LVCC Round Eight Review: Record run chase for Surrey as Yorkshire & Lancashire claim first wins of the season

Division One:
Essex 462/9 & 170/7 beat Somerset 167 & 269 by 196 runs
Kent 301 & 344 lost to Surrey 145 & 501/5 by 5 wickets
Lancashire 374 & 142/4 beat Hampshire 142 & 371 by 6 wickets
Nottinghamshire 155 & 464/6 drew with Warwickshire 571/9d

Division Two:
Derbyshire 111 & 453 lost to Yorkshire 353 & 215/7 by 3 wickets
Durham 630 drew with Glamorgan 390 & 426/7
Gloucestershire 368 & 202 lost to Leicestershire 350 & 221/5 by 5 wickets
Sussex 348 & 447/7 drew with Worcestershire 410 & 381/8

SURREY PULL OFF INCREDIBLE RUN CHASE

It looked as if Kent were going to pull off victory against Surrey during this round. After the first day, Kent had over 300 runs on the board & Surrey were into bat. They were quickly out for 145.

The home team added another 344 runs to their tally, meaning Surrey needed 501 to win the match in a day and a session. What followed was a masterclass in batting from the visiting team. Dom Sibley opened the batting and was there at the end of Day Four. 

He played a magnificent innings, making 140 from a mammoth 415 deliveries. That is now the slowest County Championship century, but what an important one it was. Jamie Smith also aided Sibley as he struck 114 from 77 balls. Ben Foakes was the third Surrey batter to pass three figures in the innings - he scored 124 (211). 

With 23.5 overs to spare, Surrey hit the winning run to complete the second-highest final day run chase in the competition's history, as well as the eighth highest in first-class cricket history. Remarkable!

YORKSHIRE CLAIM FIRST WIN IN 17

For the first time in 17 LV= Insurance County Championship matches, Yorkshire claimed a victory!

The teams last win came way back at the beginning of last season when they were in Division One. They defeated Gloucestershire by six wickets during Round One of the 2022 competition. But since then, a win has failed to materialise.

But in Round Eight of this year's campaign, they had Derbyshire all out for 111 in the first innings.They replied with 353 - an in-form Dawid Malan top scoring with 106 there. Despite finding themselves 17/4 in the third innings, Derbyshire resisted. Haider Ali (146) & Leus du Plooy (170) rallied and helped their side reach 453. Yorkshire went into the final day of the round needing just over 60 runs to win. 

A wicket on the first ball of the day may have got Yorkshire fans worried, but Shan Masood, finishing on 95*, played a true captain's knock to see his team home!

LANCASHIRE WIN THEIR FIRST OF THE SEASON

Lancashire found themselves in eighth place heading into the latest County Championship round, but hadn't lost a match. Their five draws all showed glimpses of what they needed for a win, but they couldn't quite get it over the line.

And welcoming Hampshire to Southport & Birkdale CC, who were second in the table, they may have thought that winless start was set to continue. But it was Lancashire's bowlers who started on top, having their opposition all out for 142.

Phil Salt, in for his first County Championship appearance of the season, opened for his side, scoring his maiden century in the format for Lancashire. His 103 led the way as they made 374. Hampshire scored better in their second innings, with James Vince reaching 87.

Lancashire's target was 140 and they had four sessions to get there. A shaky start, which included two Hampshire wickets, will have worried the home teams supporters. But captain Dane Vilas settled the ship (scoring 64*) to guide his team to their first win of the season.

ESSEX DECISION TO BAT AGAINT PROVES FRUITFUL

When Essex batted, reached 462/9d and then bowled Somerset out for 167, many of their fans expected them to enforce the follow-on. So it came as quite a shock when Tom Westley asked his openers to go back out and bat again.

His side batted through the evening of Day Two and some of Day Three before declaring on 170/7. That set Somerset a total of 465, but with plenty of time to do it in.

The Essex bowling attack, which has been in top form this season, proved again that it had what it takes to overcome any resistance from the opposition. Jamie Porter & Simon Harmer took three wickets each as they cruised to their second victory of the season. 

SUSSEX & WORCESTERSHIRE PLAY OUT ENTERTAINING DRAW

It was an exciting finishing at Hove as Sussex hosted Worcestershire. 

The Division Two match went down to the wire after three days of perfect set up. Highlights include an incredible pair of innings from Jake Libby (198 & 97), a great knock from Oli Carter (76) and a heroic effort from Azhar Ali (101). 

With 17 overs left in the match, Worcestershire needed 99 runs to win. Ali & Libby had set things up well and that target eventually fell down to eight off the last over. Enter Nathan McAndrew. The Sussex bowler produced a fine conclusion to the match. We'll let you see how it played out!