Leaders Nottinghamshire suffered their first LV County Championship defeat of the season as Kent won a tense Trent Bridge encounter by three wickets today.

After they resumed needing 114 with six wickets in hand, Kent looked to be making comfortable progress with stand-in skipper Martin Van Jaarsveld (63) at the crease.

But two wickets in two balls from England's Ryan Sidebottom and another from Charlie Shreck had the visitors wobbling 71 short on 173 for seven.

Yet eighth-wicket pair Ryan McLaren - a star with bat and ball in the match - and Yasir Arafat held their nerve to guide Kent home, finishing with 37 and 36 respectively.

Hampshire looked like saving their First Division match at Taunton after being set an unlikely 422 by Somerset.

Zander de Bruyn fell just two runs short of becoming Somerset's third centurion before they declared on 654 for six in their second innings.

The visitors, who had been favourites after claiming a first-innings lead of 233, were 122 for one at tea on the final day.

Number 10 Chris Wright hit 71no, only his third first-class half-century, to guide Essex to a remarkable two-wicket win over Middlesex at Chelmsford.

The match had been evenly poised overnight with the hosts needing 176 with five wickets remaining, but the game looked up as they slipped to 202 for eight, 97 behind.

But Wright took up the challenge, hitting 12 fours and a six in his 105-ball knock, and put on 99 with James Middlebrook (33no) to see Essex home.

Warwickshire were 73 for three at the tea break after being set 378 to beat Derbyshire at the County Ground.

Dane Freddie Klokker, a wicketkeeper playing as a specialist batsman, finished unbeaten on 103 before Derbyshire declared on 417 for six.

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