Essex v Derbyshire at Chelmsford
Result: Essex 538-7 drew with Derbyshire 280 & 259-4
A very wet day at Chelmsford helped Derbyshire avoid defeat and, instead, grind their way to yet another draw.
Hamish Rutherford reached 68 as the visitors batted between rain breaks. Chesney Hughes, who had gone off ill yesterday,returned to the crease after nightwatchman Tom Taylor fell, lbw to Jamie Porter for 19, and saw the side through to the inevitable acceptance of the draw.
Hughes had had a couple of lucky escapes in the first innings and was dropped again today, on 38. He went on to make an unbeaten 66.
Essex must’ve been disappointed in the result, having dominated the first innings. They’d needed 9 wickets at the beginning of day 4 to take a victory, but the weather intervened. Nevertheless, they remain on top of the division two table.
Gloucestershire v Glamorgan at Bristol
Glouc 262 & 336 drew with Glamorgan 330 & 143
Full report to follow
Worcestershire v Sussex at Worcester
Result: Worcestershire 491 drew with Sussex 278 & 411-9
Sussex, who were still 76 runs behind at the beginning of the day, held on to salvage a draw against Worcestershire.
Rain was in the air, but the weather behaved itself as Sussex used all their resources to their hosts at bay. The deficit was wiped for the loss of just one wicket and went ahead by 198 before the day ended.
Three batsmen all made half centuries, including Harry Finch who made a championship best 57. With Worcestershire struggling to take wickets, Daryl Mitchell came on to have a bowl for the first time this season, and removed Finch off a return catch. It was the Worcestershire captain’s first wicket in three years.
Northamptonshire v Kent at Wantage Road
Result: Kent 396 & 131-2 drew with Northamptonshire 498
