The County Championship resumed over the weekend with a number of fixtures in the balance going into the final day on Monday, reports Gareth Stevens.
Ashwell Prince scored a gutsy century in Manchester to put Lancashire in a good position heading into the final day of their County Championship against Durham. Keaton Jennings made 26 in the visitors first innings of 340, before Prince’s 106 led the reply as Lancashire posted 421.
Going into the final day, Durham trail by 22 with 9 wickets remaining. Jennings is at the crease on 17, but the hosts will come out firing on Monday in search of a valuable win.
Warwickshire hold all the cards going into the final day against Somerset at Taunton. The hosts won the toss and inserted Warwickshire, only to concede 367 in the first innings. Alfonso Thomas toiled hard with the ball, collecting 2-73 off 25.2 overs.
Somerset let themselves down in their first innings. They were dismissed for 286, before Warwickshire declared on 322-7 in their second innings. Thomas once again held his own, taking 2-70, but the hosts need 403 runs for victory on the final day. The only positive result they can aim for is a draw for batting out the overs.
The match between Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire at the Country Ground in Northampton is delicately poised. After being bowled out for a below par 260, the hosts fought back by dismissing Notts for 388 and then posting 338 in their second innings.
Andrew Hall once again contributed in both disciplines, taking 1-71 in 24 overs and scoring 67 with the bat. Monday see’s the visitors require 211 runs for victory as they resume their innings on 0-0. With the pitch deteriorating, this is a match that could go either way.
In Swansea, Glamorgan are teetering on the precipice of defeat. Essex have been ahead throughout and the Welsh county haven’t been able to cope with Jacques Rudolph‘s twin failures. The opening batsman, who has been so consistent this season, managed just 16 and six in his two visits to the crease.
Monty Panesar sent the England selectors a reminder that he is still around by taking 10 wickets thus far in the match. His efforts mean that Essex require just two wickets for victory and have 110 runs to play with on the final day.
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