Monday 20 July 2015 20:40, UK
England candidate James Taylor did his chances of a Test call-up no harm by piling up 291 for Nottinghamshire on day two of their County Championship Division One clash against Sussex at Horsham.
Yorkshire are well on top after day two of their match against Worcestershire at Scarborough, captain Andrew Gale having made a season’s best 164.
The hosts began the day on 357-5, with Gale 127 not out, and went on to collect maximum batting points in the morning.
Gale was last man out after a 297-ball knock and Joe Leach finished with 4-129 for Worcestershire.
Wickets then fell at regular intervals when Worcestershire replied and they closed on 195-6, Steven Patterson taking 3-34 for Yorkshire.
However, 19-year-old batsman Joe Clarke was unbeaten at stumps, having played really well to reach 76 not out.
The 25-year-old, who played his only two Tests nearly three years ago, batted for more than eight hours without offering a chance as the visitors scored 570-7 declared, skipper Chris Read weighing in with 121.
Sussex then reached stumps on 157-4, Harry Gurney having taken 3-54 and removed openers Ed Joyce and Luke Wells (both for 40).
Nottinghamshire began the day on 358-5, with Taylor on 163 not out, and the records tumbled before he was well caught at backward point by Chris Nash off Steve Magoffin from the 385th ball he faced.
His 291 was the fourth-highest score by a Nottinghamshire batsman and biggest since 1897, and also an individual record for the ground, beating the undefeated 262 made by Ian Bell for Warwickshire 11 years ago.
He reached his second double hundred against Sussex with a six over long on off Peter Burgoyne's off breaks and there was no respite at the other end for Sussex as Read made it to a ton off 197 balls.
When Read was caught behind off Matt Hobden shortly after lunch, the sixth-wicket pair had put on 365, another ground record and the fourth biggest stand in Nottinghamshire's history.
Read later declared when Taylor was out and Gurney took three wickets in six overs to peg Sussex back after they had reached 79-0.
Taylor said: "I'm actually disappointed not to get 300 but I was delighted with the score and to help us get 570 team-wise.
"As far as England is concerned, I'd like to think I'll be talked about again after this innings. I haven't scored as many runs this season and haven't got the big scores I want before now.
"It's three years since I played my last Test and a lot has happened. I feel I have matured as a player and I know my own game a lot better.”
Elsewhere, Durham batsman Gordon Muchall made a crucial century on day two of their clash with Hampshire.
Muchall’s 145, his 14th career first-class century, helped the visitors to a total of 421 and Hampshire then reached 119-3 at stumps.
Durham resumed on 278-6, with Muchall on 85 not out, having marshalled a recovery from 91-4.
And his patient knock continued on Monday morning, while Usman Arshad reached 60 as the duo took their seventh-wicket stand to 128 before Arshad edged Gareth Berg to James Vince at first slip after reaching his first half-century since September 2013.
Durham’s 421 was their highest total of the season and Chris Rushworth then bagged his 56th championship wicket of the season when Hampshire replied, trapping Jimmy Adams lbw for 5.
Liam Dawson (9) and James Vince (19) also fell but opener Michael Carberry was still there at stumps, having reached 57 not out.
Warwickshire are on the brink of victory over Somerset after enjoying an excellent third day at Edgbaston.
The hosts began the day on 319-8 and youngster Sam Hain went on to make an unbeaten 103, his sixth century in just his 18th first class match, as they reached 365 all out and secured a first innings lead of 100.
Somerset were then bowled out for just 170, despite an outstanding 88 not out from 21-year-old opener Tom Abell, and Warwickshire closed on 6-0, chasing just 71 to win.
It was the second time in five weeks that Abell had carried his bat, having achieved the feat against Nottinghamshire at Taunton in June, and he was only denied a deserved career-best and maiden century by the inability of his partners to remain at the crease.
Rikki Clarke (4-43) and spinner Jeetan Patel (4-47) were the main destroyers for Warwickshire, Patel finishing with match figures of 9-136.
Twenty overs remained in the day when Warwickshire set off in pursuit of 71 but drizzle forced the players off after just 26 balls.
Yorkshire are well on top after day two of their match against Worcestershire at Scarborough, captain Andrew Gale having made a season’s best 164.
The hosts began the day on 357-5, with Gale 127 not out, and went on to collect maximum batting points in the morning.
Gale was last man out after a 297-ball knock and Joe Leach finished with 4-129 for Worcestershire.
Wickets then fell at regular intervals when Worcestershire replied and they closed on 195-6, Steven Patterson taking 3-34 for Yorkshire.
However, 19-year-old batsman Joe Clarke was unbeaten at stumps, having played really well to reach 76 not out.
