County cricket day four: Essex survive Ethan Brookes onslaught to grab first win

4m ago 15.30 EDT County roundup A thunder and lightning 88 from Ethan Brookes took Worcestershire to within sniffing distance of victory on a morning of high drama at Chelmsford. Starting the day needing 110, with four wickets in hand, Worcestershire quickly lost three, which stung Brookes into an astonishing array of hitting, finding the rope even with every Essex fielder stationed on the boundary. But with 28 needed, and just after flaying Porter over fine leg for his seventh six, Brookes palmed the ball in the air and Porter threw himself into a caught and bowled down in the dust. Brookes put out a questioning arm and a fired-up Porter briefly looked as if he was going into the ring. But the umpire gently intervened, the finger was raised and handshakes followed. It was Essex’s first win of the season. At Canterbury, what had been a plodding final day blew up spectacularly after Kent tripped up during a nominal chase of 413 in 41 overs. Tom Price rattled through the top order with four for 33 and, at 97 for six, Gloucestershire smelt blood. But an unbeaten 54 from Zak Crawley, and staunch support from Grant Stewart, took Kent home. Middlesex beat Glamorgan by nine wickets at Lord’s, despite stoical batting from Chris Cooke and Ned Leonard. The players wore black armbands and the flags were lowered in memory of the late umpire Jeff Evans. Elsewhere, the weather flattened the chances of a result. At Old Trafford, play only got under way at 4.30pm, with Leicestershire trying to squeeze seven wickets out of a session, even putting boundary patrollers in the stands to ensure the ball got back to the middle quickly. But Marcus Harris and Josh Bohannon guided Lancashire to safety in a partnership of 79. Rain, bad light and the deadpan bats of Ed Barnard and Olly Hannon-Dalby thwarted Nottinghamshire’s hopes of victory against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. An unbeaten 86 from Jonny Bairstow ensured Yorkshire’s innings didn’t collapse at Chester le Street, against a Durham side without their injured seamers Paul Coughlin and Brendan Doggett. Afternoon rain added a full stop to the match. Surrey continued their uneasy start to the season, the champions drawing their third match in succession. Sussex’s Tom Haines and Dan Hughes were able to bat their way to handshakes after Surrey had lost seven for 100 in the morning session, the left-arm spinner James Coles finishing with five. Sean Dickson and Tom Abell batted Somerset to a draw against Hampshire. Share

2h ago 13.29 EDT And that is that, for round three. Well done Zak Crawley and bad luck Gloucestershire. Thanks for your company over these last four days – have a lovely bank holiday evening. We’ll be back on Friday for round four. Bye! Share

2h ago 13.25 EDT Final scores Chester le Street: Durham 427 DRAW WITH Yorkshire 307 and 277-6 Chelmsford: Essex 179 and 317 BEAT Worcestershire 202 and 266 by 28 runs Southampton: Hampshire 336 DRAW WITH Somerset 184 and 163-2 Hove: Sussex 435 and 132-0 DRAW WITH Surrey 490 Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 181-6 DRAW with Nottinghamshire 367 DIVISION TWO The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 DRAW WITH Northamptonshire 500-8dec Canterbury: Kent 393 and 116-6 DRAW with Gloucestershire 472 and 333-5dec Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 90-3 DRAW with Leicestershire 491-8dec Lord’s: Middlesex 470-9dec and 59-1 BEAT Glamorgan 199 and 329 by nine wickets Share

2h ago 13.22 EDT Kent DRAW with Gloucestershire And breathe! Canterbury: Kent 393 and 116-6 DRAW with Gloucestershire 472 and 333-5dec Kent 14 points, Gloucestershire 16. Share Updated at 13.25 EDT

3h ago 13.03 EDT And then there was one. Five overs left at Canterbury, four wickets needed, but Crawley still there. Share

3h ago 13.01 EDT Warwickshire DRAW with Nottinghamshire Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 181-6 DRAW with Nottinghamshire 367 Warwicks points, Notts Share

