County Championship
Day 4
Warwickshire v Surrey - Match drawn
War - 571
Sur - 286 & 202-3 (f/o)
More rain in Birmingham skittled most of Warwickshire's chances, while Surrey batted better throughout the day to take the game to a draw.
In the morning Burns went on to 42 before being bowled by Rankin, and was soon followed by Harinath for 0. With the score on 113 Patel had du Bruyn caught and Surrey were in some trouble, still 172 behind. Opener Ansari was hanging on however and he went to an excellent half century and then batted steadily with Roy (42*) throughout the rest of the day to save the match. Ansari finished on 83 not out from 257 balls.
Points: Warwickshire 10, Surrey 7
Nottinghamshire v Sussex - Match drawn
Sus - 171 & 385-5
Not - 520-4d
It was going to take something special to take a wicket on this Trent Bridge pitch, which even the rain had failed to spice up. Sure enough a superb catch finally broke the deadlock, after more than 112 overs without a wicket.
Sussex's openers Joyce and Nash still had a job to do this morning to prevent Nottinghamshire from claiming the win. They picked up where they left off last night however taking their partnership past 150 and then 200 as Nash went to his century. Joyce though couldn't emulate his team mate as Lumb cut off a certain four with a wonderful catch that also dismissed the opener for 98.
If the hosts were hoping it might produce a flurry of wickets however they were disappointed as Wells (59) came in a eased to half century. Nash was finally caught by Taylor for 162, with the score on 314-2, and the draw almost certain.
Wessels had been brought on to bowl, which shows how little the seamers were getting out of the pitch, and induced Wells to flick the ball back at him for a caught and bowled, his first wicket in first class cricket. Yardy was then caught by Adams and with Sussex's lead only at 6 Nottinghamshire still maintained a glimmer of hope. 31 from Goodwin though made sure of the draw, despite him being bowled by Patel shortly before the end.
Points: Nottinghamshire 11, Sussex 4
Hampshire v Kent - Match drawn
Ham - 292 & 186-9
Ken - 438-8
A thrilling finish on the south coast saw the host hold on at the last to save the match.
The day began badly for Hampshire who needed to bat all day, or score at least 250 if they were to avoid defeat. Vince was bowled for 0 and quickly followed by Shafayat (2) to leave themeselves on 8-2. Katich also made a duck and Kent were sensing an easy victory. Dawson managed to score 28 before he was caught and the hosts were 52-4.
Opener Adams was using up plenty of balls in a gutsy innings and was joined by Ervine who added 31 before he went lbw. Bates (2) didn't last long and the visitors were once again sensing the win was near.
Mascarnehas managed to take 52 balls to score 9 but when he went so did Balcombe and Tomlinson in quick succession and Hampshire were 144-9, still 31 behind and well over an hour's play left. Last man Briggs then produced the innings of his life to prevent Kent's victory charge. He scored 20* in 57 balls while Adams carried his bat for just 85 from 255 balls. Hampshire had batted for 91 overs and survived. With a lead now of 11 the game was called a draw.
Points: Hampshire 7, Kent 11
Leicestershire v Yorkshire - Match drawn
Lei - 320 & 157-7
Yor - 486
More rain meant play was reduced dramatically but Leicestershire held on to deprive Yorkshire of a win. The midlanders added 100 in the day for the loss of 5 wickets and took the draw. 44 from White stopped the Yorkshire bowlers, who were on top with the hosts on 78-5, and although he was caught late in the day the visitors couldn't wrap up the tail.
Points: Leicestershire 8, Yorkshire 11
CB40 Cricket
Lancashire v Gloucestershire - Lancashire win by 4 wickets
Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to bat
Glo - 184-7
Lan - 187-6
Early wickets prevent Gloucestershire from making a decent start as they slipped to 35-3. Housego (42) and Gidman (18) rebuilt somewhat but both were dismissed before the 30 over mark to leave the visitors on 111-5.
The runs continued to come slowly and a poor score seemed likely when Dent was caught for 27. Cockbain though left it late to make a surge as he hit four 6s in the dying moments of the innings to lift Gloucestershire past 180, still a below par total, before being stumped off the last ball. He made 58 in 49 balls and gave the visitors some hope.
Moore (37) and Prince (16) put on 43 to give Lancashire a good start, but Gloucestershire fought back, taking three wickets to slow the rate, leaving the hosts on 81-3. Brown and Horton though batted sensibly, knowing that the required rate was not high, and fended off the visitors' attack. Brown did hit one 6 as he went a much needed fifty and left Lancashire needing just 39 from the last 7 overs.
That was whittled down to 23 from the last 4, but after a single Brown was caught for 60, to send nerves around Old Trafford. Then with 2 overs and 2 balls remaining, and just 15 required Horton was trapped in front and given out lbw for 46. The pressure was getting to the home side despite them still being in the better position. Now though they had two new batsmen and Gloucestershire had their tails up. Shahzad was the newest man and after a couple of singles he bunted the boundary that Lancashire desparately wanted to bring the required runs down to 8.
Payne wasn't finished yet and he managed to clean bowl Shahzad (10), although with only now required the game was all but over. Captain Chapple then clipped 2 from the last ball of the penultimate over as Payne finished with 3 for 39, the best figures of the night. With the fielders up Cross then found the boundary to win the game for Lancashire in the final over.
Star Player: In a game where the wickets were shared and the stand out innings was on the losing side, this is difficult, but I give it to Shahzad for his 2 for 34 and 10 from 5 balls at the end, which restricted Gloucestershire and boosted Lancashire respectively.
County Championship Tables
Division 1
| Team | Played | Points | |
| 1 | Warwickshire | 10 | 135 |
| 2 | Nottinghamshire | 11 | 135 |
| 3 | Somerset | 10 | 117 |
| 4 | Sussex | 11 | 107 |
| 5 | Middlesex | 10 | 104 |
| 6 | Surrey | 11 | 81 |
| 7 | Lancashire | 11 | 75 |
| 8 | Worcestershire | 9 | 70 |
| 9 | Durham | 11 | 66 |
Division 2
| Team | Played | Points | |
| 1 | Derbyshire | 10 | 127 |
| 2 | Yorkshire | 11 | 113 |
| 3 | Hampshire | 11 | 112 |
| 4 | Kent | 10 | 110 |
| 5 | Northamptonshire | 10 | 86 |
| 6 | Gloucestershire | 10 | 84 |
| 7 | Essex | 10 | 75 |
| 8 | Leicestershire | 11 | 69 |
| 9 | Glamorgan | 11 | 66 |
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