Hants go first & Yasir joins Kent

Fire, fire, Hants on fire

Division One in the Specsavers County Championship has new a leader - Hampshire. Not only did they rattle out the eight wickets they needed to topple Warwickshire, they also beat the weather. Once the formidable pair of Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell had been removed, by fine delilveries from Mason Crane and Kyle Abbott respectively, it was a race against time, Hants mopping up the final two wickets after a short rain delay. Once they'd won, it hosed it down.

Nash flow

One game as County Championship skipper and one win for Chris Nash. After the shock resignation of Luke Wright before the match, Sussex steeled themselves and duly picked up the six wickets they needed on day four despite a an obdurate 53 from Ross Whitely to make it back-to-back home wins. As for the Pears, their magnificent run comes to an end after four straight wins. The promotion race is shaping up nicely.

Wakely, Wakely, rise and shine

Arise Sir Alex Wakely. On a truly grim day up north, he marshalled his side to a magnificent win at Durham, even recovering from a blow on the helmet to smash 84 and push his side so close to the finish line when surrounded on all sides by menacing clouds. But it was heartbreak for Derbyshire at Old Trafford - they went off for rain needing just 26 runs to record a first win in 716 days.

Yasir, I can boogie

Speaking of that Division Two promotion race, big news emerged during the evening session that Kent had acquired the services of Yasir Shah - the world's top-ranked Test leg psinner - for the next four Championship matches. The diminutive tweaker could even make his debut on Thursday against Durham at the Spitfire Ground. Now that's something to get excited about.