JACK Brooks has failed in his one-man mission to bowl Yorkshire to a third successive LV= County Championship win against Somerset.

On a rain-affected final day at Headingley, the visitors emerged from the pavilion for a 23-over spell at the end, some 253 runs behind the Tykes and at the start of their second innings. But Somerset clung on to draw, mainly thanks to Marcus Trescothick’s steadying unbeaten 33.
Two in two balls from Tim Bresnan had forced them to follow on but defeat seemed unthinkable owing to the time left. Brooks had other ideas, though, and under the notorious cloudy Leeds skies swung the ball every way possible to rip through Somerset’s line-up.
He took four for 22 before suffering a hand injury that forced him off the field when Somerset were on the ropes.
With Brooks gone, Steven Patterson picked up the baton and claimed a brace of wickets but Somerset held on.
Warwickshire’s England pair of Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell both passed 50 against Middlesex on the eve of today’s announcement for the opening Test against New Zealand.
With Middlesex declaring on their overnight 428 for five, the champions were 267 for five at stumps, with Trott having made 65 and Bell three less.
On day one of Durham’s match at Surrey, the away side closed up the happier of the two on 48 without loss having wiped their hosts out for 237.
Ryan Buckley took five for 86 for Durham, with Zander de Bruyn (57) and Steven Davies (52) the only Surrey batsmen to offer firm resistance.
Essex’s decision to leave Lancashire a mid-range chase of 253 in 47 overs backfired on them as Lancashire won their LV= County Championship Division Two clash at Old Trafford by three wickets.
At 13 for two, the Red Rose looked to be in danger of losing let alone winning, but 80 apiece from Karl Brown and Ashwell Prince threw them back into the mix. The pair would perish before the job was done leaving Simon Katich (26) and Steven Croft (28) to bring victory closer.
They were two of three Reece Topley wickets in an over, though, before Wayne White was able to take Lancashire through to needing one from two balls. Even then there was drama as he was dropped by ex-Lancashire man Sajid Mahmood as he scampered through for a winning run and a three-wicket win.
Ned Eckersley’s third first-class century blunted Worcestershire’s hopes of pressing for a win with their spinners as Leicestershire stood firm on day three of four at New Road.
The home side set out their stall by declaring at 320 for seven after a maiden championship century for Thilan Samaraweera, but Eckersley’s undefeated 108 took Leicestershire to 229 for two. They were still 91 behind, when the third day closed because of bad light.
At Gloucester, Michael Klinger’s second century of the season helped the home county get a lead on day three of their game with Hampshire.
The Australian was unbeaten on 131 at the close of play, contributing nearly half of his side’s 284 for two. Dan Housego chipped in with 56 as Gloucestershire opened up a 10-run lead. (PA Sport)