Worcestershire Royals go back to the top of the NUL

Worcestershire Royals are back on top of Division One of the Norwich Union League for at least 24 hours after they shot down the Kent Spitfires' hopes of retaining their title in flames, winning by three wickets in the last over of a tense match. Warwickshire Bears kept their hopes alive with a 51 run win against Nottinghamshire Outlaws while, in Division Two, Essex Eagles soared to second place in the table with a win over Lancashire Lightning, and there were wins for Hampshire Hawks and Sussex Sharks.

It was Graeme Hick who hit the winning runs for the Royals as they overcame the Spitfires at New Road. The visitors had got off to a flyer with a century opening partnership between Matthew Fleming (68) and Robert Key (46). However, four run outs did nothing to help the Spitfires' cause as they reached 213 for eight in their 45 overs. The Royals could thank Vikram Solanki for their start with the in-form opener stroking 46 from 38 balls, with 40 of those runs in boundaries. Ben Smith made the same score, albeit rather slowly, but Hick steered his team home with 77 not out. There were four wickets for Martin Saggers.

Warwickshire Bears could thank Ian Bell with 54 for their total of 238 for nine against Nottinghamshire Outlaws. Mark Wagh had scored a rapid 49 at the top of the order, but too many other batsmen got in and then out. After a steady start, with Chris Read contributing 69 and a forty from Usman Afzaal, the Outlaws' innings just melted away and they were 51runs in arrears when bowled out.

In Division Two, Essex Eagles, led by Ronnie Irani once again, restricted Lancashire Lightning to a mere 153 for nine at Old Trafford. Darren Robinson made sure there was a solid start to the reply with 54 and, fittingly, Irani was at the crease when the winning runs were scored with nearly 11 overs and seven wickets in hand.

Another captain, Chris Adams, led Sussex Sharks to a convincing victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road. The Sharks found that the Steelbacks had a soft underbelly by keeping them to 195 for eight before Adams took them home with an undefeated 64 to raise hopes that they might be able to stop floundering on the bottom by the end of the season.