Division One

Points Table

An innings of 150 by Murray Goodwin, and four quick wickets by Naved-ul-Hasan has put Sussex in a strong position against Warwickshire. Goodwin was well supported by Chris Adams, who struck 68, as Sussex were bowled out for 428. This gave Warwickshire a lead of just 47, and Sussex quickly pounced on Warwickshire's batsmen to leave them, at one stage, 54 for 5. Tony Frost, who made 40, combined with Dougie Brown in a vital partnership worth 50, but they both succumbed to the other Pakistani, Mushtaq Ahmed. Warwickshire ended the day on 171 for 9 with a useful lead, if not a dominating one, of 218 runs. Naved-ul-Hasan ended with the impressive figures of 4 for 47.

Shaun Udal took his second five-wicket haul of the season, but it wasn't enough to force a victory for Hampshire who drew with Surrey at The Oval. Richard Clinton was the only Surrey batsman to reach a fifty, but there were forties for Mark Ramprakash, Mark Butcher, Alastair Brown and Tim Murtagh, who remained unbeaten on 44. Surrey might have declared at tea, to set up a chance of victory, but their captain Mark Butcher decided to bat on, and they were bowled out for 302. Surrey took 10 points, and Hampshire 11, who are still just in reach of the title but trail behind Sussex, Kent and Notts.

Kent failed to snatch an improbable victory over Middlesex, as Middlesex lost a clutch of wickets in the afternoon session. Kent earlier declared on 549 for 8 having added a further 259 runs in just 45 overs, and Middlesex stuttered in reply. Min Patel took four quick wickets to leave the visitors in trouble on 77 for 6. But a fifty from Paul Weekes, to add to his hundred in the first innings, steadied Middlesex as the game petered out to a draw.

Glamorgan continued to dominate their match against Gloucestershire at Bristol. Dean Cosker's 52 helped Glamorgan reach a second innings score of 290, having yesterday bowled the home side out for just 133. And in reply, Gloucester's batsmen again struggled, losing five wickets for 184 runs, in pursuit of an unlikely 540 to win. Ramnaresh Sarwan hit 54, and their captain, Alex Gidman, is unbeaten on 54 also. Glamorgan are seeking their first Championship win of the season.

Division Two

Points Table

Ronnie Irani's sporting second innings forfeit, and a hundred from James Hildreth, saw Somerset through to a win against Essex. Somerset declared immediately this morning on 112/2, and Essex then forfeited their second innings to set the visitors a generous 289 to win. They managed this thanks to an unbeaten knock of 125 from James Hildreth. He starred in a partnership of 109 with Ian Blackwell, who hit 59, as Somerset romped home by five wickets.

Northamptonshire were bowled out for 261 against Leicestershire but the game, unsurprisingly, fizzled out to a draw. The home side declared on 405 for 6, and Northamptonshire then came undone after a solid opening stand of 99 between Martin Love and Bilal Shafyat. The South African Claude Henderson took 5 for 61 with his left-arm-spin, with Leicestershire taking 12 points, and Northamptonshire 8.

Phil Jaques's fourth century of the season, and a pair of half centuries for Tim Bresnan and Richard Dawson saw Yorkshire through to 475 for 6 declared in their first innings against Durham. The game withered to its inevitable conclusion, but some lusty blows by Dawson saw him reach his third half-century of the season in an innings of 63 from 75 balls.

Ben Smith's 133 wasn't enough for Worcestershire to avoid the follow-on against Lancashire, who had yesterday compiled an imposing 562 for 8 declared. Smith was ably supported by Vikram Solanki, who struck 65, but there was little contributions from any of the other batsmen. Following on, they were decimated by Glen Chapple, Dominic Cork and James Anderson. Chapple took 4 for 32, and Cork 2 for 20, to leave Worcestershire 112 for 9 at the close, still 74 runs behind.