News

Rudolph and Key slam hundreds

A round-up from the latest Pro40 matches

Cricinfo staff
29-Jul-2007

Division One

Michael Lumb and Sean Ervine hit rapid half-centuries as Hampshire gained a thrilling two-run win against Essex in a match reduced to 25 overs per side at The Rose Bowl. Lumb ensured Hampshire gained a flyer to their innings, taking 40 balls over his 62, and Ervine built on his work with a 38-ball 57. The hard hitting continued all the way down the order and when Essex lost three early wickets against James Bruce and Daren Powell the task became enough tougher. But James Foster (61) and Grant Flower (54) managed to keep up with an escalating run rate and strong striking from Ryan ten Doeschate and Andy Bichel kept the game alive. However, Powell came back to grab two vital wickets and Shaun Udal kept Essex down in the final over.
Worcestershire gave their suffering supporters something to smile about with a seven-wicket win against Sussex in their relocated match at Edgbaston. Vikram Solanki hit a 51-ball 55 then Ben Smith and Graeme Hick calmly completed the chase with a stand of 110 and four overs to spare. Sussex had wasted a strong platform after Richard Montgomerie (65) and Murray Goodwin (52) added 106 for the second wicket as Ray Price and Gareth Batty shared six wickets. Sussex's spin pair of Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq couldn't produce a repeat.
Gloucestershire held their nerve to secure a three-run win against Warwickshire in a tight encounter at Bristol. Darren Maddy (71) and Kumar Sangakkara (55), only recently back from Sri Lanka, gave Warwickshire a chance and Tim Ambrose kept them in touch. But Ben Edmondson pulled out a fine last over and removed Tim Groenewald with six still needed. Gloucestershire had Alex Gidman's 88 off 74 balls to thank for their total of 212, after a delayed started reduced the match to 35 overs per side.

Team Mat Won Lost TiedN/R Pts Net RR For Against
Lancashire 3 1 0 0 24 +0.187 189/31.4 185/32.0
Gloucestershire 3 1 0 0 2 4+0.086 212/35.0 209/35.0
Worcestershire 21 0 0 1 3 +0.667204/36.0 200/40.0
Hampshire 2 10 0 1 3 +0.080 224/25.0222/25.0
Nottinghamshire 1 1 00 0 2 +1.351 194/31.4 191/40.0
Essex 2 0 1 01 1 -0.080 222/25.0 224/25.0
Northamptonshire 2 0 1 0 11 -0.187 185/32.0 189/31.4
Sussex 1 0 1 0 0 0-0.667 200/40.0 204/36.0
Warwickshire 20 2 0 0 0 -0.757400/75.0 406/66.4

Division Two

Jacques Rudolph's powerful 127 was key to Yorkshire's nine-run win against Somerset at Scarborough, under the Duckworth-Lewis calculations, but it was nearly snatched away by Ian Blackwell's brilliant 97. Rudolph faced 114 balls against an attack missing the rested Andy Caddick and Charl Willoughby. He added 72 with Craig White for the first wicket and a key 111 with Andrew Gale for the fifth. Gale and Tim Bresnan finished with a flurry of boundaries and when Somerset floundered to 98 for 6 the game appeared over. However, Blackwell cut loose and launched seven sixes while adding 115 with Craig Kieswetter. Richard Pyrah eventually had Blackwell stumped after 73 balls and Yorkshire held on at the death. Read John Ward's full report here.
Robert Key led from the front with 104 as Kent continued their impressive one-day form with a 10-run win against Derbyshire at Derby. Key took 96 balls to reach his hundred, adding 111 with Joe Denly who made 52 off 44 balls. Martin van Jaarsveld added 62 as the second wicket added 110. Derbyshire chased hard with Greg Smith hitting 88 off 68 deliveries, but Kent collected wickets at regular intervals and had breathing space at the end.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul began his Durham stint in match-winning style as he stroked an unbeaten 80 in their seven-wicket win against Surrey at Guildford. Chanderpaul added 120 with Kyle Coetzer (76) and Chanderpaul remained to see the job home alongside captain Dale Benkenstein. Phil Mustard provided another view of his tremendous hitting power with a 42-ball 63 to make major inroads into the target. Chris Schofield was taken to the cleaners, his three overs costing 40. Surrey's 247, under par on a small ground, was based around 84 from Scott Newman and well-paced 59 from Ali Brown.
Middlesex's seamers brushed aside Glamorgan in a 21-over game at Ebbw Vale. Chaminda Vaas and Chad Keegan took the first five wickets for 18 runs and Glamorgan were out of the game before Murali Kartik chipped in with three. Middlesex's 183 was based around stylish half-centuries from Owais Shah and Ed Joyce. Shah took 34 balls over 59 and Joyce's 55 needed just 33 deliveries as he hammered four sixes. Ed Smith provided early momentum, adding 101 for the second wicket with Shah.

Team Mat Won LostTied N/R Pts Net RR For Against
Kent 2 2 0 00 4 +0.685 461/73.3 447/80.0
Durham 2 2 0 0 04 +0.587 395/54.3 393/59.0
Middlesex 2 1 1 0 0 2+2.124 328/40.0 240/39.3
Derbyshire 21 1 0 0 2 +0.413381/56.5 390/62.0
Yorkshire 1 10 0 0 2 +0.237 251/38.0242/38.0
Somerset 1 0 10 0 0 -0.237 242/38.0 251/38.0
Surrey 1 0 1 00 0 -0.717 248/40.0 249/36.0
Leicestershire 1 0 1 0 00 -0.968 175/40.0 179/33.3
Glamorgan 2 0 2 0 0 0-3.020 202/43.0 292/37.5