Sporting Life sporlife

Anderson Stakes England Claim

Fri 09 May, 09:09 PM


Jimmy Anderson underlined his England claims as Lancashire wrapped up their first LV County Championship win of the season in convincing style.

Anderson, competing with Matthew Hoggard, Stuart Broad and Lancashire team-mate Andrew Flintoff for a place in the side to face New Zealand next week, took five wickets as Durham crashed to a 232-run loss.

Anderson, eclipsing the efforts of Flintoff in the Old Trafford encounter, finished with five for 46 as Durham were bowled out for 90 and beaten well inside three days.

Elsewhere in the First Division, Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer batted Somerset into a commanding position with big hundreds against Hampshire at Taunton.

The pair built on Thursday night's solid start as they wiped out their side's 233-run first-innings deficit and helped them to 559 for five at the close, a lead of 326.

Captain Langer top-scored with 188 from 271 balls while Trescothick added 151 from 265, the pair putting on 272 in the club's highest second-wicket stand for 84 years.

Zander de Bruyn was unbeaten on 75 at stumps as Somerset continued their remarkable turnaround.

Kent were 115 short of a first win with six wickets in hand having been set a target of 244 to beat early leaders Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

South African Ryan McLaren took six for 75 as Notts were bowled out for 279 in their second innings after 88 from Chris Read.

Kent wobbled in their chase as Stuart Broad picked up three for 27 but Martin van Jaarsveld's 45 not out helped them to 129 for four.

In the Second Division, Middlesex recovered from 29 for four in their second innings to post 203 and set Essex a target of 299 at Chelmsford.

Wicketkeeper David Nash made a crucial unbeaten 50 with number nine Tim Murtagh adding 42.

Jason Gallian (40) and Alastair Cook (31) put on 70 to get the chase off to a fine start but three for 20 from Shaun Udal left the game in the balance with the hosts 123 for five at the close.

Derbyshire batted throughout the day at the County Ground to build a lead of 283 over Warwickshire.

Half-centuries from captain Rikki Clarke (81), Dane Freddie Klokker (76no) and Chris Rogers 64 put the hosts in a strong position on 323 for five in their second innings.

More news from SportingLife.com

Live scorecards from SportingLife.com