Jamie Porter's career-best 12-95 earns Essex win over Somerset
Friday 1 September 2017 13:41, UK
Jamie Porter recorded career-best match figures of 12-95 to strengthen Essex's hand at the top of the Specsavers County Championship with a comfortable victory over Division One strugglers Somerset.
The seamer followed up first-innings figures of 5-40 with his best innings return of seven for 55 in the second, and in the process passed 50 Championship wickets for the third season in succession.
Essex's fifth win in a row gave them a 36-point advantage over second-placed Lancashire ahead of the top-of-the-table match at Old Trafford, starting on Tuesday.
After Adam Wheater's season-high 88 and Ryan ten Doeschate's 67 left Somerset to chase 289 at just under five an over, they succumbed for 109 inside 38 overs.
Lancashire kept their title hopes alive with an eight-wicket win over Warwickshire at Emirates Old Trafford.
The Red Rose county are now 36 points behind leaders Essex after completing a maximum 24-point victory during the fourth afternoon.
Lancashire will aim to eat into that deficit next week when they host Essex.
Tim Ambrose's 16th first-class century, an excellent 104 off 198 balls, at least ensured Warwickshire avoided a fifth innings defeat of 2017 as they posted a second-innings total of 344.
But their sixth loss in 10 matches leaves them in a perilous position at the bottom of the table. They are 35 points adrift of safety with four games remaining.
