by Jamie Smith’s unbeaten half-century helped Surrey take control in a thrilling second day of their LV=Insurance County Championship Division One clash at Edgbaston.
Warwickshire were bowled out for 150, but the champions were subsequently reduced to 99 for four in reply before Smith ensured his side got the upper hand again, adding 44 through Ben Foakes, 32 through Cameron Steel and 35 through Jordan Clark.
Smith would go on to go on day three unbeaten on 57 with Surrey 211 for eight and leading by 61 runs.
Tim Murtagh dismissed England opener Zak Crawley for a golden duck and just dropped a hat-trick in a day of noisy wickets between Middlesex and Kent at Lord’s.
Kent was all out for 186 in the morning session, Ben Compton top-scored with 52 while Murtagh and Ethan Bamber finished with four wickets each, but Middlesex were soon in trouble as they collapsed to 90 for six.
Ryan Higgins (71) saved the home side with his fourth half-century of the season, helping Middlesex to 229 for a lead of 43, before Murtagh quickly got back between the wickets as Kent went out for their second shot.
Murtagh, who turns 42 in August, dismissed Crawley and Daniel Bell-Drummond off the first two balls of the innings before forcing Jack Leaning to defend the hat-trick delivery.
Leaning would eventually finish the day unbeaten on 19, alongside prolific Compton (15no) while Kent finished on 40 for two, still down by three points.
In the Second Division, Brydon Carse gave the English selectors an extra boost over the Ashes by scoring his maiden first-class century and taking three wickets to put dominant Durham on course for victory against Derbyshire at the Riverside.
Carse started the day needing 23 runs to hit triple figures and blasted the gears to secure his hundred balls from 113 before Durham declared 452 for nine soon after, with the unbeaten paceman on 108.
The home team then overcame the Derbyshire line-up as Matthew Potts and Ben Raine reduced the visitors to six from four. Luis Reece top-scored with 56, but his side were forced to follow after being dismissed for 165.
Derbyshire soon found themselves in further trouble as they plunged to 92 for five at the end, still trailing by 195,
In Bristol, a signature defensive masterclass from captain Cheteshwar Pujara beat Sussex into a promising position against Gloucestershire.
After a delayed start at 1.50pm due to a saturated outfield, the visitors took their first innings total from 47 for one to 302 for four, India Test star Pujara leading with 99 not out, while Tom Alsop contributed 67 and James Coles a career best 74.
Leicestershire put Glamorgan under pressure at the Uptonsteel County Ground as England bowler Rehan Ahmed and Ashes up-and-comer Peter Handscomb both narrowly missed out on centuries.
Ahmed (90) and Handscomb (95) shared a partnership of 177 for the sixth wicket as Leicestershire made 407 after being sent in to bat.
Glamorgan skipper David Lloyd was then dismissed for a duck before Eddie Byrom and Marnus Labuschagne fought back with a second wicket partnership of 124, but they finished the day 94 more runs before avoiding follow-on at 164 for five.