3h ago 12.56 EDT Middlesex BEAT Glamorgan by nine wickets Lord’s: Middlesex 470-9dec and 59-1 BEAT Glamorgan 199 and 329 by nine wickets Middlesex 21 points, Glamorgan one Share

3h ago 12.45 EDT With Middlesex close to victory at Lord’s, Zak Crawley putting together a Kent reaguard to defy Gloucestershire and the rain looking like it has defeated Nottinghamshire, time for me to write up. Do chat on below the line. Share

3h ago 12.32 EDT Ali Martin Players off for bad light and suspect that is that ... lots of oohs, a few ahhs ... but no genuine chances produced during that mini session. And as I type this, there is mizzle to boot. Stick a fork in this one. Share

3h ago 12.30 EDT Lancashire DRAW with Leicestershire Lancashire’s blushes saved by the weather and, lately, Harris (34) and Bohannon (45) . Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 90-3 DRAW with Leicestershire 491-8dec Lancashire 11 points, Leicestershire 15 Share Updated at 12.42 EDT

3h ago 12.27 EDT Crawley has found some more reliable company in Joey Evison. Kent 80-4. Share

3h ago 12.22 EDT Update from Lord’s (thank you Romeo)

”Covers coming off at Lord’s. I don’t think there been much rain at all, if any. Only strip (hover) and run-ups were covered. Still looks pretty dark, mind.” It is also dark at Old Trafford, where the floodlights are not yet on and the close fielders are breathing down Bohannon’s neck. Share

3h ago 12.15 EDT Hampshire DRAW with Somerset Another win for the weather. Southampton: Hampshire 336 DRAW WITH Somerset 184 and 163-2 Hampshire 13 points, Somerset 11 Share

3h ago 12.12 EDT The rain continues to fall at Lord’s. Share

4h ago 12.02 EDT And we have some Rehan Ahmed from the Jimmy Anderson end. Share

4h ago 11.59 EDT Ali Martin Lights now on at Edgbaston and unless there is a dramatic turn of events in the next 10 minutes or so, this one is heading for a draw. Great to see Josh Tongue haring in (even if the red socks are bugging me) but OHD is very much his equal so far. Sixty balls of defiance so far from the big man. Share

4h ago 11.56 EDT YJB speaks after the draw with Durham: “Really pleased to get out of that the way that we did. Obviously, losing the toss we would have had a look to bowl as well. We actually went alright there. “We left a few out there (first innings), and a few softer dismissals. As a group, we’ll look to improve on that. I think that’s a fairly easy fix, if I’m honest. There’s a lot of talent within the group. “They put us under pressure. For two of their guys to get 150, it’s exactly what Division One cricket is about. It’s probably the biggest difference between that and Division Two - when a teams’s on top, they don’t let you off. And that’s a lesson we can learn as a group.” Share

4h ago 11.55 EDT Another one slips between Cox’s gloves, Bohannon again, and it feels like the air has left the balloon. Share

4h ago 11.52 EDT And a fourth for Tom Price! This time it’s Jack Leaning. Suddenly this is looking very spicy for Kent. Time for a Hollioake pep talk. Share

4h ago 11.48 EDT Sussex DRAW with Surrey And the champions start the season with three draws. Sussex one win and two draws. Hove: Sussex 435 and 132-0 DRAW WITH Surrey 490 Surrey 15 points, Sussex 14. Share

4h ago 11.45 EDT At Canterbury, Kent have lost another – Muyeye, a third for Tom Price. Crawley still standing tall on 23. Kent 48-3. Share

4h ago 11.42 EDT Leicestershire have posted spare bodies in the stands to throw back the ball to the bowler as quickly as possible. Share

4h ago 11.39 EDT We think there are 16 people in Old Trafford to see Cox drop Bohannon, on 10, off Holland. Share

4h ago 11.38 EDT Durham draw with Yorkshire Chester le Street: Durham 427 DRAW WITH Yorkshire 307 and 277-6 Durham 15 points, Yorkshire 13 points Share

