Essex underlined their Vitality County Championship title credentials as seamer Sam Cook spearheaded a comprehensive 254-run win over Nottinghamshire.
Cook took six for 14 to go with his first-innings hat-trick as the home side were bowled out for just 80 in their second innings. He finished with match figures of 10 for 73.
Strike partner Jamie Porter took three for 43 as Joe Clarke top-scored with a modest 19.
However, Essex face an anxious wait to see if they will suffer a points deduction after opener Feroze Khushi’s bat failed an on-field dimensions check during their second innings.
Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond both hit centuries as Kent survived a mid-morning scare to earn a draw with Somerset at Canterbury.
Kent were in trouble on 10 for two and again at 70 for three, but a partnership of 222 for the fourth wicket took the sting out of the contest and they closed on 290 for four declared.
Warwickshire and Worcestershire drew after bad weather ruined an intriguing game at Edgbaston.
Worcestershire were frustratingly denied a chance to press for victory on their return to Division One after a wet outfield prevented play before lunch.
In the sliver of play that was possible on the final day, they took their overnight score from 237 for two to 295 for three – a lead of 322.
The match between Lancashire and Surrey ended in a draw after no play was possible on the final day at Emirates Old Trafford.
The outfield remained too wet after heavy overnight rain and a morning shower, with umpires carrying out three inspections before finally pulling the plug at 2.15pm.
Durham and Hampshire also had to settle for a draw after rain prevented any play at Chester-le-Street.
After the opening three days at Seat Unique Riverside had been washed out, there had seemed a possibility of play on day four, but captains Scott Borthwick and James Vince shook hands on a draw following a midday inspection.
In Division Two, England star Harry Brook hit a stunning final-day 100 not out in his first competitive innings since December as Yorkshire and Leicestershire had to settle for an opening-round draw at Headingley.
Brook arrived at the crease four balls into day four of this weather-ravaged fixture, overnight rain and a wet outfield once again delaying the start of play.
Brook smashed 14 fours and two sixes in 69 balls, Yorkshire declaring immediately on 264 for six just before tea in order to improve a slow over rate from the first innings.
They did this successfully as spinners Dan Moriarty and Adam Lyth raced through 7.2 overs before the rain arrived at 4pm with Leicestershire on 26 without loss in their second innings. No more play was possible, with Yorkshire taking 12 points and Leicestershire 13.
Middlesex all-rounder Ryan Higgins recorded his highest first-class score of 221 as his side’s opener against Glamorgan at Lord’s drifted to an inevitable draw.
Higgins’ epic effort, which contained 21 fours and two sixes, was his first double-hundred and featured a ninth-wicket partnership of 114 with Tom Helm, who also posted a career-best 64. A share of the spoils had always seemed virtually guaranteed on a batting-friendly pitch where only 15 wickets fell in the course of four days.
Lewis McManus’ determined resistance and bad light frustrated Sussex’s bid to pull off an unlikely victory over Northamptonshire on a gripping final day at Hove.
McManus (13 not out) batted for an hour as four partners came and went and Northants lurched to 170 for nine before umpires decided it was too gloomy even for spin with the visitors ahead by 63.
The start of the new season at Derby ended in anti-climax and frustration when the match between Derbyshire and Gloucestershire was abandoned without a ball bowled due to bad weather.
Andre Russell ventures into Bollywood music scene with SRK's support
West Indies and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Andre Russell is set to make waves in Bollywood, following in the footsteps of Trinidadian cricketer Dwayne Bravo, who achieved success with his hit song 'Champion' in India.
Known for adding energy and entertainment to the dressing room, West Indian cricketers have a history of making their mark beyond the cricket field, with stars like Chris Gayle, DJ Bravo, Kieron Pollard, and Darren Sammy shining in the IPL. The latest to join this list is Andre Russell, the dynamic KKR sensation.
Russell is stepping into the music world by lending his vocals to a song composed by Palaash Muchhal. He will also be featured alongside actress Avika Gor in the accompanying music video.
What makes Russell's foray into music even more exciting is the backing of Bollywood titan Shahrukh Khan, the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders. Known for his larger-than-life persona, SRK is not just a team owner but also a key figure in the entertainment industry. Russell and SRK share a strong camaraderie, often seen enjoying each other's company and having fun moments together.
Recently, a video of Russell singing SRK's iconic song "Lut Put Gaya" from the movie 'Dunki' went viral, showcasing his passion for music. With SRK's support and Russell's infectious energy, fans can anticipate an exciting collaboration between the cricket star and the Bollywood icon.
Andre Russell's venture into Bollywood music adds a new dimension to his versatile talents and promises to be a delightful treat for his fans in India and across the globe.
IPL: Kumar the hero as Sunrisers stun Royals for final-ball win
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the hero as Sunrisers Hyderabad came back from the brink to secure a final-ball win over Indian Premier League leaders Rajasthan Royals on Thursday.
Kumar left the Royals reeling at 1-2 as they chased 202 for victory, dismissing both Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson for first-over ducks, flattening middle wicket to send the latter walking five balls in.
A 127-run partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag then seemed to have the Royals closing in on a fifth straight win, only for their chase to unravel in spectacular fashion.
Two wickets apiece from Thangarasu Natarajan and Pat Cummins left the Royals needing 20 runs off 11 balls, and Rovman Powell came up with a thrilling cameo, the highlight being an unbelievable dive to avoid being run out on the penultimate delivery, which took Rajasthan within two runs of victory and one of a super over.
However, there was one more twist to come as Powell swung at Kumar's full toss, which clipped his back leg and was confirmed as out following a review, sealing a memorable win for Sunrisers.
The Sunrisers had also found themselves in a hole in their own innings, only for Nitish Kumar Reddy (76) and Heinrich Klaasen (42) to finish unbeaten and bring up a total they were just about able to defend.
Data Debrief: Kumar bookends back-and-forth innings
For much of the Rajasthan innings, it looked like Kumar's early dismissals of Buttler and Samson would count for nought, with some expensive overs from Cummins and Marco Jansen leaving the Royals on the brink.
However, Kumar stepped up when it was all on the line on the final delivery, leaving Powell in a tangle to end Hyderabad's two-match losing streak and lift them into the top four.
Pakistan bowlers shine to hand West Indies first loss of tour in fourth T20I
West Indies Women suffered their first loss on their tour of Pakistan as the hosts secured an eight-wicket win in the fourth T20 International at the Karachi National Stadium on Thursday.
Excellent Pakistan bowling meant the tourists were restricted to just 84-9 off their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first.
Shemaine Campbelle (26), Zaida James (19) and Jannilea Glasgow (10) were the only West Indian batters to get double-figures as Sadia Iqbal and Nida Dar dominated with 3-18 from four overs and 3-19 from four overs, respectively.
Pakistan then needed only 16.3 overs to reach 87-2 and secure their first win of the series. Ayesha Zafar led the way with 42* off 48 balls while Gull Feroza finished 21* off 24 balls.
Afy Fletcher and Shamilia Connell took a wicket, each, for the Windies.
Full Scores: West Indies Women 84-9 (Shemaine Campbelle 26, Sadia Iqbal 3-18, Nida Dar 3-19)
Pakistan Women 87-2 (Ayesha Zafar 42*, Gull Feroza 21*, Afy Fletcher 1-6, Shamilia Connell 1-8)
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