Warwickshire tighten grip on title after Hain hundred
Warwickshire are within touching distance of a ninth County Championship title after taking complete control against Leicestershire at Edgbaston on 26 September 2026.
Sam Hain's 142 carried Warwickshire to 372 in their first innings. Leicestershire replied with 125, were asked to bat again straight after — the follow-on — and slipped to 55-3 in their second innings. That left them 192 runs behind with seven wickets left The Guardian.
Hain was the last man out for 142. Captain Ed Barnard made 88 before he was caught behind. Then Ethan Bamber and Chris Woakes struck with the new ball to leave Leicestershire three down second time around.
The maths now favours Birmingham. Somerset, the only side who can still catch Warwickshire, reached 222-3 in reply to Surrey's 422 at Taunton. They trail by 200 runs with seven wickets in hand. Crucially, Somerset failed to take a third bowling bonus point — an extra point awarded for taking wickets in the first 110 overs — which means Warwickshire can draw at Edgbaston and still finish champions The Guardian.
It was a tough day for bowlers at Taunton after Surrey's big first innings. Somerset stayed in the fight with the bat. They need quick wickets, quick runs and help from Edgbaston.
Elsewhere, Nottinghamshire tightened their hold on Yorkshire at Trent Bridge. Nottinghamshire made 251 and then 55-3, against Yorkshire's 179. That is a lead of 127 runs with seven wickets left. Olly Stone took five wickets for Nottinghamshire before a reported hamstring injury forced him out of the match The Guardian.
Glamorgan dominated Essex in Cardiff. Asa Tribe hit 184 in Glamorgan's 505. Essex closed on 100-7, still 405 behind with three wickets left.
Sussex are pushing hard against Hampshire at Southampton. Jaydev Unadkat took five for 32 as Hampshire were bowled out for 128 in reply to Sussex's 244. Sussex then moved to 216-5, a lead of 332 runs with five wickets left.
There was a century for Ben Compton as Kent made 353 against Gloucestershire at Canterbury. Gloucestershire replied with 229 and then 61-2, still 63 runs behind with eight wickets left. At Lord's, Northamptonshire made 103 and 249-7 against Middlesex's 255. That gives Northamptonshire a lead of 97 runs with three wickets left.
Durham piled up 493 against Lancashire at Old Trafford. Lancashire were 10-0 in reply, trailing by 483 with ten wickets left. At Worcester, Worcestershire made 214 and 203-9 against Derbyshire's 88, leading by 329 runs with one wicket left.
What makes this stand out is the simplicity of it. Warwickshire did the hard work with bat and ball. Somerset did not collapse, but one missing bowling point may have settled the title race before the final day.
