Kent thrash Lancashire

Mark Chilton hit 102 but his dismissal dented Lancs' hopes of a victory at Kent

Kent moved clear of relegation trouble and into title contention in the congested LV County Championship Division One table, with a 211-run win over Lancashire at Canterbury.

Rob Key's men moved up to fourth - only 13 points behind new leaders Somerset - after bowling their visitors out for 264.

Resuming on 161 for four, Lancashire’s Mark Chilton (102) and Luke Sutton put up stubborn initial resistance - the former managing 16 fours from 229 balls as he completed his first hundred of the summer.

But in the end, James Tredwell and Martin van Jaarsveld each joined Robbie Joseph with three second-innings wickets - and the win was wrapped up in early afternoon.

Sussex’s hopes of a hat-trick of titles are beginning to look fanciful - after a draw against relegation candidates Surrey at the Brit Oval.

The home side declared their second innings on 171 for seven - off-spinner Ollie Rayner taking 3-56 - and left the visitors a notional 299 to win.

An unbeaten 71 from opener Chris Nash ensured Sussex were never in danger of being bowled out.

After his unbroken century stand with Carl Hopkinson, they closed on 154 for three - with former England fast bowler Alex Tudor picking up two wickets in his comeback match for his native county.

Worcestershire went 29 points clear at the top of Division Two, Essex captain Mark Pettini paying dearly for a sporting overnight declaration on 322 for eight - on the back of an unbeaten 111 from James Foster.

Needing 347 to win, Worcestershire’s Daryl Mitchell (102) and Ben Smith (82) laid the foundations.

Stephen Moore (50) and Graeme Hick (78 not out) also hit half-centuries, the first in one of two century stands involving Mitchell - who hit nine fours from 191 balls - as Worcestershire got home well into the final hour, with six wickets in hand.

Leicestershire teenager Josh Cobb’s maiden hundred in only his fourth first-class match was not enough to force victory over Middlesex at Lord’s.

Cobb (148no) augmented HD Ackerman’s 194, collecting 14 fours and three sixes from the 324 deliveries he faced.

Ackerman and Cobb’s sixth-wicket stand eventually ended this morning on 270, and Leicestershire’s resulting 533 all out meant the hosts had to bat out the rest of the day.

Middlesex duly did so, closing on 185 for five, 18 runs in front - despite Claude Henderson (4-79) and thanks largely to Dawid Malan (61no).