Patel fireworks hand Notts another win

Nottinghamshire made it two wins in two, beating Lancashire in a close match at Trent Bridge. Samit Patel made his second unbeaten fifty in consecutive evenings to seal the six-wicket victory with three balls to spare. He smashed 84 from 57 deliveries, with good support from David Hussey (21) and Will Jefferson (20*).

Gareth Clough and Graeme Swann were once again in the wickets, taking two each, as did Charlie Shreck. Lancs lost wickets at steady intervals after being sent in, but Gareth Cross was on hand with a late boost to lift them to 163 for 7.

Notts had enjoyed a straightforward win over Derbyshire on the opening night, but had to work much harder to sneak to the top.

It was a rather watery Canterbury tale down at Kent, where their Twenty20 against Essex became more like a Five5. Kent made 44 for 1 from 5.1 overs before a two-hour rain delay washed out their innings and left Essex needing 50 from 5 overs, on Duckworth-Lewis. Kent managed to keep them down to 46 for 6 - Ryan McLaren taking 2 for 3 in his over.

Heading into the last over, bowled by Yasir Arafat, Essex needed 15. James Foster hit a six off the first ball, missed the second and gained a four from the third. A wide followed, leaving Essex needing four from three balls. Foster was then bowled off the fourth ball, Adam Hollioake played and missed and, in attempting a run to the keeper, Grant Flower was run out. James Middlebrook then faced the final ball, which he sent to the midwicket boundary for a catch.