Warwickshire took a big step towards clinching the Rothesay County Championship title after skittling relegation-threatened Leicestershire for 125 at Edgbaston.
Ahead of the first day’s play, Leicestershire announced plans to appeal their 27-point deduction for a substandard pitch at Grace Road in last month’s win over Glamorgan – a decision that means their Division One fate could remain up in the air until the final round of fixtures this week.
Only two of their batters passed 12 in Birmingham, with in-form Ethan Bamber taking 4-42 and former England seamer Chris Woakes claiming 3-20 for the Bears, who closed on 130-4 to lead by five.
A Warwickshire win would guarantee a first title since the Covid-shortened 2021 campaign, with second-placed Somerset struggling against Surrey, who closed on 327-4 thanks to an unbeaten 104 from England’s Dan Lawrence.
Nottinghamshire captain Haseeb Hameed’s 71 underpinned his side’s 242-9 against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge.
Hundreds from Asa Tribe and Kiran Carlson helped Glamorgan reach 318-3 against Essex in Cardiff, while already-relegated Hampshire reached 55-4 after skittling Sussex for 244 at the Utilita Bowl.
Matt Milnes took four wickets and Khaled Ahmed three as Division Two promotion hopefuls Kent bowled out rock-bottom Gloucestershire for 229 before closing on 71-1 at Canterbury.
Northamptonshire, just four points behind second-placed Kent, had a day to forget as they were bowled out for a meagre 103 by Middlesex, who posted 255 to take a first-innings lead of 152 thanks to Ryan Higgins’ 115.
England opener Emilio Gay struck 141 as Division Two champions Durham piled up 355-5 against beleaguered Lancashire, who were without captain Sir James Anderson at Emirates Old Trafford.
Ben Allison claimed 5-22 as shell-shocked Derbyshire were bowled out for 88 by Worcestershire, who lead by 131 after posting 214 in their first innings, with Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas taking 5-63.