of 355 off 73 overs but then moved close to a win themselves when they snatched four wickets for 12 runs.

But the ninth-wicket pair of Gray and Steffan Jones defied them, facing more than 40 balls each as they put on 60.

Worcestershire cruised to a nine-wicket success against Essex to record their third away victory of the season in Division Two at Chelmsford.

The visitors were set 120 runs for victory after some late-order defiance from Essex, for whom Alex Tudor produced 93 while also helping Tim Phillips to add 98 for the eighth wicket.

With Worcestershire having lost Stephen Moore for 16 in their pursuit of a modest victory target, fellow opener Phil Jaques appeared to have been a second casualty when he walked after apparently being caught behind off Andre Adams.

But the Australian was back at the crease after a discussion between the umpires and he went on to complete a 51-ball half-century as the visitors claimed victory in less than 19 overs.