Craig Overton defends Somerset’s no-declaration tactics in draw with Lancashire

England bowler Craig Overton took offense at Lancashire’s apparent criticism of Somerset’s non-declaration tactics, as the sides’ LV=Insurance County Championship clash ended in a draw.

Somerset’s decision to continue batting at Emirates Old Trafford despite their lead topping 300 by mid-afternoon on the final day of the Division One fixture drew a sarcastic response from Lancashire’s official Twitter account.

Responding to one of Lancashire’s tweets after the 4:50pm handshake, Overton wrote: “We made you a reasonable offer to make a game yesterday afternoon but you turned it down.”

While James Rew compiled his second century of the match and finished on an unbeaten 118 and Kasey Aldridge claimed his first first-class hundred on 101 not out, the game had veered off course by that point.

Lancashire, unable to call on James Anderson due to a groin problem, withdrew their first choice attack in the afternoon session when batsmen Steven Croft and Dane Vilas shared the second new ball.

Lancashire used nine bowlers in all, including wicket-keeper George Bell, with Josh Bohannon taking the gloves as Somerset finished 398 for five to sit 433 ahead.

England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes took six sacks as Surrey’s impressive attack inspired a nine-wicket victory over Middlesex at the Kia Oval.

Jordan Clark took four for 25, while there were three wickets for Sean Abbott and two for Gus Atkinson, as Middlesex were out for 240, with Foakes’ half-dozen catches a record in a first-class innings for Surrey against their London rivals.

Rory Burns was out for 14 but Dom Sibley (21 not) and Ryan Patel (37 not) helped Surrey reach their 70-run target to help their team claim their third win of the season to stay top of the the division.

Pressured England opener Zak Crawley curbed his attacking instincts and his half-century helped Kent avoid defeat against Hampshire at Canterbury.

Crawley collected 56 of 133 balls before being outplayed by Liam Dawson, while fellow opener Ben Compton’s 54 and an unbeaten 68 of 206 delivery from Jack Leaning lifted Kent to 259 of four, still 18 runs behind, but with Hampshire losing hope of forcing a win.

Durham extended their lead at the top of Division Two with a tense one-wicket win over Yorkshire, with Brydon Carse hitting the winning runs despite batting with a runner due to a flank injury.

Durham resumed at Chester-le-Street requiring 33 to win but with only two wickets in hand. Ben Raine (50 no) and Matthew Potts (25) helped Durham move closer to their target of 246, but the latter fell in lbw to George Hill with just two more runs needed.

But Carse fired his fourth ball, calling out Raine for a par as Durham crossed the line to claim their third win of the campaign and leave Yorkshire still in search of their first win.

Leicestershire remain unbeaten despite being asked by Sussex to follow at Grace Road, with hundreds of Rishi Patel and Wiaan Mulder helping the hosts to a draw.

Patel (100) and Mulder (102no) led Leicestershire to 295 for six, after being asked to bat again the day before when they were all out for 270 in response to Sussex’s 430.

Derbyshire captain Leus du Plooy’s unbeaten 61 led the rally from 28 for three to 166 for five as Gloucestershire settled for a draw in Derby.