Durham's C&G hopes still alive

Only one match mattered in today's round of C&G Trophy matches - Durham's match in Scotland - but many of the other matches went right to the wire and provided some cracking entertainment.

Durham kept their challenge for a C & G Final spot well and truly alive in kicking Scotland at the Grange. Rain delayed the start but there was no stopping Callum Thorp who wrecked Scotland with 6 for 17 from eight overs as the home side crumbled to 161 in a match reduced to 39 overs. Rains came again, so Durham were left chasing a revised target of 99 from 19 overs and, although their top order fell over, theirs was a comparatively easy victory in the end, by five wickets

The result may not have mattered, but still Northamptonshire produced a thriller against Derbyshire beating them by one run. Set 257 to win, Steve Stubbings gamely led Derby's charge with 110 but when he fell on 256, there was just one run to get - and one wicket remaining. Alas Jake Needham could not produce the goods and he fell for the same score to leave Derbyshire high and dry and Northants high.

In the other match in the Northern division, Nottinghamshire eased to a seven-wicket victory against Warwickshire who folded for 186. Anurag Singh helped to polish off the runs quickly, hitting an unbeaten 78 in a chase which took just 35 overs.

In the Southern Conference, Surrey fought bravely in vain to chase down a mountainous 339 against Gloucestershire. It turned into the game of the day. A remarkable solo effort from James Benning, who made 189 not out, was just not enough. He took them from down and out to the very brink of victory. Benning was joined by Neil Saker at 280 for 9, and they put on 57 for the last wicket, but fell just three runs short on the penultimate ball, with Benning wanting the run, but Saker sending him back. Still, it was an electrifying dead rubber.

Middlesex held their nerve at Bath to beat Somerset by three runs. Middlesex made 215 for 9, with Owais Shah topscoring with 63, but Somerset ran them close. Chris Peploe was the pick of the Middlesex bowlers, with 4 for 41 from ten overs.

For what it was worth, Robert Key led Kent with 89 as they made 281 for 6 but it Essex who won out. After his blasting earlier this week Darren Gough was boosted up the order - but he made just 15 at No 3. It didn't matter - his team made their target inside 47 overs. Mark Pettini and Andy Flower both made fifties to help their side to victory.