by Somerset stayed in the hunt for a first ever Vitality County Championship title with a thrilling 111-point victory over Premier Division leaders Surrey in Taunton.
Chasing a 221-all victory on a turning pitch, Surrey were bowled out for 111 with less than five minutes remaining, with spinners Archie Vaughan and Jack Leach responsible for their collapse.
Last man Dan Worrall was surrounded by all nine fielders in a desperate attempt to force a result and he lasted just two balls before Leach dismissed him lbw, sparking wild celebrations from the home side.
Somerset picked up 21 points from the match to Surrey’s five and reduced the gap on their rivals to just eight points with two games remaining.
Simon Harmer claimed his second four-wicket haul of the match as third-placed Essex secured an innings victory over Nottinghamshire before lunch on the final day.
The South African bowler finished with four for 93 as Nottinghamshire’s batting collapsed for the second time to lose by an innings and 83 runs.
Kent will live to fight another day in Division One after battling to a draw with Hampshire on a thrilling final day at Canterbury.
Kent were bowled out for 338 in their second innings, meaning Hampshire needed 143 from nine overs, but their improbable chase lasted just 2.4 overs as they were 24 for one when bad light ended their chase at 5.54pm.
Durham’s Matthew Potts hit a career-best nine for 68 to help his side complete their innings and 63-run victory over Lancashire at The Riverside.
Resuming on 155 for four and needing 190 more runs to avoid their fourth defeat of the season, Lancashire lost their last six wickets in less than
than one session and were eliminated for 282.
Will Rhodes made his third century of the season with an unbeaten 121 to lead Warwickshire to safety in their hard-fought draw against local rivals Worcestershire.
Tom Price and Zafar Gohar held their nerve to guide Gloucestershire to a tense four-wicket victory at Lord’s and deal a major blow to Middlesex’s hopes of promotion to the Second Division.
The visitors looked to be heading towards their target of 234 after Miles Hammond and James Bracey both hit half-centuries in a fourth-wicket partnership of 113.
But a three-wicket haul for off-spinner Josh de Caires in the space of nine deliveries brought Middlesex back into contention before the seventh-wicket pair took Gloucestershire over the line with an unbroken stand of 54.
