County Championship Division Two - 3rd day

Somerset cruise home against Northants

Cricinfo staff

May 27, 2005

Somerset 356 and 155 for 4 (Francis 55) beat Northamptonshire 408 and 100 (Andrew 3-31) by 6 wickets
Scorecard
Somerset cruised to their first Championship win of the season as they skittled Northants for just 100 in their second innings. The six-wicket win completed a superb turnaround by Somerset, who conceded a first innings lead of 52. Northants began the third (and ultimately final day) with a useful advantage of 77, but struggled from the outset against an impressive Somerset attack. Gareth Andrew and Nixon McLean tore out the top-order, as only Martin Love offered any resistance. Love battled away for 70 balls before he was trapped lbw by Aaron Laraman and the lower order fell with barely a whimper. Michael Burns and Ian Blackwell chipped in with two wickets each, Blackwell's coming in his only over, leaving Somerset to chase 153. After the early loss of Matthew Wood a stand of 112 between Burns and John Francis broke the back of the run chase. Although both fell with the target nearing, Sanath Jayasuriya clubbed four boundaries to take Somerset virtually past the winning line.

Yorkshire 336 for 8 (Harvey 76, White 60, Gough 4-49) trail Essex 622 for 8 dec (A Flower 188, Irani 103, Gough 93, Foster 92) by 286 runs
Scorecard
Yorkshire will face a final day battle to avoid their first Championship defeat of the season as Essex continue to dominate at Headingley. Darren Gough again put in a starring performance, following his 93 yesterday, with four wickets. But Yorkshire did offer resistance during their innings, especially through Ian Harvey and Craig White. Harvey made 76 from 128 balls until he was bowled by Dale Steyn. Gough removed Richard Dawson and Ismail Dawood in quick succession and when White fell for 60 Yorkshire were 279 for 8. Essex would have expected to be able to enforce the follow-on towards the end of the day but Yorkshire's tail-enders had different ideas. Tim Bresnan and Chris Silverwood mixed solid attack with sturdy defence, adding 57 for the ninth wicket. Yorkshire are still a mammoth 137 runs short of saving the follow-on, but, on a good batting track, Essex will be in a race against the clock to wrap up the win on the last day.

2nd day
Derbyshire 251 for 9 dec and 23 for 0 trail Leicestershire 279 (Robinson 110, Mongia 51, Welch 4-48) by 5 runs
Scorecard
Leicestershire missed the opportunity to build a decisive lead over Derbyshire as the slumped from 188 for 2 to 279 all out. Darren Robinson made his second century of the season, and in partnership with Dinesh Mongia put Leicestershire in the driving seat. Mongia stroked an attractive 51 but when he was caught behind off Graeme Welch the collapse set in. Robinson reached his century from 193 balls and Leicestershire were approaching a lead when he became part of the meltdown. Derbyshire's spinners - Ant Botha and Andy Gray - grabbed two wickets each and it took some meaty blows from David Masters to extend Leicestershire's lead to a slender 28. With just under an hour left to bat, a couple of wickets would have still made it a decent position for Leicestershire, but Derbyshire's openers survived the 14 overs, without showing much inclination to score.

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