Josh Tongue claims five on delayed Nottinghamshire debut as Leach hits 500 wickets milestone.
Josh Tongue made an unforgettable start to life at Nottinghamshire, claiming five wickets on debut to defeat Durham and catapult himself back into England contention after a frustrating year of injuries.
The 26-year-old seamer, who signed from Worcestershire in 2023 but missed the entire previous season with a persistent pectoral injury, delivered a devastating late spell at Trent Bridge—taking four wickets in just 12 balls. His haul of five for 66, alongside a career-best 55 with the bat, proved pivotal in sealing victory.
With England pacers Mark Wood, Olly Stone and Brydon Carse all sidelined, Tongue’s return to fitness and form couldn’t be more timely. His second-innings fireworks included the prized scalp of Graham Clark, whose 62 had threatened to frustrate Nottinghamshire’s pursuit of a result.
Durham, facing a 201-run first-innings deficit, collapsed from relative safety to lose their final five wickets for just 21 runs. That left the hosts chasing only 89, which they reeled in with ease—reaching the target in 17.1 overs thanks to an unbroken 50-run stand between Haseeb Hameed (39*) and Joe Clarke (35*).
Elsewhere in the Championship, England spinner Jack Leach reached a personal milestone, claiming his 500th first-class wicket during Somerset’s drawn clash with Worcestershire. The left-armer took four for 103 as the visitors defied the odds with a 200-over rearguard.
Worcestershire had been following on after Tom Banton’s remarkable 371 powered Somerset to a 516-run first-innings lead. But Brett D’Oliveira’s gritty 121 off 340 balls and Matthew Waite’s unbeaten 87 from 319 deliveries ensured they clung on at 485 for nine.
Over at Chelmsford, reigning champions Surrey were forced to follow on against Essex but salvaged a draw after a stoic final-day effort. Dom Sibley anchored the innings with a dogged 66 off 221 balls, sharing a 101-run stand with Ben Foakes (50), who followed his first-innings 92 with another half-century.
Surrey, who began the day 208 behind on nine without loss, eventually finished on 219 for six, surviving Essex’s early burst and maintaining their hopes for a fourth successive title.
At Edgbaston, there was little ambition for a result as Sussex opted for safety. They declared their second innings at 313 for seven with Tom Alsop unbeaten on 82. Warwickshire never seriously chased the notional target of 388 from 44 overs, instead closing on 104 for two. Rob Yates followed up his century in the first innings with a composed 65 not out.
The most tense action of the day came at Lord’s, where Middlesex and Lancashire played out a thrilling finale. Middlesex, led by Max Holden’s career-best 184, set Lancashire a target of 309 from 67 overs. The chase ebbed and flowed, with Marcus Harris (52), Keaton Jennings (49), Luke Wells (47), and Michael Jones (44) all contributing.
But as wickets began to tumble, Zafar Gohar’s three-for swung momentum towards the hosts. Middlesex closed in, fielders crowding the bat in the dying overs, yet Lancashire clung on—finishing on 262 for eight in a gripping draw.
