Bell-Drummond 271* the highlight of batting-friendly day

Batting Performances

After conceding a 23-run lead to Nottinghamshire, Somerset rode an unbeaten 109 by George Bartlett to end Day 2 in a dominant position, leading by 245 runs with six wickets in hand, and in a good position to set a fourth innings target in excess of 400.

At 230-9, it looked like Surrey were staring at a minor deficit against Lancashire, who made 274. However, a 130-run stand between Daniel Worrall (51) and Sean Abbott (87 off 69) ensured a lead of 86 runs and with Lancashire effectively 27-4 in the third innings, the stand certainly made a difference.

Kent extended their lead to 313 against Northamptonshire, riding a stand of 318 between Tawanda Muyeye (179) and Daniel Bell-Drummond (271*). While Muyeye was dismissed late in the day, Bell Drummond remained unbeaten, staring at an inevitable triple-hundred tomorrow.

Durham's Oliver Robinson's 167* allowed them to declare with confidence at 517-6, but Colin Ackermann of Leicestershire responded in kind with a 104*, with hosts Leicestershire still trailing by 182 runs but with 6 wickets in hand. This makes the two sides evenly poised at Stumps on Day 2.

Hundreds by Leus du Plooy (159*) and Wayne Madsen (143) ensured that Derbyshire got a 137-run lead over Worcestershire - a number that will only grow tomorrow given that they still have five wickets in the bank.

After Yorkshire's trinity of hundreds got them to 550-9d, including Finlay Bean's 114, George Hill's 101, and Matthew Revis's 104*, Gloucestershire didn't manage a great response, but there was a ray of hope in the six-laden 84* from Miles Hammond, that helped them get to 232-5.

Bowling Performances

Matt Henry's 6-59 in Taunton ensured that Nottinghamshire's lead was limited to 23 in response to Somerset's paltry score of 163. The spell allowed Somerset a fresh start, which was taken full advantage of by the batsmen in the second innings.

Simon Harmer's five-wicket haul, 5-65 against Warwickshire, helped Essex get a 299 first-innings lead and enforce the follow-on, as they bowled out Warwickshire for 158 in the first innings. By the end of Day 2, Warwickshire trailed by 225 runs and Simon Harmer had taken another wicket in the second innings, establishing his dominance in this match.

All-round performance

Liam Dawson, who scored 141 for Hampshire to lift them to 419, doubled it up with a six-wicket haul, picking up 6-38, triggering a Middlesex collapse to 142-8. Hampshire, leading by 277 runs, are in the driver's seat, and it'll take a special effort from here for Middlesex to turn this around.