Friday 12 September 2014 06:04, UK
Essex boosted their hopes of being promoted from LV= County Championship Division Two with a nine-wicket victory over Kent at Chelmsford.
With a haul of 22 points from the match, Essex moved up third place in the table with two fixtures remaining, the latter of which is against league leaders Worcestershire.
The hosts began the day at the start of their second innings with a total of just 22 to chase down and completed the job inside three overs for the loss of one wicket.
Left-hander Nick Browne, facing Matt Hunn's first ball of the day, misjudged the line and was trapped lbw. The winning runs were attained shortly afterwards, Jaik Mickleburgh scoring them off Mitch Claydon.
Glamorgan also recorded victory with a day to spare, Michael Hogan taking 4-38 as they defeated Derbyshire by 106 runs in Cardiff to pick up a 21-point haul.
The hosts lost their last five wickets for 36 runs in the morning session to be bowled out for 181 in their second innings, leaving Derbyshire requiring 261.
Their hopes were quickly hit when they slipped to 18-3, Cheteshwar Pujara the last of the trio to fall when he offered a return catch to Hogan. In the end only three batsmen made it into double figures as they were bowled out for 154.
Wes Durston comfortably top-scored with 72, including hitting 10 boundaries, while skipper Wayne Madsen made 26 and Tony Palladino finished up unbeaten on 20.
In the battle for promotion, leaders Worcestershire were indebted to a maiden first-class century from Jack Shantry for giving them a glimmer of hope in their crucial clash against Surrey.
Having taken six wickets with the ball in the first innings, Shantry made 101 not out from 89 balls to rescue his side after they had slumped to 171-7. The left-arm seam bowler hit 84 in boundaries, with 18 fours and two sixes.
His efforts helped Worcestershire get up to 350 by the time they were bowled out, leaving Surrey needing 217 for victory. They reached 30-1 by the end of play, Rory Burns the wicket to fall when he was lbw to Mitchell McClenaghan.
At Bristol, Niall O'Brien hit a run-a-ball century as Leicestershire extended their first innings total to 565 all out as bat continued to dominate ball in their clash with Gloucestershire.
In reply to the home side's massive 646, the Foxes put up an impressive fight as both O'Brien - who hit 13 fours and five sixes in his knock - and Ned Eckersley both made 119 for the visitors.
Dan Redfern contributed 60 to the Leicestershire total and, even though their last six wickets fell for only 36 runs, the visitors looked to have done enough to avoid defeat having resumed in the morning on 246-2.
Gloucestershire lost opener Chris Dent off the bowling of Ollie Freckingham as the hosts closed on 23-1 in their second innings, meaning they hold a lead of 104.
Watch the final day of Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire LIVE on Sky Sports 2 HD from 10am on Friday
