Cricket: County Championship Division One, Update

Nottinghamshire closed the gap on leaders Yorkshire, as they were the only county to win in this round of fixtures.

Yorkshire stay top on 144 points, winning four, drawing six, and losing one after a nail-biting draw with Essex at Chelmsford.

Essex batted first, making 399 thanks to Ravi Bopara's 142, as Adil Rashid took 5-87.

Adam Lyth (75) top scored in Yorkshire's reply of 324, while Tim Phillips took 4-94.

Two England internationals, in Bopara and Alistair Cook, hit 102 as Essex declared on 293-6 to try and force a positive result.

Chasing 369, the White Rose County made a valiant effort as they ended on 333-7, Jacques Rudolph making 106, as the match ended in a draw.

Nottinghamshire are second on 138 points, winning five, drawing two, and losing two after their ten-wicket win against Warwickshire in Birmingham.

Warwickshire batted first and made 313, Neil Carter left stranded on 99 not out.

Mark Wagh made 139 in Nottinghamshire's reply of 389 as Carter starred with the ball, taking 5-116.

But he was outshone by Stuart Broad's 8-52 in the home side's second innings, bundling them out for just 100.

Nottinghamshire knocked off the 25 runs they needed for vicory with all wickets intact.

Lancashire remain unbeaten in third but are slipping off the pace after yet another draw.

The Red Rose County have 114 points, winning three and drawing six after their latest match against Durham ended in a rain-affected draw at Chester-le-Street.

The away side batted first making 344 thanks to Luke Sutton (101 not out) and debutant Shivnarine Chanderpaul (92).

Phil Mustard's 71 helped Durham reach 216, despite Glen Chapple's 5-65.

Lancashire reached 91-4 in their second innings before a draw was agreed.

Essex move up to fourth on 107 points, winning two, drawing seven, and losing two after their draw against Yorkshire.

Somerset drop a place to fifth on 107 points, winning three, drawing four and losing two after their draw with Kent at Taunton.

The home side made 205 in their first innings, Zander de Bruyn top scoring with 44 as Darren Stevens took 4-38.

Murali Kartik's 5-50 restricted Kent's reply to 172 as Joe Denly hit 34.

Somerset declared on 301-8 with Marcus Trescothick's 81, key to pushing for a result.

The away side were never in the hunt for the target of 335, as Geraint Jones's 47 from 150 balls showed.

Kent held on at 191-7 for the draw despite Kartik taking 5-57.

Durham are sixth on 100 points, winning three, drawing four, and losing two after their draw with Lancashire.

Seventh-placed Hampshire, on 92 points didn't play this round, but have won two, drawn three, and lost four.

Kent are eighth on 85 points, winning one, drawing five, and losing four after their draw with Somerset.

Warwickshire stay bottom on 82 points, winning two, drawing one, and losing eight after their loss to Nottinghamshire.

The next round of fixtures, July 29-August 1st, sees Hampshire host Lancashire, Kent play Essex and Somerset face Nottinghamshire.