Benson and Hedges quarter final round-up

The best finish of the day was at Headingley, where Yorkshire's last pair could not manage to score 12 runs from the final over, Sidebottom being bowled by the 5th ball with 8 still required. Surrey were put into bat by Yorkshire, a ploy that reaped immediate rewards. 24 year-old seamer Matthew Hoggard has looked the pick of the Yorkshire bowlers this season, despite the presence of Gough, White, Hamilton and Sidebottom in the team. In helpful conditions he cut the Surrey top-order to ribbons, dismissing Butcher, Brown, Thorpe and Adam Hollioake in his first spell, and leaving Surrey in a spot of bother at 39/4. Thorpe's duck wil not have done his chances of an England recall much good. Alec Stewart however looked very good indeed as he recorded the highest score of the day with an unbeaten 97. The younger Hollioake accompanied him in a partnership of just under 100, and given the abysmal start, Surrey were probably content with 198. Tudor, bowling fast and accurately, and Bicknell getting considerable movement either way made early inroads, and it took Lehmann (50) and Wood (59) to lead a recovery from 15/3. They put on 109 before Lehman was caught off Ben Hollioake, then Adam Hollioake chipped in with two wickets as Yorkshire lost their way. Poor running combined with good fielding resulted in three consecutive run-outs, and set up the excitement of the final over.

Batting was difficult at Sophia Gardens on a difficult pitch after Hampshire put Glamorgan in. Hartley had both openers back in the pavillion for just 16. With Elliot gone, and Maynard following shortly after the onus on rebuilding the innings fell on Adrian Dale (63*), whose unbeaten 99 run partnership with Newell (49*) took them from 83/5 to a respectable 182. Warne took two wickets but proved expensive, the slower English wickets so far not proving to be to his liking. Hampshire's hopes of a semi-final spot were rudely dismissed by Parkin who took the first three wickets to reduce Hampshire to 16 for 3. When Smith fell to Watkin on the same score Hampshire were in deep trouble, and with Dale adding a couple of wickets, they slumped to 38/8. Complete embarrasment was averted by Udal (top scorer with 15), with the unlikely help of Mullally (13), elevated to 10 in the batting order, but Newell took the last two wickets to give Glamorgan a comprehensive victory. Dale's all-round efforts earned him the Gold Award.

Crawley asked Durham to bat after winning the toss at Old Trafford, and Peter Martin responded by removing Lewis with the first ball of the innings. Katich, and Speight took the score to 87 before Speight was bowled by Flintoff, then Chris Schofield ran through the middle order, notching the valuable scalp of Katich for 62, and recording figures of 4/34. The England selectors wil already have pencilled him in the Test side on this form. Flintoff also bowled well for his 2/30, and Durham were all out for 154 with 3 overs remaining. The Lancashire top order looks most impressive on paper, but today less so on the field and after Atherton was bowled by Betts for 2, Crawley, Flintoff, Ganguly and Lloyd all followed, with Lancashire in desperate straits at 35/5. John Wood bowled Flintoff and Ganguly with his right arm swing and seam, and had Crawley caught. It fell to the experienced Neil Fairbrother (57*) to try and re-build the ruined innings, and helped by former England keeper Hegg took the score into three figures. Harmison bowled Hegg, Schofield managed only 3, but the reliable Ian Austin stayed with Fairbrother to see Lancashire home with 5 overs and 3 wickets to spare. Fairbrother (battling a flu bug) earned the Gold Award for his efforts.

Gloucestershire produced the highest total of the day, after Martin-Jenkins and two run outs had seen them fall to 54/4. Harvey dominated a partnership of 132 with Alleyne, scoring 88 in just 70 balls with eleven fours and two sixes. Harvey was unfortunate to be run out by a deflection onto the stumps at the bowler's end, but recorded his best score for the county. Alleyne was more patient, and with the lower order contributing, they totaled 237. Adams' poor run of form continued when he fell to Harvey - a fine all-round performance by the Australian, and worthy of the Gold Award - but Bevan continued his excellent run of form stroking 71 from 85 balls, and Carpenter provided useful support. They had fallen behind the run-rate required and when Bevan was caught by Alleyne off the aptly named Ball, Sussex were 152/5 and needed over 8 per over. No-one could raise the tempo, however, and with wickets falling, Sussex could only muster 208, with Carpenter's unbeaten 53 off 69 balls not enough.