Cook scores half-century as Essex close on Lancashire total
Rain denies visitors the chance to make further headway at Old Trafford.
England opener Alastair Cook hit 58 as Essex reached 221 for six in reply to Lancashire’s 301 in the Specsavers County Championship Division One clash at Old Trafford.
Joe Mennie took three wickets for 40 runs for the hosts in an impressive 16-over return, before rain washed out all but seven balls of the evening session. Essex will start day three 80 runs in arrears.
Alastair Cook, pictured, was in fine form with the bat for Essex (Jason O’Brien/PA)
Craig Overton’s four-wicket burst put Somerset in charge against Nottinghamshire in their match at Taunton.
The all-rounder’s four for 53 pushed the visitors to 134 all out in reply to Somerset’s 392, with Ross Taylor hitting 74.
After following on, Nottinghamshire reached 112 without loss to trail by 146 at the close on day two, with Jake Libby and Steven Mullaney both unbeaten on 54.
Surrey ripped through Hampshire with the hosts all out for 135, still trailing by 233 and staring down the barrel of following on when the match resumes for day three.
Ian Bell’s first Championship century since April 2016 edged Warwickshire into slim ascendancy against Glamorgan at Edgbaston.
Bell was left unbeaten on 106 as Warwickshire hit 250 in reply to Glamorgan’s 220, racking up his 53rd first-class ton. Jonathan Trott weighed in with 57.
Derbyshire reduced Durham to 155 for six in their second innings at the Riverside, Duanne Olivier claiming three for 51.
Durham lead by just 46 runs heading into day three.
Darren Stevens hit 89 as Kent wrestled control over Gloucestershire in Bristol.
The 42-year-old veteran all-rounder shared in a 161-stand with Joe Denly, who put together a fine 107 in Kent’s record first-innings total of 582 for nine.
Stevens then took two for 11 in eight overs as Gloucester slipped to 44 for four at the close of day two – trailing by 538 runs and requiring a further 388 to avoid the follow-on.
Alex Wakely’s unbeaten 51 handed Northamptonshire a 152-run lead over Leicestershire at Wantage Road.
Wakely built partnerships of 51 with Ricardo Vasconcelos and an unbeaten 44 with Adam Rossington, with the hosts having the edge at the end of day two.
