Emilio Gay pressed his case for England honours with a superb fourth-innings hundred, steering Durham to a County Championship victory over Lancashire at Chester-le-Street. The stylish left-hander, batting at number three, remained unbeaten on 100 as Durham chased down a target of 336 with just two wickets down.
Gay's Knock Highlights Durham's Dominance
Gay, who has been touted for a possible Test call-up after featuring for the England Lions over the winter, held off the likes of James Anderson and Co. on his way to a composed century. He shared a mammoth stand with South Africa international David Bedingham, who contributed a fluent 85, as the hosts eased to victory in a meeting of two of Division Two's strongest sides.
Draws Dominate Elsewhere
It was a day of draws largely elsewhere, as flat, slow pitches in a dry April made taking 20 wickets difficult across the country. At the Oval, there were faintly farcical scenes as Surrey at one point threw wicketkeeper Ben Foakes the new ball, with Essex holding firm for a draw on the final day. Tom Westley (136) and Dean Elgar (107 not out) made centuries for the visitors, while Rory Burns and Dom Sibley got rare chances to bowl. Jordan Clark took the wicketkeeping gloves as Surrey were stymied before handshakes were offered at 4.50pm BST. In better news for the Londoners, the attendance of 15,500 across the four days was a 21st-century record in the County Championship.
Sussex also survived a bad-light-curtailed day at Headingley to draw with Yorkshire, despite 3-67 for Joe Root. The games between Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, and Glamorgan and Leicestershire, similarly drifted to draws in Division One.
Gloucestershire's First Win
In Division Two, however, there was a first success of the season for Gloucestershire, who knocked off the 36 needed to beat Derbyshire in short order after a strong all-round performance. Worcestershire had thrashed Kent by an innings and two runs on Sunday.
