Ryan Patel leads Surrey’s resistance against title rivals Somerset

Ryan Patel spearheaded a solid Surrey effort as the Vitality County Championship leaders challenged their nearest rivals Somerset on a rain-soaked second day in Taunton.

Patel remained unbeaten on 61 after sharing a partnership of 80 with Ben Geddes (50) as the visitors reached 169 for three in reply to Somerset’s 317.

Bad weather ended play at 3pm but with 24 points at the top of the table going into the match, a draw would put Surrey in a dominant position with two games remaining.

Meanwhile, Kent’s Premier League status hung by a thread after a dismal day against Hampshire at Canterbury.

The hosts slumped to 64 for five in reply to Hampshire’s 403 first-innings all-out with Kyle Abbott claiming three for 23.

Hampshire took charge in the morning session as Tom Prest hit 102 and Brad Wheal added a career-best 61.

Warwickshire captain Alex Davies became the first Premier League player to score 1,000 league runs this summer in a shortened one-day win against Worcestershire at New Road.

Davies scored 58 runs as his team reached 112 for four in reply to the hosts’ 307 runs.

Worcestershire’s last two wickets had previously added just 13 to their overnight total.

Durham’s David Bedingham also reached four figures as his unbeaten 177 runs, combined with Colin Ackerman’s 111 runs, saw his side take control against relegation-threatened Lancashire at the Riverside.

The pair made an unbroken 268 as the home side reached 367 for four after earlier restricting Lancashire to 228.

Michael Pepper scored a career-best 115 as Essex built a solid position against relegation battlers Nottinghamshire in Chelmsford.

Eclipsing his previous best result – set just a week ago against Worcestershire – the wicketkeeper built on Tom Westley’s previous 122 to lift Essex to a formidable 457 in their first innings.

Simon Harmer also weighed in with 51 before Nottinghamshire closed on 37 for one in reply after the loss of captain Haseeb Hameed.

Captain John Simpson became the first Sussex batsman for 10 years to score five Championship hundreds in a season as the Division Two leaders took charge against Glamorgan at Hove.

Simpson also passed 1,000 points for the season with an unbeaten 112 as Sussex responded to Glamorgan’s 186-under-par with 407 for five.

Simpson shared an unbroken stand of 194 for the fifth wicket with Tom Clark (79) after Daniel Hughes (83) failed to register consecutive centuries.

Promotion rivals Middlesex were frustrated by Gloucestershire’s Ollie Price and the weather at Lord’s.

Price remained unbeaten on a courageous 56 as the visitors battled to 154 for five, 223 behind, in the possible 41.4 overs.

Price’s challenge came after his side had fallen to 74 for four with Toby Roland-Jones taking three for 12 in 16 balls, although his side still needed another 74 to avoid following on.

Yorkshire, also in the promotion race, are in contention for victory at Leicestershire despite rain limiting play to just a few hours.

Captain Jonny Tattersall, 90 not out tonight, hit 126 and Matthew Fisher added a career-best 88 as Yorkshire posted 379 for a first-innings lead of 281.

Fisher then struck twice as Leicestershire were reduced to 35 for two before rain forced the players off the field shortly before 2pm.

India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took five for 45 as Northamptonshire claimed the ascendancy against Derbyshire at Wantage Road.

Luis Reece (50) and Wayne Madsen (47) offered some resistance but Derbyshire lost their last six wickets for just 15 as they were bowled out for 165 and conceded a first-innings deficit of 54.

The hosts were 178 for five – leading by 222 – with Rob Keogh 46 not out at the close.