Summary

  • Yorkshire beat Northants by one run at Headingley - only the club's second single-run Championship win

  • Gloucestershire chase down 348 to beat Leicestershire and lead Group Two

  • Lancashire defeat Sussex by 5 wickets at Hove and stay top of Group Three

  • Somerset beat Middlesex by 4 wickets - their third win of the season

  • Essex draw with Worcestershire at New Road despite enforcing follow-on

  1. Signing offpublished at 18:38 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Yorkshire's Adam LythImage source, Rex Features

    We started the day by mentioning Hercule Poirot and witnessed a couple of gripping denouements at Headingley and Bristol to do him proud.

    After big innings victories by Durham and Surrey on Saturday, we went to the very end of the scale on the final day of action as Yorkshire scraped home by one run in round four of the County Championship.

    It wasn't enough to put the White Rose county on top of their group, though, as rivals Lancashire stayed six points clear of them with victory over Sussex.

    Gloucestershire were 52-3 at Leicester, but thanks to Iain Cockbain's 117, they got home with time to spare in an evening run-chase, while Somerset showed they plan to be in the shake-up again this season by beating Middlesex despite trailing by 89 on first innings.

    We'll be back on Thursday to exercise our little grey cells with coverage of round five of the Championship. See you then.

  2. Round five fixturespublished at 18:31 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Matches start Thursday 6 May

    Group One

    • Nottinghamshire v Essex, Trent Bridge
    • Warwickshire v Worcestershire, Edgbaston

    Group Two

    • Hampshire v Somerset, Ageas Bowl
    • Leicestershire v Surrey, Uptonsteel County Ground
    • Middlesex v Gloucestershire, Lord's

    Group Three

    • Lancashire v Glamorgan, Emirates Old Trafford
    • Northamptonshire v Sussex, County Ground, Northampton
    • Yorkshire v Kent, Emerald Headingley
  3. County Championship - how the tables lookpublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Group One tableImage source, BBC Sport
    Group Two tableImage source, BBC Sport
    Group Three tableImage source, BBC Sport
  4. Sunday's results at-a-glancepublished at 18:24 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Group One

    • Essex 561-8 dec v Worcestershire 364 & 129-2 (f/o)

    Match drawn

    Group Two

    • Leicestershire 421 & 201-9 dec v Gloucestershire 275 & 348-6

    Gloucestershire won by 4 wickets

    • Middlesex 357 & 117 v Somerset 268 & 209-6

    Somerset won by 4 wickets

    Group Three

    • Sussex 328 & 154 v Lancashire 230 & 255-5

    Lancashire won by 5 wickets

    • Yorkshire 206 & 247 v Northamptonshire 234 & 218

    Yorkshire won by one run

  5. Postpublished at 18:24 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Oh, and we also had a one-run win earlier as well.

    How do people not like cricket?

  6. Postpublished at 18:22 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Leicestershire 421 & 201 v Gloucestershire 275 & 348-6

    That was also Gloucestershire's second-highest successful fourth-innings chase at Bristol.

    Remember, the hosts only saved themselves from the follow-on by three runs! What a match we've witnessed.

  7. Postpublished at 18:21 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Gloucestershire have started a County Championship season with three wins and a draw for the first time since 1948.

    They've never won the title.

  8. GLOUCS BEAT LEICS BY 4 WICKETSpublished at 18:17 British Summer Time 2 May 2021
    Breaking

    Leicestershire 421 & 201 v Gloucestershire 275 & 348-6

    Gloucestershire celebrate victoryImage source, Rex Features

    Hankins smashes the next ball for four!.

    What a run chase all built on the 224-run partnership from Ian Cockbain (117) and Tom Lace (97).

    You have to feel for Leicestershire though, they won the first three days.

    But they let it slip in Bristol today.

  9. Postpublished at 3.5 overs remaining

    Gloucestershire 346-6 (target 348) v Leicestershire

    George Hankins places it beautifully and comfortably comes back for two.

    Two required. One more blow.

  10. Postpublished at 4 overs remaining

    Gloucestershire 342-6 (target 348) v Leicestershire

    Callum Parkinson sees out the over.

    Ben Mike will be bowling to George Hankins who's on one not out. Smith has 10.

  11. Postpublished at 4.2 overs

    Gloucestershire 342-6 (target 348) v Leicestershire

    Two dots. Nobody on the boundary rope now. Everyone's in.

  12. Postpublished at 4.4 overs remaining

    Gloucestershire 342-6 (target 348) v Leicestershire

    Brilliant cover drive from Tom Smith that pierces the gap. Only six required now.

    Single figures. One hit.

  13. Postpublished at 5 overs remaining

    Gloucestershire 338-6 (target 348) v Leicestershire

    Another productive over for Gloucestershire and the chase is down to 10.

  14. Postpublished at 5.2 overs

    Gloucestershire 337-6 (target 348) v Leicestershire

    Tom Smith tickles one fine for four. Now just 11 to win.

  15. Postpublished at 5.3 overs remain

    Gloucestershire 333-6 (target 348) v Leicestershire

    Oh dear! The pressure releases with four leg byes off the bowling of Ben Mike at a critical moment.

    Only 15 now required.

  16. Postpublished at 6 overs remain

    Gloucestershire 329-6 (target 348) v Leicestershire

    Two runs from the over but more importantly two wickets.

    We've got six overs remaining with Gloucestershire needing 19 runs to win.

    Can Leicestershire pull off one of the shocks of season and snatch four late wickets? They did manage five for 22 runs in the first innings.

  17. Postpublished at 6.3 overs remain

    Gloucestershire 328-6 (target 348) v Leicestershire

    A single for new man George Hankins.

    Tom Smith is also at the crease.

  18. Postpublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

    Quote Message

    Is it all over? Gloucestershire are suddenly 327 for six - is there going to be a late twist?"

    BBC Radio Leicester's Richard Rae

  19. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 6.4 overs remain

    Higgins c Wright b Parkinson 33 (Gloucestershire 327-6 (target 348) v Leicestershire)

    Callum ParkinsonImage source, Rex Features

    This isn't over yet!

    Higgins top-edges it straight to the keeper.

    Parkinson is on a hat-trick.

  20. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 6.5 overs remain

    Cockbain c Harris b Parkinson 117 (Gloucestershire 327-5 (target 348) v Leicestershire)

    Iain CockbainImage source, Rex Features

    Goes big, doesn't quite middle it and Ian Cockbain is caught in the deep.

    What an innings from the 34-year-old. Simply sensational.