Cricket News

A brilliant innings by former Minor Counties player Richard Oliver failed to prevent Worcestershire's first County Championship defeat of the season as Gloucestershire registered their first victory at New Road since 1986.

Lancashire's batsmen have had a thin time this season. This, therefore, was the sort of day their supporters have had little chance to enjoy although it was no surprise at all that a Paul Horton hundred was at the heart of the home side's effort

Kane Williamson still has a chance to influence Yorkshire's Championship challenge in their favour after controversially standing his ground for a slip catch claimed by Sussex at North Marine Road

Somerset are a club that holds local talent in particularly high esteem. They do not come much more local than Tom Abell. And On the evidence of his first innings in professional cricket, they do not come much more talented, either.

Stand-in captain Niall O'Brien led the way as Leicestershire staged a spirited fightback in a bid to avoid the follow-on against Surrey at Grace Road

Michael Lumb top-scored with 99 as Nottinghamshire fought back strongly on the second day against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Hampshire all-rounder Chris Wood followed his opening day half-century with a 5 for 39 haul to keep his side in command on day two of their Division Two clash with Kent in Canterbury

Worcestershire's hopes of setting an early date for a promotion party took a knock as Alex Gidman's second century of the season put Gloucestershire in a powerful position at New Road before Richard Oliver responded

Monty Panesar recorded his third five-wicket haul of the season as Essex manoeuvred themselves into a winning position against Glamorgan on the second day at Swansea.

Azeem Rafiq, once regarded as a potential Yorkshire captain, will leave the county at the end of the season after failing to make an impact in all forms of the game.

Promotion favourites Worcestershire endured one of their worst days of the summer in the Championship when dismissed for 194 by Gloucestershire on a seaming surface at New Road

Sean Ervine made the best of a placid Canterbury pitch to ease Hampshire into the driving seat on the opening day of their Championship Division Two clash with Kent

Steven Davies scored his second Championship century of the season and Vikram Solanki hit 93 as promotion-seeking Surrey took control of their Division Two game against bottom-of-the-table Leicestershire

Adam Rossington and David Willey helped Northamptonshire celebrate one of their better days of a troubled Division One season as they seized the initiative against title-chasing Nottinghamshire

Yorkshire clawed back some ground with the second new ball, but after Ed Joyce's century provided the bedrock in a total with which Sussex should be more than content after being asked to bat first

Jim Allenby produced figures of 5 for 56 as Glamorgan had the better of the opening day of their County Championship Division Two clash with Essex at Swansea

Ian Westwood's hundred held Warwickshire together in Taunton in a match both they and Somerset must surely win to retain Championship ambitions

Unless Lancashire win a couple more games their chances of avoiding relegation are approximately zippo deluxe

Will Gidman, the Gloucestershire allrounder widely hymned as one of the most underrated cricketers in the country, is to join Nottinghamshire from next season

Graham Onions said he is "devastated" after learning he will probably miss the remainder of the season due to an abdominal injury