Craig Overton and Jack Leach combined to inflict a 377-run thrashing on Leicestershire and keep Somerset top of the Rothesay County Championship with only two more rounds to go.
After title rivals Warwickshire claimed victory inside two days against Glamorgan, leaders Somerset responded with aplomb.
Henry Nicholls’ unbeaten 100 helped the visitors declare on 316-5 to set Leicestershire an insurmountable victory target of 523.
The real question was whether Somerset could wrap up this latest triumph with a day to spare and Leicestershire only managed to bat out 45.1 overs, with Overton the pick of the bowlers – 4-33 – and England’s forgotten man Leach taking 3-30 to dismiss the hosts for 145.
Nottinghamshire, who are also in the title picture, responded to being dismissed for 104 at Trent Bridge on day three to fight back and take control against Hampshire.
During a 19-wicket day, Hampshire were dismissed for 304 before England’s teenage prospect Manny Lumsden ripped through Nottinghamshire’s top order in sensational fashion.
After Haseeb Hameed had watched Nottinghamshire collapse to set only 178 for victory, Olly Stone and Dillon Pennington ran amok to reduce Hampshire to 61-6 at stumps and set up a tantalising final day, with England U19 international Ben Mayes on 21 not out.
Essex‘s relegation fears increased after they suffered defeat by an innings and 106 runs at Yorkshire.
After Essex were all out for 171 – despite an unbeaten fifty by debutant George Bell – they followed on and were rolled for 113, with home bowler Kuldeep Yadav able to claim match figures of 10-120.
Ben Foakes made 54 to help Surrey to 294-7 against Sussex before bad light in Hove ensured they will trail by 99 runs ahead of Friday’s final day.
In Division Two, Northamptonshire piled the pressure on promotion rivals Kent after they won by six wickets at Worcestershire, who were all out for 182 in their second innings, and George Bartlett’s unbeaten 19 got his team over the line in pursuit of 94 at New Road.
Kent have dropped to third but will return to second if they can bat out day four at Derbyshire or chase down an unlikely total of 434. After the hosts declared on 352-8, visiting openers Zak Crawley and Ben Compton survived nine balls before the close.
Leaders Durham are in control after Middlesex were reduced to 55-2 in pursuit of 424.
Rocky Flintoff made a first-class best 57 not out, but Lancashire are 120-6 with 128 runs required for victory over Gloucestershire.
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