Notts made to fight for top spot

Alfonso Thomas nipped out Matthew Wood early in Notts' victory chase

Nottinghamshire face a battle to end the latest round of matches on top of LV County Championship Division One after losing three early wickets in their victory chase against Somerset at Taunton.

Having been bowled out for 106 first time around, Somerset made a much better fist of their second innings, former England opener Marcus Trescothick top-scoring with 81 as they racked up 335 all out.

That meant Nottinghamshire needed 212 for victory, which looked a tricky target after Alfonso Thomas removed Matthew Wood, and Mark Wagh and Bilal Shafayat also fell.

Second-placed Durham put pressure on Nottinghamshire by wrapping up a 43-run victory over Kent at Chester-le-Street, to take over at the top at least briefly.

The visitors returned to the field this morning on 116 for eight but any serious hopes they had of reaching their target of 177 were dashed when Martin van Jaarsveld was caught by Dale Benkenstein off the bowling of Mark Davies for 53.

Martin Saggers lasted only two more balls before being trapped lbw by Callum Thorp to seal Kent's fate.

The ECB yesterday decided not to punish Durham for the pitch.

Hampshire were another side to claim a third-day victory with a surprisingly-comprehensive 10-wicket win over Yorkshire at the Rose Bowl.

After both teams scored 236 in the first innings, the visitors were bowled out for only 107 in their second innings - James Tomlinson and Imran Tahir claiming four wickets apiece.

Hampshire then wasted little time knocking off the required runs, Michael Carberry making an unbeaten 53 and Michael Brown 46 to help the home side cruise to victory with a day and a half to spare.

Defending champions Sussex need 162 more runs for victory after bowling out Lancashire for 285 in their second innings at Old Trafford.

After the hosts tumbled to 54 for four, Stuart Law weighed in with 73 and some valuable late runs from Glen Chapple (52 not out) and Dominic Cork (43) at least gave Lancashire a defendable total.

Sussex will resume tomorrow on 14 without loss.

Stephen Moore kept Division Two front-runners Worcestershire in control with 156 at New Road

Stephen Moore hit 156 as Division Two leaders Worcestershire declared for the second time in their match against Derbyshire.

Moore’s New Road innings was finally brought to an end by Greg Smith while first-innings centurion Graeme Hick reached 72 not out before the Pears declared on 296 for three.

That left Derbyshire with a victory target of 403, which they had reduced by 34 at the close without losing a wicket.

Gloucestershire extended their lead over Leicestershire to 352 runs at Cheltenham as they progressed to 265 for three at the end of day three.

William Porterfield (66) and Hamish Marshall (83) put on 131 for the second wicket while Marcus North (51 not out) and Chris Taylor (50 not out) will require two more runs tomorrow for their century stand.

Murali Kartik took three wickets as Middlesex reduced Glamorgan to 110 for five in their second innings at Colwyn Bay - a lead of 130.

It would have been even worse for the Welsh county had Richard Grant not scored a half-century.

On the second day at Edgbaston, Warwickshire battled to 120 for three chasing Northamptonshire’s 407 for eight declared.