19:28

One hundred and three wickets fell on the first September day of this year’s Championship, and yet neither the Division One leaders nor their chasing tail had a good day. Essex spent eight hours in the field at Edgbaston, where injury-plagued Warwickshire batted with great gumption. Dom Sibley’s 51 took him to 1,000 Championship runs in the season, then Sam Hain (77 not out) and Matt Lamb (69 not out) added 129 more. The Championship’s leading wicket-taker, Simon Harmer, wheeled out 36 overs, finishing with three for 67.

At Taunton, Somerset failed to gather a batting point after being bowled out for 199; only 66 from captain Tom Abell and a fiery 40 from Jamie Overton, who was presented with his county cap in the lunch interval, preserved their hopes. Keshav Maharaj, playing his last match for Yorkshire, licked his lips and tweaked five for 54 against his favourite side. Yorkshire lost three wickets before the close.

Darren Stevens’ bashed 88 as he enters the end days of his Kent career nudged the innings into respectability. Ravi Ashwin, on return from waiter duty with India, took four for 121. Nottinghamshire’s batsmen then suffered their now familiar wobble, losing two wickets before stumps. Stevens, inevitably, swiped one of them.

Seventeen wickets fell on a green Southampton pitch after the Clark(e)s Jordan and Rikki kiboshed Hampshire for 149. Rikki Clarke’s five for 21 included his 500th first-class wicket. Surrey’s batting then folded in similar fashion, with Ollie Pope, overlooked for The Oval Test, top scoring with 68.

Middlesex’s outside chance of promotion seemed to fade into the bad light at Lord’s. After dismissing Durham for 147, pinned together by 54 from Australian Peter Handscomb – Steven Finn four for 41 – Middlesex had a collective afternoon swoon against Chris Rushworth and Ben Raine boldering in from the Nursery end, where the semi-demolished Compton and Edrich watched silently on.

Gloucestershire’s promotion hopes stumbled after they were bowled out for 200 by Sussex, with three wickets for Chris Jordan in his first match back after injury. Phil Salt and Luke Wells then put on 73 without loss.

At Old Trafford, Billy Godleman scored the first century for Derbyshire against Lancashire since Kim Barnett was about in his navy cap. Richard Gleeson earned five for 64.

Hassan Azad yet again provided the foundation stone of Leicestershire’s innings with 86 at Grace Road; while Riki Wessels was the sticking plaster to Worcestershire’s fragile batting.