Cricket

Gloucestershire's relentless pursuit of a quarter-final berth in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup received a significant boost as they chased down a formidable 333-run target set by Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Trent Bridge. Miles Hammond's scintillating 157, studded with 22 fours and five sixes, proved to be the cornerstone of Gloucestershire's emphatic seven-wicket victory.Nottinghamshire's innings got off to a blistering start, with skipper Haseeb Hameed and Lyndon James forging a 129-run opening partnership. Hameed, who notched up his second century of the competition, shared a further 80-run stand with Tom Moores. However, Gloucestershire's bowlers, led by Graeme van Buuren's three-wicket haul, managed to restrict the Outlaws to 332 in 49.3 overs.In response, Gloucestershire openers Hammond and Cameron Bancroft laid the foundation for the chase with a 151-run partnership. Hammond, in particular, was in imperious form, reaching his century off just 81 deliveries. Despite losing Bancroft to Freddie McCann's leg-before, Hammond continued to torment the Nottinghamshire bowlers, adding two more sixes to his tally before being dismissed for 157.Ollie Price's unbeaten 61, along with Ben Charlesworth's contribution, ensured that Gloucestershire cruised to victory with 20 balls to spare. The win propelled Gloucestershire into third place in Group B, ahead of holders Leicestershire.However, Gloucestershire's joy was tempered by the news that England Lions call-ups for Price, Zaman Akhter, and Ajeet Singh Dale would rule them out of the final group round and the quarter-final, should they qualify.The Outlaws, despite their defeat, remain mathematically in contention for a knock-out spot. However, they would need to win both their remaining matches to have a chance of progressing.

Nottinghamshire's spirited performance at Headingley extinguished Yorkshire's Vitality Blast quarter-final hopes, as the Vikings fell short in their pursuit of 210. The Outlaws' impressive batting display, led by Jack Haynes' blistering 50, proved too much for Yorkshire, who despite a valiant effort, finished on 181 for 6.Nottinghamshire's innings got off to a shaky start with the early dismissal of captain Joe Clarke. However, Freddie McCann and Sammy King stepped up with a fearless 87-run partnership, showcasing their attacking prowess. McCann, making his first-team debut, impressed with successive sixes and a boundary, while King unleashed three consecutive sixes off Jafer Chohan's leg-spin.Haynes continued the momentum, reaching his half-century off just 20 deliveries, including two sixes off Dan Moriarty. Despite a late flurry of wickets, Nottinghamshire posted a challenging total of 209 for 9.Yorkshire's chase began disastrously, with openers Will Luxton, Adam Lyth, and Shan Masood all falling cheaply. Luke Fletcher's double strike in the fourth over left the Vikings reeling at 31 for 3. James Wharton attempted to salvage the innings with a determined 52, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.Donovan Ferreira provided brief respite with two sixes, but his dismissal left Yorkshire's hopes hanging by a thread. Wharton's departure in the 16th over effectively ended the contest, as Jordan Thompson's unbeaten 50 proved to be a mere consolation.Nottinghamshire's victory was a testament to their resilience and the contributions of their young players. Ben Cliff's career-best 4 for 31 and the wickets of Calvin Harrison and Luke Fletcher played a crucial role in restricting Yorkshire's chase.

Lancashire's dominance in the Vitality Blast continued as they secured their place in the quarter-finals with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire at Emirates Old Trafford. The win marked Lancashire's 150th in Blast history, making them the first county to reach this milestone.England duo Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone played starring roles for Lancashire, returning from T20 World Cup duty to guide their team to victory. Salt smashed a destructive 70 off 42 balls, including five sixes, while Livingstone contributed an unbeaten 54 off 37 with three sixes.Nottinghamshire's struggles continued as they slipped to their eighth defeat in 13 games. All-rounder Lyndon James top-scored with a career-best 51 off 38 balls, but it proved insufficient against Lancashire's polished bowling display.Left-arm quick Luke Wood led the Lancashire attack with a season's best three for 23, limiting Nottinghamshire to 131 for seven. Spinners Chris Green and Tom Hartley also played their part, claiming two wickets each.Lancashire's chase got off to a shaky start when Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissed Luke Wells in the second over. However, Salt and Livingstone steadied the ship with a 112-run partnership for the second wicket. Salt reached his fifty off 31 balls, while Livingstone achieved the milestone with the winning hit, a pulled six off Farooqi.Lancashire's victory sets up a potential home tie in the quarter-finals, while Nottinghamshire's disappointing campaign continues. The Outlaws, who have won the Blast twice in the past, will be eager to put this season behind them and focus on rebuilding for the future.

