Somerset move into second place
August 21, 2010 09:33:08 UK
Somerset moved up to second place in the LV= County Championship table with a convincing 219 run victory over Essex at Colchester.
Relegation-threatened Essex resumed the day on 38 for one in pursuit of an unlikely 432 run target - but were bowled out for 212 with four sessions to spare. They now look doomed to start next season in Division Two.
Somerset were guided to victory by the gentle medium pace of Zander De Bruyn, who picked up the last four wickets to finish with four for 23 from 7.2 overs.
Somerset are currently 1.83 to top the Division One table at the end of the season.
Sussex are in a strong position to return to the top flight at the first attempt after wrapping up a crushing Division Two victory against Derbyshire at Horsham by an innings and 109 runs, with more than four sessions to spare.
Derbyshire were bowled out for 225 in their second innings after resuming at 27 for two - with Monty Panesar and Corey Collymore, who had taken the two Derbyshire wickets to fall on the second evening, the chief destroyers.
Former West Indies paceman Collymore finished with four wickets for 50 runs and slow left-armer Panesar further strengthened his claims to an Ashes tour place this winter with four for 67.
Collymore now has 51 wickets to his name in the competition this summer, and Panesar 43.
With Luke Wright also taking a wicket with his first ball on day three, trapping Wes Durston lbw for 33, the Sussex bowling attack proved too potent for the rock-bottom county throughout.
Sussex can be backed at 1.05 to secure promotion by topping the Division Two table this season.
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