County Roundup

DURHAM v LANCASHIRE: Celebrations in the county became more than just a little muted today as Durham's players tumbled to an inglorious 141 run defeat at the hands of Lancashire at the Riverside. Although they made a good start (wrapping up the last three Lancashire second innings wickets for the addition of only a further six runs), they failed to receive suitable inspiration from the bright news this morning that young seamer, Steve Harmison, had received an England call-up. Chasing 234 to win, they were never in the hunt. Right arm paceman Michael Smethurst (7/50) played a major role in ensuring that the top half of Durham's order buckled before the score had even reached fifty. That he then set about completely rearranging his previous best first class bowling figures (of 4/44) as the lower order succumbed in similarly tame fashion only made the home team's misery more acute. It has been an excellent beginning to the season for Lancashire and today's result emphatically confirmed the trend.

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YORKSHIRE v HAMPSHIRE: At Leeds, a maiden first class century from all-rounder Gavin Hamilton (125) served as the perfect tonic to reinforce Yorkshire's already pronounced domination over Hampshire. Together with a typically productive Darren Lehmann (85), the powerful right hander put a lie to the capricious nature of a pitch that has ensured that no other player in the match has even surpassed the score of thirty. By contrast, Hampshire's bowlers (foremost among them Shane Warne with an unimpressive 2/81) were listless throughout and the fact that they conceded a massive sixty-eight extras was indicative of their waywardness. From the position of 84/4, the visitors have much left to do tomorrow if they are to avoid another heavy defeat; certainly their batsmen will need to acquit themselves much more effectively than they have done at any stage of a dismal season thus far.

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SURREY v KENT: Led by unexpectedly sizeable contributions from lower order players Martin Bicknell (73) and Iain Salisbury (50), Surrey claimed maximum batting points against Kent at the Oval. The home team ended at 417 against an attack which failed to restrict each of seven batsmen from making it beyond the score of thirty. For Kent, an indication of its general lack of penetration with the ball lay in the fact that the main excitement was derived from the attainment of a second wicket for Rahul Dravid (2/16). Given that the visitors found similarly few terrors in the pitch on their way to a mark of 115/2 by the time that bad light intervened late in the day, the match already looks as though it will be consigned to the dull draw basket when it ends tomorrow.

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LEICESTERSHIRE v SOMERSET: Two players at opposite ends of the spectrum of cricketing experience complemented one another well but that failed to make matters too much easier today for Somerset in its battle with Leicestershire at Grace Road. Veteran Graham Rose (5/74) and youngster Jamie Grove (5/90) shared all of Leicestershire's wickets but the fact that Somerset's attack as a whole remained unable to find a way of disturbing the progress of Aftab Habib (172*) condemned them to further trouble. It was not until the home team's lead had spilled to a mark of 125 runs that its first innings ended; as such, even a solid second innings start that guided the visitors to a mark of 124/2 by stumps failed to wipe the collective smile off the locals' faces. For his part, Habib continued to exhibit the glorious strokeplay that characterised the bulk of his 275 run stand with Jonathan Dakin (135) for the fifth wicket. For its, Somerset continued to suffer from the gracious decision made before the game to rest spearhead Andy Caddick ahead of next week's First Test against Zimbabwe.

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MIDDLESEX v WORCESTERSHIRE: Worcestershire's target of 161 had not seemed easy, as wickets had fallen regularly in the first two days. First innings centurion Wilson fell without addition to the overnight score and at 50/3 the match seemed as though it could go either way. Graham Hick had other thoughts, and in his most dominating form took the Middlesex bowling on. His 115, made out of 161 off just 106 balls was an innings of high class, especially considering the domination of ball over bat in the preceding two days. Worcestershire won by 7 wickets in a game that was over by lunch on the third day, and the England selectors must be relieved to see Hick in such fine form.

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SUSSEX v WARWICKSHIRE: Warwickshire resumed at 439/6, and Dougie Brown and Ashley Giles took up where they left off, extending their 7th wicket partnership to 289 runs before Brown, hitting out, was stumped. His 203 is the second double hundred for Warwickshire this spring, and Giles' unbeaten 128 was a personal best. The 7th wicket partnership is a Warwickshire record, beating the 47 year old mark set by Tom Dollery and Ord against Kent, and Brown and Giles' totals are both Warwickshire records for a number 7 and 8 bat respectively. Warwickshire declared, leaving Sussex to face a first innings deficit of 324. Montgomerie continued his good early-season form with a competent fifty, but the Warwickshire bowlers made steady inroads, led by Giles, and Giddins celebrating his England call-up with two wickets in the final session. With Bevan gone for 36, tomorrow anything other than a Warwickshire victory will be a surprise.

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GLAMORGAN v GLOUCESTERSHIRE: Harvey and Barnett extended their partnership to 108 before Harvey was caught by Croft off Cosker for 79, a fine innings with 13 boundaries. Barnett's more pedestrian effort end when he was lbw to Cosker with the score on 234, and the Gloucestershire tail capitulated without a fight, and Glamorgan gained an 8 run first-innings lead. Elliot was run out for only 17, but Steve James showed the form that earnt him a Test last year with a sparkling century at nearly a run a ball. He was stumped on 109, but Maynard continued to an unbeaten 97, and to set up a declaration tomorrow with Glamorgan currently leading by 266.

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NORTHAMPTONSHIRE v NOTTINGHAMSHIRE: Gallian and Morris put on 131 for the 3rd wicket as Notts main objective was to save the follow-on after Sales' mammoth score. Gallian (45) and Morris (88) took the total past 200, but then Malcom had Gallian caught, and 18 runs later Morris fell to Davies. Apart from Milns who made a obstinate half-century in partnership with Bowen, and then with Stemp, the rest of the Notts batting crumbled, and they followed on. Morris soon found himself batting again as Bicknell and Gallian were quickly dismissed, and Notts have a hard task ahead of them if they are to save this match.

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CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY v DERBYSHIRE: Stubbings and Dowman missed centuries against Cambridge, both dismissed by Howitt in the nineties, but Cassar helped himself to a half-century as the University continued to struggle. Derbyshire declared on 337 for 5 (Cassar 77*), and the University capped a miserable day by losing their first three wickets for three runs, ending at 25/4. The students may well have some unexpected extra time to study for their exams tomorrow.

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