News

Dexter halts Nottinghamshire's march towards title

A round-up from the latest County Championship matches

Cricinfo staff
16-Sep-2005

Division One

Points Table


Niall O'Brien made an unbeaten 56 to steady Kent's innings with Neil Dexter © Getty Images
On the third day at Canterbury, Nottinghamshire declared on 486 for 6 against Kent, adding 31 to their overnight total. Kent started promisingly with an opening stand of 66 between David Fulton and Robert Key, but Mark Ealham dismissed both openers as Kent lost five wickets in just eleven overs. Graeme Swann was then brought into the attack; he had Martin van Jaarsveld caught behind for 9 and, the very next ball, bowled Darren Stevens to leave Kent reeling on 99 for 4. Swann failed to pick up his hat-trick, but did add to his two wickets by trapping Matt Walker leg-before for 11. Neil Dexter, making his home debut for Kent, and Niall O'Brien halted Nottinghamshire's march by producing an undefeated partnership of 129, with Dexter reaching 79 and O'Brien 56. Kent finished the day on 237 for 5, exactly 100 runs adrift of the follow-on target.
ECB chief executive David Collier, who was previously Notts' chief executive, plans to attend the game tomorrow if Notts are able to take the 15 more wickets they need to secure the title. Notts need 21 points from this game in order to take an unbeatable lead over the other three teams, all of whom were title contenders when this penultimate round of matches began.

Robert Croft took five wickets for Glamorgan, who bowled Hampshire out for 350 on the second day at Cardiff. After yesterday's play was washed out without a ball being bowled, eleven wickets fell and there were four fifties. Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Hampshire got off to a solid start with Jimmy Adams making 71, and Australian Simon Katich also reaching his half-century. Despite Croft's five wickets, Hampshire's 350 was compiled in 95 overs - and Dan Cherry fell to the second ball of Glamorgan's reply, when he edged Richard Logan to Nic Pothas.

Division Two

Points Table
Having lost the entire day to rain on Thursday, Northamptonshire declared on 414 for 7 against Durham, who then lost six wickets for just 171. Robert White took 4 for 38 and Dale Benkenstein struck 41.
On the first day of Derbyshire's match against Yorkshire at Derby, the home side were dismissed for just 216. Ian Harvey was the chief destroyer, picking up 5 for 40, with Steve Stubbings top-scoring with 63. Matthew Wood (50*) and Joe Sayers (46) opened Yorkshire's reply and reached 113, before Sayers was bowled by Graeme Welch.