Koenig and Gait keep the flag flying

Rain might have resulted in many interruptions during the past weeks County matches but Andrew Gait and Sven Koenig broke through the gloom with some fine first class batting performances, while Neil Johnson performed in the limited overs version.

Gait scored 88 for Derbyshire in their draw against Gloucestershire and Koenig scored 55 for Middlesex as they drew with Worcestershire.

Shaun Pollock bowled very economically in his drawn match for Warwickshire against Kent returning match analysis of 24.4-8-41-2. With the bat however he only managed five runs. Neil Carter taking two wickets with successive balls took 3/24 in the second innings. He also failed with the bat scoring one.

Hampshire and Sussex also had to be content with a draw. Johnson took 1/38 and scored three runs while Nic Pothas scored 10 runs for Hampshire. Mark Davis, fairing no better scored eight and took 1/3 for Sussex.

The Nottinghamshire, West Indies 'A' match also petered out into a draw with Kevin Pieterson scoring one run.

Johnson was the star of the South African connection scoring 92 runs as Hampshire beat Sussex by 93 runs in a Norwich Union encounter. Pothas helped the cause taking five catches behind the wicket and also scoring 26 before being run out. Mark Davis scored seven and took 2/45.

Gait scoring 30 runs for Derby saw his team go down by seven runs to Gloucester in the limited overs match. Koenig scoring 16 for Middlesex saw Surrey run away with an eight wicket win.