Durham's impressive performance in the Vitality Blast continued as they secured a comfortable 30-run victory over Nottinghamshire Outlaws at the Seat Unique Riverside. The win strengthens Durham's chances of reaching the quarter-finals, while Notts remain rooted at the bottom of the North group.After being put in to bat, Durham struggled initially, losing three wickets for 106. However, Ashton Turner (44*) and Callum Parkinson (3-15) played pivotal roles in guiding the hosts to a competitive 160 for six. Turner and Ben Raine (23*) forged a crucial partnership of 54 runs, with Raine hitting the first six of the night in the penultimate over.Nottinghamshire's chase started promisingly, but Durham's bowlers, led by Parkinson, applied relentless pressure. Parkinson claimed three wickets, including the key scalps of Joe Clarke and Ben Slater, while Raine removed the dangerous Matthew Montgomery.Despite a late flurry of fours from Montgomery, Durham's bowlers maintained their discipline, with Nathan Sowter and Ackermann picking up crucial wickets. The Outlaws were eventually restricted to 130 for nine, handing Durham their sixth win of the season.Turner's unbeaten 44 and Parkinson's three-wicket haul were the standout performances for Durham. The hosts now sit in the top four with two games remaining, while Notts' hopes of reaching the knockout stages are fading.

Nottinghamshire and Lancashire played out a thrilling draw in their Vitality County Championship match at Southport, with Joe Clarke's fourth century of the season proving crucial for the visitors.Clarke's unbeaten 115, alongside Lyndon James' 43 not out, steered Nottinghamshire to 270 for four in their second innings, ensuring they drew the match by 143 runs. The result sees both teams move further away from the Division One relegation zone.Lancashire's James Anderson, who had taken seven wickets in Nottinghamshire's first innings, was unable to replicate his heroics on the final day. He finished with figures of one for 25 from eleven overs, with his only wicket coming when Will Young edged a catch to Matthew Hurst.Clarke and Jack Haynes steadied the ship for Nottinghamshire after Young's dismissal, with Haynes hitting a six off Tom Bailey. However, Haynes was caught behind off Chris Green, giving the Australian off-spinner his maiden first-class wicket for Lancashire on his Championship debut.Clarke continued to bat with fluency, reaching his fifty in 107 balls and his century off 185 balls. He and James put on an unbroken 136 for the fifth wicket, taking Nottinghamshire into the lead and ultimately securing the draw.The match also featured a rare sight, with Nathan Lyon and Anderson bowling in tandem for Lancashire. The combination has taken 1230 Test wickets, the most ever by one first-class team.

James Anderson, England's legendary fast bowler, made a resounding return to the County Championship, claiming a remarkable seven-wicket haul in his first appearance of the summer. Lancashire seized control against Nottinghamshire at Southport, enforcing the follow-on after dismissing their opponents for a paltry 126 in reply to their first innings total of 353 for nine declared.Anderson's devastating spell of 7 for 35 included an opening burst of 6 for 19 in ten overs, dismantling Nottinghamshire's top and middle order. His pinpoint accuracy and relentless line and length proved too much for the Notts batters, who were skittled out in just 36.3 overs.Nottinghamshire's second innings fared little better, with Nathan Lyon claiming his 800th first-class wicket to dismiss Ben Slater for 17. Lyon also broke a determined partnership between Haseeb Hameed and Will Young, having the Notts captain caught behind for 41.Lancashire's dominance was further underlined by Tom Bailey's two wickets in two balls, removing Calvin Harrison and Olly Stone. Despite a spirited 42-run partnership between Slater and Dane Paterson, the last pair was separated by a direct hit from Lyon, leaving Slater stranded on 64 not out.With Lancashire enforcing the follow-on, Nottinghamshire faced an uphill battle to avoid an innings defeat. Young and Joe Clarke showed resilience, negotiating their way through to the close with 11 runs each. However, the visitors will need to display similar determination on the final day to prevent a comprehensive loss.Anderson's performance was a timely reminder of his enduring class ahead of his farewell Test at Lord's next week. His ability to consistently hit the perfect line and length, even after a prolonged absence from competitive cricket, is a testament to his exceptional skill and unwavering dedication.

