Nottinghamshire continued their dominant form, claiming a massive 366-run victory over Hampshire at Trent Bridge. The day began with Liam Patterson-White and Jack Haynes leading the charge with centuries, setting Hampshire a daunting target of 483 runs. However, the visitors could not cope with the pressure, collapsing to just 116 all out in their second innings. Lyndon James was the standout bowler for Notts, taking 5 wickets, while Brett Hutton added 4. Mohammad Abbas contributed with two catches after taking five wickets in the first innings. With this win, Nottinghamshire made it three consecutive victories in the Championship.
Northamptonshire secured a thrilling 70-run win against Lancashire, their first win under new coach Darren Lehmann. Lancashire, chasing 236, looked set to cruise but lost seven wickets for just 28 runs. Key performances came from leg-spinner Calvin Harrison, who took crucial wickets, including Marcus Harris and Josh Bohannon. Ben Sanderson’s explosive 65 from just 28 balls earlier had given Northamptonshire a solid total to defend. The win also marked a significant achievement for Northamptonshire, who had not beaten Lancashire for nearly 20 years.
Glamorgan celebrated their first win of the season with a crushing innings and 161-run victory over Kent. Kent, following on after being bowled out for 212 in their first innings, were bundled out for just 176 in their second innings. Asitha Fernando and Timm van der Gugten each claimed three wickets in a dominant performance. This comprehensive victory came after a stellar 549-9 declared by Glamorgan in their first innings.
Surrey’s match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston was still in the balance, with Surrey at 369-9, still 296 runs short of avoiding the follow-on. Despite an unbeaten 85 from Ben Foakes, the match was slipping away from them as Warwickshire’s bowlers, particularly Rob Yates and Che Simmons, made inroads.
In the Division One clash between Essex and Yorkshire at Chelmsford, Essex faced a mountain to climb. After being bowled out for 123 in their first innings, they required a further 520 runs to win. Yorkshire had declared their second innings at 426-6, leaving Essex with a difficult task ahead.
At Hove, Worcestershire were 117-3, still needing 244 more runs to win against Sussex. Sussex had posted 284 and 256, with Worcestershire’s chase hampered by the loss of early wickets.
Across the board, it was a day of emphatic wins and thrilling contests in the County Championship, with strong performances from both batsmen and bowlers shaping the matches. As the season progresses, the pressure is mounting on teams to perform consistently, with the T20 competitions just around the corner.