4h ago 11.30 EDT Here come the umpires, black armbands on their left arms, in memory of Jeff Evans. Leicestershire too. Holland has the ball. Four slips. And a caramel egg from Paul Edwards. Share

4h ago 11.25 EDT Ali Martin Seven overs gone at Edgbaston and just the one run off the bat of Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who could easily have run three after a crisp straight drive. First time watching Farhan Ahmed in the flesh for me and it’s quite the spectacle, the young offie standing at the top of his mark legs apart like a baseball pitcher about to wind up on the mound, before skipping in with good energy and getting some excellent purchase on the ball. Share

5h ago 10.48 EDT And while the rest of the country takes tea, things have got underway at Edgbaston. Time for me to cycle to OT for the denouement. Back shortly. Share

5h ago 10.47 EDT Kent’s chase of 413 already looks green about the gills – Tom Price has removed both Ben Compton and Daniel Bell Drummond in the six overs possible before tea. Kent 8 for two. Share

5h ago 10.45 EDT Tea time scores DIVISION ONE Chester le Street: Durham 427 v Yorkshire 307 and 277-6 rain stopped play Chelmsford: Essex 179 and 317 BEAT Worcestershire 202 and 266 by 28 runs Southampton: Hampshire 336 v Somerset 184 and 159-2 Hove: Sussex 435 and 132-0 and v Surrey 490 Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 163-6 v Nottinghamshire 367 DIVISION TWO The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 DRAW WITH Northamptonshire 500-8dec Canterbury: Kent 393 and 8-2 v Gloucestershire 472 and 333-5dec Kent need 405 to win Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 16-3 v Leicestershire 491-8dec no play yet today Lord’s: Middlesex 470-9dec and 16-1 v Glamorgan 199 and 329 Middx need 43 to win, rain stopped play Share

5h ago 10.32 EDT We have a 4.30 start at Old Trafford If the rain stays away. There will be 24 overs for Lancashire to survive. Share

5h ago 10.29 EDT They take an early tea at Lord's …with 43 needed for a Middlesex win. The hover cover chugs into place. Share

5h ago 10.25 EDT Tom Haines is well on the way to his second century against Surrey of the match, 68 not out of 128-9. Rob Key is probably on the stream right now. Though on the back of his century yesterday, Rehan Ahmed could be a Bazball choice if they decide not to go with Crawley. Interesting to see if he bowls later at OT, he didn’t in the first innings but we think he had a sore finger. Share

5h ago 10.19 EDT Middlesex are going out swinging, with rain on the way. And lose their first wicket, Max Holden, having a heave-ho at Leonard, caught by Northeast. And on come the floodlights. Share

5h ago 10.16 EDT Stronger whispers of a restart at 4.30 at Old Trafford. The groundstaff are mopping with purpose. Share

5h ago 10.15 EDT Restart at Edgbaston at 3.45 With 36 overs remaining. Nottinghamshire, you’ll remember, need just four wickets for victory. Share

6h ago 10.04 EDT The sun has been spotted in the Manchester area. Share

6h ago 10.02 EDT Middlesex need 59 runs to beat Glamorgan And that’s the end of the Glamorgan innings, Bashir hooking Brookes into the hands of Toby Roland-Jones for one. Share

6h ago 10.01 EDT There are currently three games still going: at Lord’s, where Middlesex need one wicket and then 58 runs before the rain catches up with them. At Canterbury, where Gloucestershire lead by 407. Another wham-bam half century for van Buuren. Time for a declaration? And at Hove, where Haines and Hughes are going through the motions. Share

6h ago 09.56 EDT Rain stops play at Chester le Street And with Bairstow stranded on 86, the covers come on. Share

6h ago 09.48 EDT A 3.30pm start in Birmingham Ali Martin Official news at Edgbaston is a 3.30pm start if no further rain. Keen to see if Oliver Hannon-Dalby can make his maiden first-class century. Just 100 runs short as it stands Share

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