Dane Vilas smashed a double ton for Lancashire as they take control of their County Championship match against Hampshire at Old Trafford.
It’s been a round of career-bests for the Saffas in the County Championship. Not only did Vilas smash his previous best, but Kyle Abbott did too, for Lancashire’s opponents Hampshire. To add to that, Simon Harmer and Marchant de Lange both notched up their first five-wicket hauls in England.
LANCASHIRE vs HAMPSHIRE
The sides went into this match sitting in the top four of the first division, and it’s Lancashire who will be pushing for a spot in the top two at the end of this, with Hampshire on the ropes at 50-5 in their second innings going into day four. Hampshire posted 395 in their first innings, in large part down to Abbott‘s 97 not out. He was an agonising three runs short of what would’ve been a first-ever first-class century for the former Protea, which came off 134 balls. Ryan McLaren (2-58) was at fault for that, claiming the last wicket of Matt Salisbury to leave Abbott stranded.
Vilas, with a previous best of 216 not out for the Cobras, then proceeded to blast 244 off just 275 balls, which included 25 fours and four sixes. He went into day three on 76, before sharing a 231-run stand with McLaren (107) who struck up his seventh first-class century. Vilas was the last wicket to fall as Lancashire were bowled out for 593. Hampshire, on 50-5, still trail Lancashire by 148 runs.
DURHAM vs GLAMORGAN
In the Division Two match between Durham and Glamorgan at Chester-Le-Street, Glamorgan are 15 runs away from Durham’s first-innings total, in a match that looks set for a draw. Glamorgan posted 295 in their first innings, before Marchant de Lange notched up 5-95. Durham got 402, to boast a 107-run lead, but it could’ve been far worse if it weren’t for De Lange tearing through four of the top five batsmen, which included Stephen Cook for 14. Glamorgan go to day four on 92-2.
WARWICKSHIRE VS ESSEX
Another first five-wicket haul for a South African in England, this time Simon Harmer. Essex, who top the Division One standings, are well on course for another big victory, this time against Warwickshire. Essex amassed 541-9 in their first innings, before Warwickshire were castled for 283 and were asked to follow on. Harmer dealt with their tail in clinical fashion. He sent down 45.4 overs and took figures of 6-92 as Essex asked them to follow on. Harmer had a say in the second innings too, trapping Capetonian Jonathan Trott lbw for eight. Warwickshire go into day four on 27-2.
