Tuesday 19 May 2015 23:15, UK
Kent took a slender first-innings lead in their clash with Gloucestershire at Sophia Gardens after reaching stumps 223-9 on day two.
Having dismissed their hosts for just 193 on day one, Kent were grateful for a crucial 119-run eighth-wicket stand between Calum Haggett (54) and Matt Coles (66) to dig them out of a hole after slipping to 98-7.
Earlier, they lost Joe Denly (4) to David Payne early before Liam Norwell removed Daniel Bell-Drummond and Brendan Nash.
Kieran Noema-Barnett then had Fabian Cowdrey lbw for 6, leaving Sam Northeast and Darren Stevens as their main hopes for scraping a first-innings lead.
But when Norwell bowled Northeast for 21, Kent were 80-6, which became 98-7 when David Payne removed Sam Billings, forcing Haggett and Coles to dig in and take their side almost to parity.
Haggett was the more circumspect of the two taking 155 balls for his 54, while Coles smashed 66 from 83 before he handed Chris Dent a return catch at 217-8.
Hagget was then caught behind off Payne, but by then Kent had their lead and they'll seek to extend that by a few more runs in the morning.
Lancashire are struggling in their second innings against Leicestershire, but hold a commanding lead courtesy of a sizeable first-innings advantage having dismissed their opponents for 249 on day three at Grace Road.
Having scored 368 in their first dig, morning rain prevented Lancashire from making further inroads into Leicestershire's reply, but when play was possible, the hosts could only move their overnight score of 195-6 to 249 all out.
Tom Wells was the first man out on Tuesday, adjudged lbw to Kyle Jarvis for seven, but Mark Cosgrove (79) remained defiant amid the showers to ensure they avoided the follow-on only for Nathan Buck to trap him lbw at 245-8.
That became 245-9 when Clint Mckay nicked Kyle Jarvis behind three balls later and two overs later, Charlie Schreck was trapped in front by Jarvis to end the innings the Foxes still 119 behind.
Lancashire lost Paul Horton (7) and Kyle Brown (8) early on in their second dig, leaving them 39-2 at the close for a lead of 158.
After the washout of Monday, more poor weather meant Northants could not begin their clash with Surrey until Tuesday afternoon, at which point they were inserted by their visitors and they have made good progress thanks to an unbeaten 64 from Stephen Peters.
His 84-ball knock has included nine fours and alongside Rob Newton (28no) they have taken Northants to 107-2 at the close, with only 28 overs possible in the game so far.
Kyle Coetzer (3) and Alex Wakely (8) are the men to fall for the hosts to Luke Fletcher and Tom Curran respectively.
Four wickets in the evening session helped Glamorgan peg back Essex on day two of their clash at Sophia Gardens.
Having dismissed Glamorgan for 314, the visitors made a spritely start to their first-innings through Nick Browne and Jaik Mickleburgh, who put on 54 for the first wicket before David Lloyd removed the latter for 19.
Browne then followed by nicking Lloyd behind for 31 to leave Essex 59-2, which became 86-3 when Daniel Lawrence handed keeper Mark Wallace his second catch.
His opposite number James Foster looked in good nick for 38, adding 54 for the fourth wicket only to be bowled by Wagg Graham Wagg, leaving Ryan ten Doeschate and Callum Taylor to see Essex to 183-4 at stumps.
Resuming the day on 187-5, Glamorgan had earlier suffered a setback in the morning session as they lost opener Jacques Rudolph (82) to James Porter.
However, a 92-run stand between Wagg and Craig Meschede softened the blow and helped them past 300, with Wagg (47) eventually trapped in front by David Masters before Meschede was removed by the same bowler after a breezy 68 from 52 balls that included seven fours and four sixes.
