Jimmy Anderson blitzed his way through the Durham batting line-up to bowl Lancashire to victory on the third morning of their LV County Championship clash against Durham and put himself firmly in the frame for the first Test against New Zealand.
Another man hoping to get the nod to take on the tourists at Lords, all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, last night reduced the visitors to 28 for three at Old Trafford and Anderson took over with a devastating spell this morning.
He finished with five for 46 - taking all of his wickets for the cost of just 25 runs in the morning session - to seal a Lancashire victory by 232 runs.
Durham made just 90 all out in the fourth innings of a game where ball has dominated bat to such an extent that - Paul Horton's match-winning 108 yesterday aside - the top individual score was 40.
Also in Division One, Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer moved Somerset serenely to 281 for one at Taunton against Hampshire, making light of their side's previous 126 all out.
The stand between the former England opener and his Australian counterpart was worth 198 by lunch, with Trescothick on 122 not out and Langer 14 shy of three figures.
After conceding a big first-innings deficit, a lead of 48 with nine wickets in hand represented a remarkable turnaround.
South African all-rounder Ryan McLaren picked up three wickets before lunch to put Kent in a good position against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
The hosts went into the interval 142 ahead on 178 for six after McLaren removed Matthew Wood (58), Adam Voges (28) and Samit Patel (one) to take his figures to four for 43.
England pair Chris Read (37no) and Stuart Broad (12no) held the key for the batting side having put on an unbeaten 44 for the seventh wicket.
In Division Two, Middlesex lost three wickets and made 89 runs as their clash with Essex at Chelmsford remained tightly poised.
The visiting side held a 95-run first-innings lead but slipped to 98 for six at lunch as Essex continued to pick up regular scalps following Andre Nel's three-wicket burst last night.
James Middlebrook removed Billy Godleman (28) and Eoin Morgan (25), while Ed Joyce was trapped leg before by Tony Palladino for nine.
Derbyshire had some hard work in front of them as they looked to build a lead over Warwickshire at Derby.
Ant Botha and Darren Maddy each struck to leave the hosts on 61 for two - 21 ahead at the break - but Chris Rogers was also in the pavilion having retired hurt for 10.
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