Cook makes historic century in Essex draw | Middlesex beat Sussex in thriller

Sir Alastair Cook scored a century in both innings for the first time in his illustrious career as Essex and Yorkshire fought out a sluggish LV= Insurance County Championship draw.

Cook, England's leading Test run-scorer and a veteran of 19 years at first-class level, had never previously reached three figures twice in a match - but he rectified that omission on his career record with an unbeaten 102 in the dying embers of this Chelmsford stalemate.

Any outside prospect of a positive result evaporated on the final morning as Yorkshire - needing to build quickly on their overnight advantage of 22 - lost their last five wickets for 39 and were dismissed for 465.

That left Cook, who had scored 107 in the first innings, and opening partner Nick Browne under little pressure in their second innings and the pair eased comfortably past the deficit with an unbroken partnership of 167 before the captains agreed on a draw at 4.50pm.

Hampshire maintained pace at the top of Division One and moved within eight points of early leaders Surrey as they patiently secured an 87-run victory over Gloucestershire.

Mohammad Abbas followed his first-innings six-wicket haul with 3-62 while Liam Dawson and James Fuller both grabbed two wickets apiece as they seized a final-session victory.

George Scott and Miles Hammond's half-centuries had given Gloucestershire hope of chasing down 368 and a first victory of the season but the arrival of the second new ball dented their chances.

Warwickshire drew their match against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford, despite Matt Parkinson taking three wickets during a dramatic afternoon session.

Some resolute defensive batting by Chris Benjamin (22no) and Danny Briggs (28no) ensure a share of the spoils, with