Ryan Patel stars as early championship leaders Surrey seal victory over Somerset

Ryan Patel continued his fine start to the season with a match-winning 102 as Surrey confirmed their position as the early pace-setters with a three-wicket victory over Somerset at the Kia Oval.

Surrey, needing 237 to win a fiercely contested Division One match, completed their second victory from the first three games just before 5pm on the final afternoon, with Patel joined by Ben Foakes in a decisive fourth-wicket partnership of 66.

Foakes was earlier passed fit to resume playing after concussion tests and finished unbeaten on 48.

Warwickshire completed the first victory of their LV= Insurance County Championship title defence with a 10-wicket triumph over Essex at Edgbaston.

Essex resumed the last morning on 290 for eight, just 73 ahead and needing something special from their last two wickets to stay in the game.

But they added only another 33 to be all out for 323 and leave the home side a victory target of 107 in more than two sessions. Both wickets fell to concussion substitute Craig Miles, who ended with four for 85, while Simon Harmer was left stranded on 75.

Openers Alex Davies and Dom Sibley eased Warwickshire to victory with an unbroken stand of 110 as the champions built on their opening draw with Surrey.

Lancashire wrapped up a second consecutive victory despite some impressive resistance from Gloucestershire at Emirates Old Trafford.

The visitors resumed on 67 for three still a long way short of Lancashire’s first-innings total of 556 for seven but it took until just before 6pm for the home side to seal the win by an innings and 57 runs with just 23 balls remaining.

Hampshire routed Kent by an innings and 51 runs at Canterbury after dismissing the hosts for 296 in their second innings on day four.

Kyle