Aussie scrambles match-winning run in county thriller

Australian Mark Steketee scrambled a match-winning leg bye as Essex won a County Championship thriller against Somerset by one wicket on Saturday.

Needing just 84 for victory, Essex crashed to 4-4 then 6-28 and 8-60 on an action-packed third morning as England Test seamer Craig Overton (6-30) and Australian Peter Siddle (3-25) thrived in the bowler-friendly conditions.

Essex were still 24 runs short of victory with just two wickets left when Adam Rossington and No.10 Shane Snater shared a crucial 23-run partnership that brought the scores level before Snater top edged a pull shot and was caught.

That brought Steketee to the crease and the Queenslander survived two deliveries before he was struck on the thigh pad and the balled trickled away on the leg side. Rossington (29 not out) just made his ground at the striker's end to complete the match-winning run.

The result was rough justice for Overton, who finished with match figures of 13-87.

The 28-year-old slumped to the ground when the winning run was completed and was quickly consoled by Steketee, who himself finished with match figures of 5-100 in his second game for his new county.

SCORES: County Championship, Div 1 and Div 2

"It was an epic morning and I'm still struggling to catch my breath," said Somerset head coach Jason Kerr.

"Craig Overton led the attack brilliantly and Peter Siddle demonstrated what a quality performer he is while being incredibly unlucky."

The match at the County Ground in Taunton was a batter's nightmare throughout, with Sir Alastair Cook's first innings of 59 the highest individual score of the match.

Elsewhere, Marcus Harris was dismissed for 18 in Gloucestershire's second innings against Yorkshire after the left-hander had scored 136 on the opening day.

Gloucestershire finished day three on 6-253 in their second innings, a lead of just 104.

In Nottingham, Australians Marnus Labuschagne and James Pattinson will be expected to play a major role on the final day of Nottinghamshire's match against Glamorgan.

Notts finished day three leading by 147 runs with two wickets remaining, with Labuschagne's Glamorgan to face a potentially tricky run chase on Sunday.

Queensland's Michael Neser has match figures of 4-81 so far for the Welsh county.

Australians in 2022 County Championship

Essex: Mark Steketee

Glamorgan: Marnus Labuschagne, Michael Neser

Gloucestershire: Marcus Harris

Kent: Jackson Bird

Middlesex: Peter Handscomb

Northamptonshire: Matt Kelly

Nottinghamshire: James Pattinson

Somerset: Matt Renshaw, Peter Siddle

Sussex: Josh Philippe

Warwickshire: Nathan McAndrew

Get the full rundown of Australians playing county cricket in 2022