Simon Harmer bowls Essex to thrilling win while Surrey dominate Kent

Simon Harmer scored career-best match figures in the LV= Insurance County Championship Division One as Essex beat Hampshire in a nail-biting victory, winning by 12 runs in three days.

The off-spinner took seven for 161 in Essex’s second innings to return 15 for 207 overall as Hampshire fell agonisingly short of their target of 299.

Harmer found the breakthrough taking the wicket of Felix Organ, who was Hampshire’s highest scorer with 65 runs, at 97 for one, but the wickets quickly tumbled despite the efforts of Ian Holland, Ben Brown, Aneurin Donald, Keith Barker and Kyle Abbott.

An innings of 80 from Steven Croft set Lancashire up as they scored 402 all out on day three against Gloucestershire.

Croft was aided by a half-century from Luke Wood and 40 for Tom Bailey but Lancashire were all out with a lead of 65 after Tom Price, David Payne, and captain Ryan Higgins all took three wickets each.

The visitors then took three wickets in the evening session and Gloucestershire will resume day four with a 34-run lead on 99 for three.

Warwickshire’s Dom Sibley made his 17th first-class century as his side trail Northamptonshire by 55 runs.

Wicketkeeper Michael Burgess posted 77 while Nathan McAndrew scored a half-century and will resume day four undefeated on 54 alongside Craig Miles (17no). Seamer Jack White was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, taking four for 62.

Kent were unable to muster a response to Surrey’s mammoth 673 as they were forced to follow on after being bowled out for 331.

They looked to be going well early on thanks to a recovery effort from Daniel Bell-Drummond which saw him hit 102 and move the score from 55 for two to 216 for three.

However Tom Lawes made the difference taking four wickets on debut as