League and Championship matches in progress

With the Norwich Union National League Second Division title comfortably clinched by Surrey, the battle continues for the other two promotion places. Five teams are in with the chance to make the first division next year, with only Hampshire, Durham and Derbyshire certain to stay down.

The First Division is heading for a much tighter finish. Somerset, in their floodlit match at Taunton last night, missed the chance to go back to the top of the table - above Yorkshire - when they went down by 62 runs to lowly Leicestershire.

The visitors, after winning the toss, made 267 for six and Somerset then lost three wickets for ten in two overs. Despite a hard-hitting 97 off 115 balls from Michael Burns and 69 from Keith Parsons, they subsided to 205 all out. Darren Maddy took 4-16 in four overs.

In the first division of the PPP Healthcare Championship, there is a bottom-of-the-table clash starting today at Chester-le-Street where a win for Durham over Hampshire could move them out of the relegation zone. The Geordies have not beaten Hampshire since 1995, and their captain Nick Speak was relieved of his duties earlier this week.

Victory for Somerset over Leicestershire in their game starting at Taunton tomorrow, would keep them around mid-table, whereas a win for the visitors could push them up to second place, depending on the result of the Yorkshire v. Surrey match which started yesterday.

Surrey have, however, made a fine start with 330 for eight after being put in and are without the services of Alec Stewart and Graham Thorpe, both on England duty. Yorkshire are missing Michael Vaughan, Darren Gough and Craig White.

In Division Two, Northamptonshire lead with 150 points but there is only one point between each of the next three sides. In their match against Gloucestershire, Northants made a fine start on 282 for five with half centuries from Russell Warren and David Sales.

Worcestershire, in second place with 136 points, began well on 151 for 2 but were dismissed for 263 with Allan Donald, in his farewell game after thirteen years with Warwickshire, claiming four for 69.

The current match between Nottinghamshire and Sussex, both near the bottom of the division, is unlikely to have any significant effect on the table. But Notts have put up a good score of 336 for eight. Darren Bicknell carried his bat after hitting his maiden century for the county.

At Southend for Essex and Glamorgan are looking for promotion with just one point between them in third and fourth positions. Essex were struggling on 13 for three until captain Ronnie Irani with 95 and Stuart Law with 70 pulled them to 292 all out. A victory for either side could cause a reshuffle in the top order of the points table by this weekend.