Olly Stone delivered a commanding bowling performance to give Nottinghamshire a strong position against Leicestershire in their County Championship match. Returning to the Test arena for only the third time since 2024, Stone took five wickets for 41 runs across 15.2 overs, using his pace and late outswing to good effect. His showing underscores the depth of England’s seam bowling options, with selectors expected to watch his recovery and form closely. By the close of play, Nottinghamshire had dismissed Leicestershire for 220 runs with eight wickets down, having already posted a first-innings total of 490.

Nottinghamshire entered this round third in the championship table, trailing leaders Somerset by ten points. Somerset’s match at Taunton was disrupted by rain, limiting play to just 33.1 overs. During that limited time, Somerset’s innings fell from 201 for three to being all out for 274.

Elsewhere in the championship, England opener Zak Crawley struggled again for Derbyshire, falling lbw for 15—his fifth dismissal by bowled or lbw in eight innings this season. Crawley currently averages 22.12 and has yet to reach a half-century in the campaign.

Durham’s Emilio Gay produced another impressive contribution at No. 3 with an unbeaten 75 against Middlesex at Lord’s. Gay is approaching a third century this season, having accumulated 419 runs to date. At the close, his teammate Ben McKinney, who is also on the fringes of England selection, remained not out on 46 as Durham responded at 135 for one in pursuit of 430.

At the Oval, Dom Sibley continued to press his case for an England recall with a second consecutive century for Surrey. He scored 116 not out against Sussex, solidifying his credentials as a dependable top-order batsman in the county circuit.