Day two roundup Mohammad Abbas drove a ceremonial horse and carriage through Middlesex’s fragile batting at the Rose Bowl, scattering batsmen like beech nut shells in a school playground. Sleeves buttoned at the wrist, front on action, lithe and elasticated, full and fast, he snaffled Max Holden with his fifth ball. Nick Gubbins was lbw next delivery, and Stevie Eskinazi caught behind with the first ball of his next over to complete the hat-trick. Two more wickets followed in two balls – Robbie White and Martin Andersson both lbw as a fury of slips looked on. At that point, with statisticians poised for all 10, first Kyle Abbott, then Brad Wheal snatched the glory, leaving Abbas with 6 for 11 off 11 overs. Hampshire did not enforce the follow-on, momentarily slipped to 2 for 2 in reply, but 90s from Sam Northeast and Ian Holland steadied the ship. At Old Trafford, Lancashire’s Matt Parkinson, bowling in his first first-class match since September 2019, ripped a ball past the plumply upholstered frame of Adam Rossington and into his stumps, bringing back memories of another blond legspinner, and another batsman, at the same ground, 28 years earlier. Ball of the 21st century, quipped someone in the press box. Parkinson finished with 3 for 49 as Northamptonshire recovered from 87 for 8 to be all out for 177, thanks to Rossington and the Lancashire old boy Simon Kerrigan, who survived Tom Bailey’s hat-trick ball to finish 45 not out. Kerrigan had earlier bowled lovely loopy overs, his trousers waving above his ankles, finishing with 4 for 60. After 18 wickets fell on Thursday, Durham took charge at Chelmsford. First their bowlers irritated their way to another 111 runs, then they wheedled their way through the Essex lineup, despite a carefree 76 from Dan Lawrence. At the close Essex, on 208 for 6, led by just 45 with four wickets remaining. Dom Sibley was unable to bat after fracturing a finger on his right hand in the field on Thursday, and Warwickshire fell 72 short of Notts’ first innings total despite 72 from Sam Hain. Stuart Broad finished with 3 for 50. Haseeb Hameed and Joe Clarke both made unbeaten fifties as Notts built a tidy second-innings lead. At the County Ground, Worcestershire’s batting faltered in the face of Matt Critchley’s legspin despite sixties from Tom Fell and Riki Wessels; and a close match continued to unfurl at Taunton where a sophisticated century from James Bracey guided Gloucestershire to near parity with Somerset. Pretty runs from England’s Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes in an unbroken stand of 160 saved Surrey’s bacon against Leicestershire at The Oval, while at Canterbury the inevitable march of cricketer of the year Darren Stevens continued, off the mark with a six and making 52, though Yorkshire dominated. Sussex continued to bat like kings at Sophia Gardens, with a hundred from Stiaan van Zyl and 97 from George Garton. Close of play scores Group 1 Derbyshire 390 all out v Worcestershire 243-7 Essex 96 and 208-6 v Durham 259 all out -ESSEX LEAD BY 45 Nottinghamshire 273 and 128-2 v Warwickshire 201-9 Group 2 Hampshire 319 all out and 204-2 v Middlesex 79 all out MOHAMMAD ABBAS 6-11 Somerset 312 v Gloucestershire 301-8 Surrey 253-3 v Leicestershire 375 all out Group 3 Glamorgan 285 v Sussex 481-9 Kent 265-9 v Yorkshire 379 Lancashire 305 and 60-0 v Northants 177 all out That’s it from me for today - on a day that belonged to Mohammad Abbas and - a tiny part of it - to Matt Parkinson and his wonder ball too. Thanks for the comments and emails and see you tomorrow. Good night! Gloomy over Old Trafford now, with two overs left in the day and Jennings and Davies steady, Lancs 57-0 and a healthy lead. Over at Trent Bridge, meanwhile, Haseeb Hameed has fifty not out! As I was typing up this follow-on news from Paul Frame...... “Hampshire enforced the follow-on in 2017 against Essex after they had sealed the championship trophy the week prior to the game.Essex batted again and won the match. I think that has burned them with regards to today’s decision not to enforce the follow-on. “ .....Matt Parkinson slips an unplayable ball to Rossington who is bowled for 49. It spun the width of an arctic roll and is a much-needed breakthrough after a partnership of 82 with Kerrigan . And as Darren Stevens steam-rollers to his first fifty as WCOFTY, I will semi-retire to write the round-up but will pop back with any big news like a unbeaten 60 run partnership between Kerrigan and Rossington at Old Trafford. Fabulous batting by Sussex today - thanks to 87 from Haines and 113 from van Zyl, while Derbyshire’s Conners and Critchley have rather speared Worcestershire’s day, despite a patient 69 from Tom Fell. Tea-timeish scores on the doors Group 1 Derbyshire 390 all out v Worcestershire 135-4 Essex 96 and 85-2 v Durham 259 all out -ESSEX TRAIL BY 78 Nottinghamshire 273 v Warwickshire 200-6 Group 2 Hampshire 319 all out and 20-2 v Middlesex 79 all out MOHAMMAD ABBAS 6-11 Somerset 312 v Gloucestershire 189-6 Surrey 88-2 v Leicestershire 375 all out Group 3 Glamorgan 285 v Sussex 340-6 Kent 191-6 v Yorkshire 379 Lancashire 305 v Northants 142-8 Interesting idea from Gary Naylor re follow-ons - would certainly add to the excitement value in even contests! It’s tea at Trent Bridge where Notss have taken three Warwicks wickets since lunch but the Bears have crept to within poking distance (74 runs). Still no Sibley. General team-timeish round up to follow but OH MY I’ve just noticed Hampshire are 7-2! What is the pitch doing at the Rose Bowl? One for TRJ and one for Bamber. Hampshire are NOT going on enforce the follow-on. Does no-one like grinding batsmen into the dust any more.? I haven’t mentioned Gloucestershire for a while. Sorry Glocs. Bracey still stoically there (does he do it any other way?) on 69, but wickets tumbling with foot-tapping regularity at the other end - 178-6. Three for Coverton, one for Davey, two for de Lange. Darren Stevens (31) and Ollie Robinson (44) throwing everything at Yorkshire, still 224 runs behind but spirited nonetheless. Meanwhile at The Oval, Surrey are batting after Leicestershire were all out for 375 - three for Virdi, three for Clark - as they lost 3-0 in the late middle order. Mark Stoneman’s just been out for 24, Burns 23 not out, Amla 2 not out. Middlesex all out 79! Mohammad Abbas 11-6-11-6. Someone tell Dan Brown, there’s a message in there somewhere. Safely patted away... TWO in TWO BALLS for Tom Bailey: Tom Taylor’s off-stump removed followed by Nathan Buck lbw and Simon Kerrigan is facing the hat-trick ball! Ay-up, Fell and D’Oliveira rebuilding at Derby (85-3), and Essex at Chelmsford (55-2). And for those who’d like to read more on Parky - a nice piece by Jamie Bowman in the Bolton News. Northants lose a third wicket in 3.1 overs - this time Keogh lbw Bailey for 29. Both literally and metaphorically, the clouds are closing over Northamptonshire - 74-6 and 231 behind. Make that his second! A smashing catch at backward short leg by Steven Croft, diving then groping, Northants 73-5. After a summer and a winter spent in the England bubble, fantastic to see him actually bowling. I was deep in Darren Stevens when I heard a shout from the outfield as Luke Procter has a swing at Matt Parkinson and Parky has his first first-class wicket since September 2019.