Cork provides fireworks for Ganguly's birthday

Dominic Cork dominated this weekend as he had last - this time with the ball as he bowled out Lancashire for 172 with 6-41 in Derbyshire's championship match at Derby. His analysis included an explosive spell of 5-17 in 37 balls: Lancashire's last seven wickets tumbled for 37 runs in 14 overs.

By the close the home county, bottom of Division One and with seven players out injured, took the first innings lead of 135 to 172. At the moment Cork can do nothing wrong. Yesterday he scored a half-century and today he had Michael Atherton caught before he had scored. That was just a prelude for his assault just after tea-time.

Lancashire were not prepared for what was about to hit them as they moved comfortably towards the interval at 135-3, and Saurav Ganguly was leg before to the last ball of the afternoon - hardly the present he had wanted for his 27th birthday.

At least Derbyshire provided him with some fireworks for the occasion. Graham Lloyd was run out to the second ball afterwards. Then came Cork and the rest - for the visiting batsmen at least - was silence.

Kasir Shah will have fond memories of a day in which he stayed 70 minutes with Trevor Smith while he garnered his first championship half-century. Then with his second ball in first-class competition he bowled John Crawley (37) and also dismissed Neil Fairbrother.

It was also a memorable day for seamer Kasir Shah who, after rain delayed the start by 70 minutes first shepherded Trevor Smith to his maiden half-century. Mark Saxelby and Mike Di Venuto were out before Derbyshire came in at 40-2.