Gale blows hot for Yorkshire

Division One

Points table

Day 3
A much improved second-innings performance from Lancashire left Kent with a tricky 215 to get on the third day at Canterbury. Resuming on 56 for 2, Lancashire rode on a magnificent third-wicket stand of 190 between Mal Loye and Stuart Law with Loye continuing his excellent season, falling just two short of a deserved hundred as Amjad Khan produced a fine spell of pace and reverse swing. Law, too, fell short of a ton but Nathan Astle (84), Andrew Flintoff (37) and Glen Chapple, who smeared 50 from 49 balls, took Lancashire to the heights of 436. Kent, in the four overs left in the day, moved to 3 for no loss.

Day 2
A fine maiden hundred from Andrew Gale, the 23-year-old left-hander, led Yorkshire to a mammoth 536 on the second day against Warwickshire at Scarborough. After losing their nightwatchman Jason Gillespie, who hung around for 49 balls for his 25, Gale (149) - dropped in 51 by Mark Wagh - and the wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy put on 162 for the seventh wicket. Brophy did well to shepherd the strike but was last man out for 97. Warwickshrie were a shambles in the field; they also missed a chance to stump Gale on 146.

Division Two

Points Table

Day 1
The evergreen Jon Lewis proved that even in these stifling conditions he can be a handful as he almost single-handedly ran through Worcestershire, who were dismissed for 271 on the opening day at New Road against Gloucestershire. Lou Vincent, opening the innings with Stephen Moore, lasted just five balls and soon Worcestershire were in real trouble when Vikram Solanki, just beginning to launch the bowlers to all parts, was bowled by Steve Kirby for 60. A pair of 40s from Graeme Hick and Roger Sillence took the home side past 250. Gloucestershire lost both their openers in reply, but Hamish Marshall was unbeaten on 56 going into the second day.

Day 2
On a day of high scores Michael Powell moved serenely onto 202 as Glamorgan were finally bowled out for an imposing 474 against Essex on the second day at Chelmsford. Powell found good suppot in David Harrison who, batting at No.9, smacked 64 from just 67 balls, clobbering ten fours. Glamorgan then capped off an impressive day, snaffling four Essex wickets - there were three catches for David Hemp, too - as Essex closed on 154 for 4, trailing by 320 runs.

Click here to read the bulletin from Guildford as Justin Langer rewrote the record books, smashing 342 for Somerset against Surrey.

Honours were even on the second day at Leicester as the home side moved within touching distance of Derbyshire's first innings total of 386, but had just four wickets remaining. Derbyshire's tail were soon mopped up in the morning session when James Pipe chipped one back to Stuart Broad who took his fifth wicket, ending with the impressive figures of 5 for 89, his third five-wicket haul of the season. In reply John Maunders and HD Ackerman got the hosts off to a crisp start, Maunders bashing 10 fours in his 64, but both fell during a mid-innings collapse which saw Leicestershire stumble somewhat from a comfortable 199 for 3 to 333 for 6. They trailed by 53 runs going into the third day.