Glamorgan Dragons top the NUL once again

Glamorgan Dragons have gone back to the top of Norwich Union League Division One by beating Yorkshire Phoenix at Headingley by nine wickets, while there was no respite in a disappointing few days for Somerset Sabres, as they were beaten by fellow relegation candidates Durham Dynamos. Meanwhile in the tensest of finishes in Division Two, Surrey Lions scraped home against Derbyshire Scorpions by a single wicket with just two balls to spare to enhance their promotion prospects.

In Leeds, the Welsh Dragons could thank 21 year-old pace bowler David Harrison for their comprehensive victory over Yorkshire Phoenix. Harrison was playing only his fifth limited overs match in the first team but he took five for 26 in his nine overs to bowl out the home side for 167. Then Harrison came in at number three and stroked an undefeated 37 runs after Robert Croft (59) and Ian Thomas (55 not out) had put on a century opening partnership that took the Dragons home with over 20 overs to spare.

Further north, in Chester-le-Street, Somerset Sabres made a respectable 204 for nine against Durham Dynamos. Keith Dutch was top-scorer with 64, but it proved to be inadequate as Gordon Muchall with 81 and Brad Hodge with 77 put on 128 for the third wicket. Despite this win, the Dynamos will be relegated along with the Sabres and Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

Surrey Lions made hard work of ensuring that they will be in the frame for promotion to replace them next season in the top division. There were fifties for Nathan Dumelow and Dominic Cork as Derbyshire Scorpions made 213. Adam Hollioake was the most successful of the bowlers with four wickets. Then Rikki Clarke led the Lions' reply with 98 not out despite incurring a knee injury on the way. Mohammad Ali took two wickets in his last over to show that these Scorpions really do have a sting in their tail so the Lions needed four from seven balls with one wicket in hand. Ed Giddins took a leg bye off the last ball of the over and had to face Cork who had an appeal for lbw turned down, then bowled a wide down the leg side, before the batsmen took a single and Clarke hit the winning runs.