Ervine sets up Hampshire win

Sean Ervine's 94 not out saw Hampshire to victory

Sean Ervine batted brilliantly to guide Hampshire to a shock victory on the third day of their LV County Championship Division One clash with Durham at Basingstoke.

Ervine struck an unbeaten 94 to guide Hampshire home by two wickets as they chased a total of 240 - the highest innings in a low-scoring match.

After 35 wickets went down on the first two days, Durham were expected to end the Hampshire resistance, which would have allowed them to take the initiative in the title race.

Hampshire were 108 for five in their second innings overnight, still needing another 132 to complete an unlikely double over Durham.

But Durham had reckoned without Ervine, who curbed his attacking instincts to usher the Hampshire tail home amid scenes of high tension despite the best efforts of Mark Davies (3-51), who finished with 11 wickets in the match.

Mark Wagh struck a superb 128 to give Nottinghamshire a chance of forcing a result in their match with defending champions Sussex at Hove.

Wagh and Matthew Wood (98) both weighed in heavily as Nottinghamshire declared on 558 for seven in response to Sussex’s first-innings total of 339.

Sussex reached seven without loss at stumps - a deficit of 212 runs - with openers Michael Yardy and Chris Nash set to resume again in the morning.

Neil Dexter led the Kent fightback against Yorkshire with a patient century as they reached 273 for five by the close of play at Scarborough.

Darren Gough’s side were eventually dismissed for 457 and Kent’s second innings got off to an inauspicious start after skipper Robert Key (12) fell early to Matthew Hoggard.

Fellow opener Joe Denly (66) steadied the ship but it was Dexter’s 105 that gave Kent a foothold in the match before he was bowled by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

Lance Klusener hit a double ton as Northants took control

The former Pakistan seamer also captured Martin Saggers and Darren Stevens for ducks before the close with Martin van Jaarsveld (54 not out) and Geraint Jones, who is unbeaten on four, set to resume with Kent still 43 runs behind.

It was another day of frustration for Lancashire and Surrey after the third consecutive day of their match at Blackpool was called off without a ball being bowled.

There had not been rain for 24 hours in the area but umpires Jeremy Lloyds.and Nick Cook deemed the pitch and outfield unfit for play.

In Division Two, Lance Klusener smashed an unbeaten double century to give Northamptonshire the upper hand in their clash with Glamorgan at Wantage Road.

Klusener, deputising as captain for the injured Nicky Boje, hit 202 not out for his highest ever first-class score while Niall O’Brien hit 168 as the hosts racked up 488 for seven before they declared in response to the visitors' first-innings total of 287.

Adam Shantry finished the pick of a tired Glamorgan attack with 3-68.

Glamorgan’s second innings got off to a poor start when opener Gareth Rees drove Johan van der Wath into the hands of Klusener at mid-on and departed for 13.

Skipper David Hemp and Richard Grant ensured there were no further losses before the close and will resume on day four with Glamorgan on 28 for one.

Derbyshire captain Chris Rogers also hit an unbeaten double century to help his side respond positively in their clash against promotion-chasing Warwickshire.

The hosts had declared on 476 for nine and Derbyshire, who resumed the third day on 83 without loss, enjoyed a full day of batting on a featherbed at Edgbaston to reach 462 for seven at stumps.

Derbyshire opener Paul Borrington (62), Wavell Hinds (40) and wicketkeeper Tom New (44) also chipped in as leg-spinner Ian Salisbury finished with 4-95 with Rogers (237no) set to resume in the morning.