Essex stay top after 39-run win

Division One

An impressive bowling performance secured Essex a 39-run win over Worcestershire. As Stephen Moore and Graeme Hick were adding 66 for the first wicket, Essex's 203 for 9 did not look like being enough. However, the part-time medium-pace of Will Jefferson claimed two scalps - including Hick - while James Middlebrook weighed in with three. Earlier, Jefferson top-scored for Essex with 39, as none of the Essex batsmen could convert solid starts.

Northamptonshire eased to a five-wicket win against Gloucestershire after an opening stand of 166 between Martin Love and Tim Roberts. Love remained unbeaten on 97 and guided Northants through a mini wobble as the winning line approached. Gloucestershire had been rescued from 69 for 5 by Mark Hardinges' 63 after Ben Phillips had taken three quick wickets

Middlesex made the most of the flat Southgate pitch to amass 314 for 5 against Nottinghamshire, enough to give them a 31-run win. Paul Weekes hit a run-a-ball 106 and Scott Styris gave the innings real momentum with 82 from 64 balls. Ed Joyce added the final flourish as his unbeaten 41 came from only 18 deliveries. Notts were forced to play their shots and lost wickets at regular intervals. Samit Patel's 82 was entertaining but came too late to change the course of the match

Hampshire cruised to a seven-wicket win against Glamorgan with more than seven over remaining. Nic Pothas gave their run chase the ideal base with an aggressive 76 and Craig McMillan guided Hampshire home in style with a rapid 49. Shaun Udal and Shane Warne had restricted Glamorgan's innings, following a positive start from Robert Croft and Matthew Elliott. Croft top-scored with 88 but was short of support.

Ian Ward blasted 93 from 75 balls helping Sussex power to a seven-wicket win over Durham. Chris Adams supported him with 58 from 49 balls as Sussex won with more than 15 overs to spare. Durham's batting stuttered along as James Kirtley took four wickets. Dale Benkenstein top-scored with 57 but their total of 195 was never going to be enough on a good batting strip at Arundel.

Darren Maddy made an unbeaten 107 as Leicestershire beat Warwickshire by seven wickets with eight balls to spare. He added 100 for the first with with Tom New to put Leicestershire on track. They had reduced Warwickshire to 43 for 4 and would have expected to chase less than 200, but Jonathan Trott (93 not out) and Alex Loudon (51) led a recovery for Warwickshire. Ashley Giles made a successful return to action following his hip injury, taking 1 for 44 in his nine overs.

Scotland earned themselves a thrilling tie against Derbyshire when Dewald Nel scampered a single from the final ball at Derby. Dougie Lockhart's unbeaten 88 from 98 balls enabled Scotland to recover from 55 for four, but it wasn't quite enough to get them past the winning post. Michael di Venuto's 112 was the mainstay of Derbyshire's 220 for 8 and Ant Botha scored a rapid 33 towards the end of the innings.