Warwickshire dominate Sussex

Division One

Points Table

Jonathan Trott moved on to a double-century as Warwickshire ended their first innings on a dominant 475. Trott was last man out for 210. Sussex got off to the worst possible start, losing Richard Montgomerie first-ball to Makhaya Ntini. Mike Yardy, with 75 and Murray Goodwin, with an unbeaten 103 steadied a wobbling Sussex ship as the visitors ended the day on 244 for 3, trailing by 231 runs.

Middlesex batted for a further 22 overs this morning, allowing Paul Weekes to register his hundred and Peter Trego to reach a blistering half-century, in their declaration of 400 for 8 against Kent. In reply, Robert Key and David Fulton put on 283 for the first wicket, both striking centuries before Key was run out for 142, his fourth hundred of the season. Fulton fell just before the close of play to leave Kent on 290 for 2, trailing by 110 runs.

A sporting declaration by Hampshire has brought the possibility of a result in their match against Surrey. Hampshire, starting the day on 28 for 2, declared on 361 for 6 with Shane Watson hitting 88 and the wicketkeeper, Nick Pothas, striking an unbeaten 100. In what is essentially now a one-innings match, Surrey had five overs in which to survive, which they managed without alarm.

Alex Wharf took 6 for 59 for Glamorgan, to bundle Gloucestershire out for just 133 and give the visitors control of the game. Glamorgan, who are still searching for their first win of the season, were bowled out for 382 before their seamers got to work. David Harrison got things going by dismissing Craig Spearman, as he and Wharf decimated Gloucestershire's batting. At one stage, the home side were 37 for 6; they were indebted to Stephen Adshead, who made 36 and Jon Lewis with an unbeaten 36 at better than a run a ball. Glamorgan lost five wickets in their second innings, including two to Ramnaresh Sarwan's leg-breaks, but they lead by 400 runs.

Division Two

Points Table

A blistering 82 by Glen Chapple, from just 67 balls, gave Lancashire the honours on day two of their match against Worcestershire. Mal Loye could only add a further 17 runs, ending on 187, but Lancashire's lower-order denied Worcestershire's bowlers as they reached a formidable total of 562. In reply, Worcestershire lost Chris Gayle, Graeme Hick and Stephen Moore to leave the visitors struggling on 111 for 3, some 451 runs behind Lancashire.

In Essex's match against Somerset, which has been heavily affected by rain, James Foster's first hundred of the season allowed Essex to reach a comfortable total of 400 for 6 declared. Foster and Ronnie Irani put on 157 for the sixth wicket, with Foster's hundred coming off 196 balls with 13 fours and a six. The match is already into its last day, tomorrow, and despite Andre Nel picking up Matthew Wood and Arul Suppiah for ducks, the game is heading for a draw.

Darren Robinson's 19th hundred of his career, and his third of the season, was the highlight for Leicestershire who ended the day on 390 for 6. Leicestershire's middle-order all got starts, but failed to convert them into substantial innings; Northamtonshire's Damien Wright took four for 83 to leave the hosts struggling on 292 for 5. However, Ottis Gibson and Paul Nixon combined in a partnership worth 98, with Gibson ending the day unbeaten on 63 as the home side reached 390 for 6.

Dale Benkenstein struck a century for Durham, whose first innings closed on 414 against Yorkshire. They lost wickets regularly, however, with Deon Kruis picking up 5 for 106, his third 5-wicket-haul of the season. In reply, none of Durham's front-line seamers could force a breakthrough, but Paul Collingwood took 2 for 25 to leave Yorkshire on 129 for 2, trailing by 285.