Glamorgan on the verge of promotion after stunning win

In the first division, a hundred from Ed Smith on the third day at Canterbury put Kent in an excellent position against Northants. Smith started the day on 79 not out, and passed 150 before he was trapped lbw by Johann Louw. Needing to score an almost impossible 582 to win Northants finished on 281 for 3, with Jeffrey Cook contributing 114.

In Division Two, Glamorgan pulled off a remarkable victory on the final day at Chelmsford, beating Essex by four wickets, to move a step closer to promotion. After scoring more than 600 in their first innings, Essex began the day on 101 for 4, but collapsed to 165 all out. Robert Croft and Michael Lewis engineered the slump with four wickets each, and David Hemp then struck an unbeaten 83 to guide Glamorgan home. No side has ever scored more runs and gone on to lose a Championship game.

Jamie Cox flayed Nottinghamshire's attack for 35 fours and a six on his way to a career-best 250. He added 207 for the third wicket with James Hildreth, who scored 108, and Somerset eventually declared on 654 for 8. In reply, Jason Gallian and Darren Bicknell both struck half-centuries, but Nottinghamshire need another 183 runs just to avoid an innings defeat.

Northamptonshire 151 and 281 for 3 (Cook 114) need another 301 runs to beat Kent 414 for 8 dec and 318 for 5 dec (Smith 156) at Canterbury
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Day 1 report: Key century leads Kent run-feast - The Times

Worcestershire 416 and 156 for 1 (Moore 83*, Hick 56*) drew with Warwickshire 460 and 254 for 8 dec at Worcester
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Day 1 report: Price holds up Warwickshire's run to title - The Independent
Day 2 report: Ali takes chance to learn from master - The Times
Day 3 report: Warwickshire happy to keep hold of Inverarity - The Times
Day 4 report: Warwickshire forced to wait - The Daily Telegraph

Surrey 369 and 185 (Keedy 6-95) beat Lancashire 278 (Chapple 67, Doshi 5-125) and 129 (Doshi 6-57) by 147 runs at Old Trafford
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Day 1 report: Lancashire toil as Brown stands firm - The Daily Telegraph
Day 2 report: Doshi's high five - The Daily Telegraph

Nottinghamshire 337 and 134 for 1 (Bicknell 68*) trail Somerset 654 for 8 dec (Cox 250, Wood 113, Hildreth 108) by 183 runs at Trent Bridge
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Day 1 report: Ealham keeps Notts on course - The Times

Glamorgan 587 and 223 for 6 (Hemp 83*) beat Essex 642 and 165 (Flower 48, Croft 4-52, Lewis 4-39) by four wickets at Chelmsford
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Day 1 report: Irani follows Flower's lead to maintain promotion hopes - The Times
Day 2 report: Foster flays Glamorgan - The Daily Telegraph

Hampshire 321 and 329 beat Leicestershire 282 and 282 (Hodge 74, Taylor 3-53, Warne 3-62) at Grace Road
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Day 1 report: Pothas century sustains Hampshire - The Times
Day 2 report: Stevens delivers - The Daily Telegraph
Day 3 report: Hampshire so close - The Daily Telegraph

Durham 325 and 375 for 9 dec (Breese 68) beat Yorkshire 200 and 290 (Dawood 75, Breese 5-110) by 210 runs at Scarborough
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Day 1 report: Lawson's leg-up for Yorkshire - The Daily Telegraph
Day 2 report: Yorkshire batsmen blown away by Breese - The Times
Day 3 report: Durham delight - The Daily Telegraph

Gloucestershire 250 for 7 (Hussey 82) beat Warwickshire 248 for 7 (Bell 76) by three wickets at Bristol
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Report: Sussex wipe smile from champions - The Times