English Cricket: County Championship Division One, Round Nine

Nottinghamshire extended their lead at the top of the table while Somerset were the only side to win in this round as the other two Division One matches ended in draws. Nottinghamshire are top on 112 points, with four wins, two draws and one defeat following their draw at Kent.

The away side made 462 with Chris Read finishing on 112 not out while Simon Cook took 4-85.

Kent recovered from 176-5 to post 570 as Darren Stevens (197) and James Tredwell (115) repaired the damage caused by Andre Adams' 5-106.

Nottinghamshire reached 210-3 before the match ended in a draw.

Yorkshire are second on 103 points after three wins, four draws, and one defeat.

Somerset move up to third on 100 points with three wins, three draws, and two defeats after their win at Warwickshire. Somerset posted 268 in their first innings as Marcus Trescothick (53) and James Hildreth (52) made half centuries.

Warwickshire crumbled to 140 as Murali Kartik took 5-30.

Somerset slipped to 90-7 before rallying to post 183 as Imran Tahir claimed 6-58.

Set 312 for victory, the home side never looked like reaching their target as Kartik was chief destroyer again with 6-42, as Somerset won by 181 runs.

Lancashire are still unbeaten in fourth on 97 points with three wins and four draws.

Essex are fifth on 78 points with one win, six draws, and two defeats after they drew with Hampshire.

Neil McKenzie top scored with 83 in Hampshire's first innings total of 300 while Maurice Chambers took 5-49.

Essex replied with 284 as Matt Walker fell one run short of a century.

Hampshire made 311-7 before declaring and setting Essex an unlikely 328 for victory.

The away side wobbled to 99-6 from 51.2 overs, indebted to Ravi Bopara's 61, before the match ended in a draw.

Kent are sixth on 76 points after one win, four draws, and three defeats following their draw with Nottinghamshire.

Durham are seventh on 72 points after two wins, three draws, and two defeats.

Hampshire climb off the bottom on 68 points with one win, three draws, and four defeats after their draw with Essex.

Warwickshire slip to the bottom on 68 points with two wins, one draw, and five defeats after they lost to Somerset.

The County Championship takes a break until June 28 when Durham play Warwickshire and Lancashire host Yorkshire in the second four-day Roses match.