Surrey rewrite record books while Lancashire and Northamptonshire take control

Surrey broke the world record for the highest innings score without a batter making a century after piling up a massive 671 for nine declared in their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Kent.

The Division One leaders also equalled the first-class record – seven – for the number of players making half-centuries without passing three figures.

After Ollie Pope and Ryan Patel had made 96 and 76 respectively on day one, Jamie Overton smacked 93 from 92 balls, Ben Foakes made 91, Sam Curran 78, Colin de Grandhomme 66 and Jordan Clark 54 not out for the dominant visitors, for whom last man Dan Worrall added an unbeaten 44.

In reply, Kent reached 45 for one at stumps at Beckenham – a deficit of 626.

Northamptonshire racked up their biggest total against Warwickshire – 597 for six – to put the champions under serious pressure at Edgbaston.

Needing 448 to avoid the follow-on, Warwickshire will resume on 88 for two, their decision to bowl first on a benign pitch having spectacularly backfired.

After Ricardo Vasconcelos and Will Young scored centuries on the first day, Luke Procter added another – an unbeaten 100 from 199 balls – supported by Josh Cobb’s 66.

Tom Abell’s 10th first-class century tightened Somerset’s stranglehold on their match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The visiting skipper managed a measured 142, while Lewis Gregory contributed a sparkling 89 as their side took their first-innings total from an overnight 319 for four to 591 for seven declared.

By the close, Gloucestershire had struggled to 119 for four in reply, Jack Leach claiming three for 29 from 13 overs.

At Headingley, Keaton Jennings completed a superb 238 to record Lancashire’s highest individual score in a Roses match during another