County wrap: A Ball, a beanie, a blowout

England hopeful Jake Ball has stormed to the top of the county wicket-takers list after a match-winning 5-59 for Nottinghamshire over Worcestershire.

Ball has played four Tests since debuting at Lord's in July 2016, and the speedster will be hopeful of adding to that tally when England take on Pakistan later this month at the same venue after sending Notts top of Division One with an innings victory at Worcester.

He has now collected 21 wickets at 12.42 in three matches this county season.

"The ball is coming out really nicely for me," said the 27-year-old, who played last summer's Ashes opener in Brisbane before being overlooked for the remainder of the series.

"I tried to be a bit more attacking today with the runs on the board."

South Australian Travis Head made 29 before falling lbw to be Ball's third wicket, while returning England quick chipped in for Notts with 1-17 from six overs.

At Southampton, Vics quick Peter Siddle dealt with the cold by bowling in a beanie, and claimed 3-62 from 29 overs as Hampshire declared at 7-351, with Essex making 6-300 as England opener Alastair Cook warmed up for the Test summer with 84 in a rain-marred draw.

Having picked up the wicket of Hashim Amla on day three, Siddle added Amla's former Proteas teammate Rilee Rossouw to his name on day four.

The right-armer has now collected five wickets from his two outings with Essex this season.

At Hove, a potentially exciting finish between Gloucestershire and Sussex was also ruined by the rain, while at Taunton, Matthew Renshaw's first-innings hundred proved the difference in Somerset's 118-run win over Yorkshire.

At Grace Road, Leicestershire and Derbyshire also finished drawn as rain played havoc with fixtures across the country.