Sussex move closer to glory

12 April 2012

Sussex appear to be on the brink of their second title in four years after Mushtaq Ahmed claimed eight wickets against Nottinghamshire in their Liverpool Victoria County Championship clash at Trent Bridge.

Robin Martin-Jenkins and Matt Prior had led Sussex to a 560 for five when they both finished unbeaten on 84 and 77 not out respectively.

Mushtaq then went to work on the Nottinghamshire batsmen taking four for 60 with Martin-Jenkins and Jason Lewry taking two apiece as the hosts faltered from 144 for five to 165 all out meaning they had to follow on.

Mushtaq then took a further four wickets for the loss of just six runs as Nottinghamshire slumped to 50 for four at stumps. It means the hosts trail by 345 runs with six wickets remaining, meaning that irrespective of Lancashire's good progress against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl, Sussex need only to close out the win here to stay ahead.

Dominic Cork spearheaded Lancashire's drive toward maximum bonus points with a devastating spell as he ripped through the Hampshire middle order in four hostile overs after tea. The 35-year-old kept alive Lancashire's slim hopes as he took four wickets for eight runs in 14 balls.

All eyes were on England's James Anderson but it was rampant Cork who did all the damage with four for 47. Third-placed Hampshire, in response to Lancashire's first innings total of 438, were shot out for 215 despite a gallant 63 from former Lancashire batsman John Crawley.

Lancashire's captain Mark Chilton, with a lead of 223, decided against enforcing the follow-on and in the eight overs remaining helped his side finish a further eight ahead for the loss of Iain Sutcliffe.

At the other end of the table Yorkshire appear on course to retain their Division One status after Darren Lehmann's highest first-class score put the Tykes in complete control against Durham.

The 36-year-old hit 339 as the home side amassed 677 for seven before declaring at Headingley. Deon Kruis and Jason Gillespie took five wickets between them as Durham finished on 203 for six to trail by 474 runs with just four second-innings wickets remaining.

Elsewhere, Middlesex were in a precarious position after making just 166 for four in reply to Kent's declaration of 606 for six. Robert Ferley took three for 54, Owais Shah offering most resistance before falling for 43.

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