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Neil Carter is congratulated after bowling HD Ackerman
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The game of the day was
Nottinghamshire versus
Ireland at Trent Bridge by a big margin, given the narrowness of the win - Nottinghamshire triumphing by one run to go top of the table. Ireland may have been the wooden spoons but they were certainly prepared to stir Nottinghamshire, albeit in agonising pursuit of 241. Kevin O'Brien shone with an unbeaten 93, building on Reinhardt Strydom's 49. Nottinghamshire had their middle order to thank for rescuing them from 22 for 3, with Adam Voges, Samit Patel and Chris Read each making fifties.
Warwickshire emerged winners of a game against
Leicestershire made lopsided by intermittent - and interfering - rain showers
at Oakham. Batting first Warwickshire made 187 for 8 from 49 overs, having lost one over after the players departed the field, then returned, in the 46th over. Leicestershire set off in pursuit but at 19.3 overs, when on 53 for 2, the rain came again, leaving them eight runs short when Duckworth-Lewis was calculated. Having restricted Warwickshire, to lose in such a manner was a big blow for Leicestershire who are still not through: they need a point in their final game on Wednesday.
North Division
Durham made it two wins in two this weekend, their big 117-run win
at Chester-le-Street
pushing
Derbyshire down to third after Yorkshire also won. Durham posted a mighty 297 for 7 after choosing to bat, Michael di Venuto weighing in with a century and Will Smith a fifty, which proved far too daunting for the visitors. Gareth Breese shot them down with 5 for 41, while Steve Harmison's economy helped; his five overs went for 18.
For John Ward's account of how Yorkshire overcame Scotland at Headingley,
click here.South East Division
Tabletoppers Kent are in the quarter-finals, even after torrential overnight rain left the outfield under water, washing out their game against Middlesex at Tunbridge Wells. Middlesex can no longer qualify. Essex also made the last eight after picking up a point from a would-be fixture with Sussex - who were already out of the competition - that was abandoned after the third inspection at 2pm. It was to have been Hastings' first match in eight years.South West Division
Hampshire were denied a final stab at glory when rained washed out their tussle with Glamorgan at the Rose Bowl 45 minutes before the scheduled noon start. Hampshire needed a win to keep their quarter-final hopes kindled while Glamorgan were already out, with only one win. Gloucestershire are guaranteed a home quarter-final after rain washed out proceedings in Bath half an hour before the start and Somerset are still in the hunt for a place in the last eight.