Lancashire's Vitality County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Southport was marred by rain, with the entire second day washed out. The abandonment was a setback for James Anderson's preparations for his farewell Test at Lord's next week.Despite early showers, umpires initially planned for Lancashire to resume their first innings at 12.30pm. However, prolonged rain forced them to abandon the day's play at 4.05pm.The cancellation was particularly disappointing for spectators who had hoped to see Anderson bowl in his first game of the season. Anderson is set to play his final Test match against West Indies at Lord's, starting on July 10.England's director of cricket, Rob Key, confirmed on Monday that Anderson will stay on with the England team after the Lord's Test as a fast-bowling mentor.Should play be possible on Tuesday, Lancashire will resume on 344 for eight with skipper Keaton Jennings on 188 not out.In the nine games played at Southport since first-class cricket returned to the ground in 2011, this is only the second time in 31 days that play has been completely abandoned.

Lancashire's Keaton Jennings produced a masterful century to guide his team to a commanding position on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash against Nottinghamshire at Southport.Jennings, the Red Rose captain, anchored the Lancashire innings with an unbeaten 183 off 258 deliveries, laced with 26 fours and four sixes. His innings proved crucial as the visitors threatened to seize control after lunch.Despite the absence of James Anderson, who was rested, Lancashire's bowling attack, led by Dillon Pennington, kept Nottinghamshire in check. Pennington, who was recently selected for England's squad to face West Indies, claimed 2 for 70 from 23 overs.Dane Paterson broke the opening partnership, dismissing Luke Wells for 7. However, Jennings and Bohannon steadied the ship, guiding Lancashire to 59 for 1 at lunch.After the break, Nottinghamshire fought back with three quick wickets. Joe Clarke dropped Bohannon but made amends by catching him off Olly Stone's next delivery. Pennington then removed George Bell and Matty Hurst to leave Lancashire reeling at 120 for 4.Jennings remained unyielding, counterattacking with calculated aggression and solid defense. He reached his century off 179 balls and found support from George Balderson, who contributed 41. Their 88-run partnership swung the momentum back in Lancashire's favor.In the extended final session, Chris Green and Tom Bailey fell to Lyndon James, while Will Williams was dismissed by Pennington. However, Jennings continued to dominate, punishing a tiring Nottinghamshire attack. He reached 150 off 47 balls, hitting sixes off Stone and Paterson.Nottinghamshire's cause was further hindered by three dropped catches off Jennings. Lancashire ended the day on a strong 344 for 8, with Jennings poised to add to his tally on Monday.

Nottinghamshire's second-innings resilience has put Somerset's hopes of a third Vitality County Championship win of the season in jeopardy. After Somerset posted a formidable 470 in their first innings, thanks to Tom Abell's 111 and Migael Pretorius' unbeaten 95, Nottinghamshire responded with a solid 360.In their second innings, Nottinghamshire openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater put on a commanding 172-run partnership, with Hameed falling just nine runs short of a century. Slater remained unbeaten on 70, while nightwatchman Olly Stone provided support.Somerset's bowlers struggled to make inroads, with only Craig Overton breaking through to dismiss Hameed. Dillon Pennington's five-wicket haul in the first innings proved to be his only success in the second, while Calvin Harrison's 39 overs yielded three wickets.Pretorius' aggressive 95 in the first innings had given Somerset a 110-run lead, but Nottinghamshire's second-innings performance has put them in a strong position. With 177 runs on the board for the loss of just one wicket, Nottinghamshire need only draw the match to secure a share of the points.Somerset, on the other hand, face an uphill battle to force a result. They will need to bowl Nottinghamshire out for a second time on a pitch that is becoming increasingly docile. The lack of wickets in the final session of day three suggests that Somerset's task will be a difficult one.