Ashes watch

Ashes watch 1

The two things Warwickshire wanted to be spared in this match were a spanking and any more injuries. With the unsettled weather on their side, they may not suffer the former, even though they still need 12 to avoid the follow-on. Their list of wounded, however, has grown.

Warwickshire pulled off an unlikely escape act to salvage a draw as yesterday's sole remaining County Championship fixture produced a thriller in Taunton.

Gareth Batty, the Surrey captain, last night apologised for his role in sparking extraordinary scenes at Taunton yesterday when the Somerset batsman, Alex Barrow, was run out at the non-striker's end in a so-called “Mankading” dismissal executed by Surrey's Indian left-arm spin bowler, Murali Kartik.

It was almost like old times at Canterbury as a large bank holiday crowd gathered to cheer the Spitfires into the CB40 semi-finals. However, it was the cross-border supporters who enjoyed the afternoon as Sussex Sharks cruised to a nine-wicket victory with 10 overs to spare.

Middlesex 287 Warwickshire 293-8

It was advantage Finn as the two England bowlers who are next in line went head to head in the First Division of the County Championship yesterday.

Warwickshire will hope to find a way through the filthy weather to reassert themselves at the top of the County Championship after reducing Durham from 28 for two overnight to 147 for 7 in their second innings at Chester-le-Street.

Warwickshire need only 41 on the final morning at The Oval to complete a win that will give them a 15-point lead at the top of the First Division, with a fourth victory in six matches.

Warwickshire 557-6 dec Lancashire 197 & 122-3

Warwickshire 557-6 dec Lancashire 61-5

Warwickshire may he short-handed after the loss of three bowlers and a batsman to a combination of injury and international calls but Shivnarine Chanderpaul underpinned their efforts to secure the win that will put them on the heels of title-favourites Lancashire by doing what he does best at Headingley yesterday.