Defending champions Surrey recorded their first win of the Vitality County Championship season as they knocked over Kent by an innings and 37 runs on the final day at Canterbury.
Resuming in search of five wickets for victory, the Brown Caps endured a pocket of resistance in the shape of Joey Evison’s 53 and Matt Parkinson’s career-best 39 before dismissing the hosts for 262 on the fourth afternoon.
Spinner Cameron Steel took two more to finish with three for 38, cementing his spot as the country’s leading wicket taker after three rounds with 20 scalps, and Dan Worrall returned four for 31.
Victory in Kent! 💪
Surrey win by an innings & 37 runs after Parkinson is brilliantly caught at short leg off the bowling of Roach for 39!
We take 24 points from the match! 👊
🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/hVimvqQMuO
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) April 22, 2024
After two rain-affected draws, Surrey took a maximum 24 points back the Kia Oval to move second in Division One behind Essex.
At Taunton, persistent showers prevented Nottinghamshire pair Joe Clarke and Will Young adding to a mammoth partnership of 392 in a draw against Somerset.
Just nine overs were possible before the washout was confirmed, leaving Clarke 213 not out and New Zealand’s Young 174no in their county’s record third-wicket stand. Play was abandoned after lunch, with the away side 440 for two in their second innings.
At the Utilita Bowl, Warwickshire and Hampshire put the finishing touches to another rain-ruined draw.
With no real prospect of a positive result, Bears opener Rob Yates took his chance to compile an unbeaten 84 that means he, partner Alex Davies and number three Will Rhodes all average more than 100 for the season.
Liam Dawson took two wickets to take his match haul to seven for Hampshire, who saw the visitors put up 205 for four before the handshakes.
SUSSEX WIN!!! 😍 pic.twitter.com/ebK4EkVbMr
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 22, 2024
In Division Two, Sussex got over the line against Gloucestershire as Cheteshwar Pujara withstood the best efforts of Pakistan’s Zafar Gohar.
The India Test star had the calmest head in Hove as he notched an undefeated 44 to see his side to a target of 144. Six of his team-mates did not survive the chase, left-arm spinner Gohar claiming five for 59 to keep the home team on their toes.
Pujara remained until the job was done, earning a four-wicket win, with West Indies quick Jayden Seales earlier finishing with four for 18 as Gloucestershire were rounded up for 205.
𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐖𝐍 🤝
Sadly, the heavy rainfall has scuppered any prospects of play in Derby today. 🌧️
Still a hugely encouraging performance from the Foxes, who take 1⃣6⃣ points, including maximum bonus points, back home. 💪
🦊#DERvLEI pic.twitter.com/s4wUWU1nl5
— Leicestershire CCC 🏏 (@leicsccc) April 22, 2024
Leicestershire’s hopes of a victory push against Derbyshire were also frustrated by the weather, with no play possible on Monday. Derbyshire survived six down and 183 behind in the second innings, but took just one point to the Foxes’ eight.
It was a similar story for Northamptonshire, who were unable to turn their first-innings declaration on 605 for six into a win over Glamorgan at Wantage Road.
The teams hung around until 4pm awaiting a start time that never came, with the Welsh side closing 230 behind on 104 for three.