Essex draw with Yorkshire as Sir Alastair Cook scores century in both innings

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

England’s leading Test run-scorer achieved another milestone moment in his illustrious career with an unbeaten 102 in the dying embers of the 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 first time around, and opening partner Nick Browne under little pressure and the pair eased comfortably past the deficit with an unbroken partnership of 167 before the captains agreed on a draw.

At Southampton, Hampshire patiently secured an 87-run victory over Gloucestershire.

Mohammad Abbas followed his first-innings six-wicket haul with three for 62, while Liam Dawson and James Fuller both grabbed two wickets apiece.

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.

At Emirates Old Trafford, Matt Parkinson took three wickets in a dramatic afternoon session but some resolute defensive batting by Chris Benjamin and Danny Briggs ensured Warwickshire drew against Lancashire.

Benjamin was 22 not out and Briggs was unbeaten on 28 when the players shook hands with the reigning champions’ lead on 138 and only 19 overs left in the match.

The visitors ended on 184 for six as Parkinson finished with three for 64 from 34 overs.

Middlesex chased down a target of 370 to defeat Sussex by seven wickets at Hove.

A partnership of 209