Norwich Union League gets under way with a cracker

The Norwich Union League season opened with what will quite possibly be regarded as the match of the season even when September 22nd is reached. The bare statistic says that Yorkshire Phoenix won by one run against Somerset Sabres. What that conceals is that the home side were chasing a target of 308. Centuries for Darren Lehmann and Matthew Wood for the Yorkshiremen looked to be enough, but a brave reply from the home batsmen featuring 99 from Jamie Cox and 79 from Ian Blackwell so nearly got them to the target. Elsewhere, there were wins for Warwickshire Bears, Leicestershire Foxes, Derbyshire Scorpions, Hampshire Hawks and Surrey Lions.

Ian Bell might not have lived up to expectations since returning from the National Academy, hence his name was rubbed out from the Test side into which it had earlier been pencilled. Nevertheless, he reminded the selectors that he can still bat with an innings of 72 for Warwickshire Bears against Durham Dynamos at Chester-le-Street. The Bears reached 207 for 7 in their 45 overs, more than enough to secure victory as the Dynamos lacked the power to reach more than 163 for nine to lose by 44 runs.

Trevor Ward and Darren Stevens both scored 91 as Leicestershire Foxes posted 283 for five against Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Grace Road. They put on 185 for the second wicket, and did not take long about it. Stevens took just 74 balls with ten fours and a six. Ward took a little longer, but hit 13 fours and a six in his 95 ball innings before Michael Bevan weighed in with a swift 42 not out. Usman Afzaal managed 63 to top score for the Outlaws, but there was not enough support to prevent the Foxes getting home by 32 runs.

In Division Two, the Sussex Sharks batsmen never got going against the Derbyshire Scorpions at Derby. As the Sharks sunk to 166 for eight in their 45 overs, there were some pretty tidy bowling figures, with the pick of them being Graeme Welch's 9-2-45-3, although Dominic Cork conceded just 20 runs from his nine overs and took a wicket. Michael Di Venuto led the Scorpions' reply with 84 as his side reached the target with four wickets and three overs in hand.

Nic Pothas was brought into the Hampshire Hawks side to add some international experience to the wicket-keeper/batsman role, and obliged with 53 not out against Gloucestershire Gladiators. Derek Kenway reached 50 as well. In reply, Dimitri Mascarenhas took five for 27 as the Hawks won by 46 runs, despite Craig Spearman's innings of 82.

They say lightening never strikes twice in the same place, but having lost in the championship on Saturday, Lancashire Lightening were devoured at The Oval 24 hours later by Surrey Lions. Martin Bicknell took five for 26 in his nine overs and there were five catches for Alec Stewart as the northerners were skittled for just 68. The Londoners managed to lose four wickets in reaching the target inside 12 overs.