Essex continue early pace in Division One of the County Championship after thrashing Lancashire – while Ollie Robinson is in the wickets for Sussex as he makes his England case

Essex continued to set the early pace in division one of the County Championship after a crushing innings, 124-run victory over Lancashire at Chelmsford.

Being the only side in either level to win a match during the first two rounds, Essex bowled Lancashire – who had managed just 146 in their first innings – for 107, with three cheap wickets each for Jamie Porter and Shane Snater.

It gives the 2019 champions an early 24-point lead with a day to go in the third round as the return of Dukes ball brought a flurry of results within three days.

Durham completed their first top division win since 2016 with an 185-run mauling of Worcestershire at Kidderminster. Set 458 for the win, the hosts were bowled out for 272, with seamer Paul Coughlin taking four for 45.

And there was another welcome win in the Second Division, where Middlesex – who are considering building a new home outside Lord’s – made a target of 158 easy to beat Yorkshire.

Jamie Porter was in action as Essex bowled out Lancashire for 107 after restricting them to 146 in their first innings

Test hopeful Joe Clarke scored his third century in three matches as Nottinghamshire fought back against Somerset at Taunton. After making 104 against Essex and 105 against Worcestershire, Clarke finished unbeaten on 209 after posting an unbroken stand of 370 for the third wicket with New Zealand Test batsman Will Young.

Zak Crawley fell into single figures for the second time in the match at the expense of Surrey seamer Daniel Worrall as Kent struggled to stay on good terms at Canterbury. Surrey mustered a lead of 299 before declaring at 543 for seven, with former England Test opener Dom Sibley hitting 150 and Dan Lawrence 112 – his first century since joining from Essex.

Crawley then fell behind by four as Kent finished the third day at 120 for five, still 179 short of avoiding an innings defeat.

Ollie Robinson, desperate to prove his worth to the England selectors, was in the wickets as Sussex took control against Gloucestershire at Hove.

Robinson trapped Australian opener Cameron Bancroft lbw for five and James Bracey for a duck. Earlier, 78 from captain John Simpson and 83 from number 9 Danny Lamb helped Sussex to 479 and a first-innings lead of 62.

Ollie Robinson, desperate to prove his worth to the England selectors, was in the wickets for Sussex

Centuries from Fletcha Middleton and Nick Gubbins could not prevent Hampshire taking a 90 lead against Warwickshire, while off-spinner Rob Yates collected a career-best four for 37.

Karun Nair, who was once a Test triple centurion for India, scored an unbeaten 202 and Saif Zaib a round 100 to lift Northamptonshire to 605 for six against Glamorgan, while Derbyshire faced defeat after having to follow on from Leicestershire.