Vaughan, Trescothick and Anderson in the groove ahead of first Test
Kent v Middlesex, Canterbury Scorecard Ed Smith scored a fine century as Kent took the first steps towards prising themselves off the foot of the first division, closing on a healthy 291 for 4 against Middlesex
Wisden CricInfo staff
14-May-2003
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Scorecard
Ed Smith scored a fine century as Kent took the first steps towards prising themselves off the foot of the first division, closing on a healthy 291 for 4 against Middlesex. Smith began slowly, and by the time rain prompted an early tea, he had eased to 48 not out. But he more than doubled that in the final session, adding 132 for the third wicket with Greg Blewett. Both men fell in the space of five balls shortly before the close, however, Smith being one of three wickets for the persevering Joe Dawes.
Lancashire v Essex, Old Trafford
Scorecard
James Anderson virtually guaranteed himself a place in next week's first Test against Zimbabwe at Lord's, by sandwiching his England captain, Nasser Hussain, in the middle of a hat-trick, as Essex stumbled to 97 for 7 before lunch. At 21, Anderson is the youngest player ever to take a hat-trick for Lancashire, and the first since Mike Watkinson in 1992. Peter Martin swept up the middle order, and it took a plucky 57 from James Foster, another man with half an eye on Lord's next week, to carry Essex to the vaguely respectable total of 215. By the close however, Ian Sutcliffe has reached 50 not out in reply, and Lancashire were sitting pretty on 127 for 1, with Carl Hooper waiting in the wings after being cleared by the ECB to make his debut.
Scorecard
James Anderson virtually guaranteed himself a place in next week's first Test against Zimbabwe at Lord's, by sandwiching his England captain, Nasser Hussain, in the middle of a hat-trick, as Essex stumbled to 97 for 7 before lunch. At 21, Anderson is the youngest player ever to take a hat-trick for Lancashire, and the first since Mike Watkinson in 1992. Peter Martin swept up the middle order, and it took a plucky 57 from James Foster, another man with half an eye on Lord's next week, to carry Essex to the vaguely respectable total of 215. By the close however, Ian Sutcliffe has reached 50 not out in reply, and Lancashire were sitting pretty on 127 for 1, with Carl Hooper waiting in the wings after being cleared by the ECB to make his debut.
Surrey v Leicestershire, The Oval
Scorecard
Earlier this week, Darren Maddy and Brad Hodge took Loughborough UCCE to the cleaners with a brace of unbeaten double-centuries and a stand of 436. Today, they found the County Champions a rather tougher proposition, however, adding just six runs for the third wicket as Surrey took command at The Oval. Leicestershire were bundled out for 200 in 51.3 overs, although that was a considerable improvement on their earlier efforts - Azhar Mahmood took four of the first five wickets to fall, and it took a long-handled 65 from 58 balls from their captain Phil DeFreitas, to salvage the innings after Leicestershire had slumped to 70 for 7. DeFreitas then trapped Ian Ward early in Surrey's reply, but Alec Stewart and Mark Ramprakash made a brace of unbeaten half-centuries to close on 182 for 2.
Scorecard
Earlier this week, Darren Maddy and Brad Hodge took Loughborough UCCE to the cleaners with a brace of unbeaten double-centuries and a stand of 436. Today, they found the County Champions a rather tougher proposition, however, adding just six runs for the third wicket as Surrey took command at The Oval. Leicestershire were bundled out for 200 in 51.3 overs, although that was a considerable improvement on their earlier efforts - Azhar Mahmood took four of the first five wickets to fall, and it took a long-handled 65 from 58 balls from their captain Phil DeFreitas, to salvage the innings after Leicestershire had slumped to 70 for 7. DeFreitas then trapped Ian Ward early in Surrey's reply, but Alec Stewart and Mark Ramprakash made a brace of unbeaten half-centuries to close on 182 for 2.
Division Two
Durham v Worcestershire, Stockton
Scorecard
Bad weather, and Worcestershire's Stephen Peters, hampered Durham's bid to leave the foot of the table, as play was restricted to just 44 overs at Stockton. Peters made a patient 62 before he fell lbw to Stephen Harmison, who conceded just two runs an over in his final chance to impress before the England team is announced on Saturday. Danny Law was the only other bowler to take a wicket - the prize scalp of Graeme Hick for 30 - as Anurag Singh had earlier run himself out for 16.
Scorecard
Bad weather, and Worcestershire's Stephen Peters, hampered Durham's bid to leave the foot of the table, as play was restricted to just 44 overs at Stockton. Peters made a patient 62 before he fell lbw to Stephen Harmison, who conceded just two runs an over in his final chance to impress before the England team is announced on Saturday. Danny Law was the only other bowler to take a wicket - the prize scalp of Graeme Hick for 30 - as Anurag Singh had earlier run himself out for 16.
Gloucestershire v Hampshire, Bristol
Scorecard
Simon Katich fell four runs short of a well-deserved century, as Hampshire subjected Gloucestershire to a day of hard toil in the field - their stiffest competition yet in a runaway start to the season. John Crawley, Will Kendall and Nic Pothas all scored between 63 and 69 as Hampshire closed on 351 for 6. Gloucestershire's wickets were shared around, with Jon Lewis and Ian Butler grabbing two apiece.
Scorecard
Simon Katich fell four runs short of a well-deserved century, as Hampshire subjected Gloucestershire to a day of hard toil in the field - their stiffest competition yet in a runaway start to the season. John Crawley, Will Kendall and Nic Pothas all scored between 63 and 69 as Hampshire closed on 351 for 6. Gloucestershire's wickets were shared around, with Jon Lewis and Ian Butler grabbing two apiece.
Northamptonshire v Yorkshire, Northampton
Scorecard
Michael Vaughan brought himself up to speed ahead of next week's first Test with a timely 103, his first century of the season, but Northamptonshire's spin pairing of Jason Brown and Monty Panesar took six wickets between them to keep Yorkshire within reach. Vaughan dominated a second-wicket stand of 142 with his captain Anthony McGrath (51), but Northants struck back with quick wickets in the middle order. An unbeaten half-century from Richard Dawson prevented a total collapse, however, as Yorkshire closed on 360 for 9.
Scorecard
Michael Vaughan brought himself up to speed ahead of next week's first Test with a timely 103, his first century of the season, but Northamptonshire's spin pairing of Jason Brown and Monty Panesar took six wickets between them to keep Yorkshire within reach. Vaughan dominated a second-wicket stand of 142 with his captain Anthony McGrath (51), but Northants struck back with quick wickets in the middle order. An unbeaten half-century from Richard Dawson prevented a total collapse, however, as Yorkshire closed on 360 for 9.
Somerset v Glamorgan, Taunton
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Nixon McLean found inspiration in West Indies' exploits in Antigua, taking 5 for 43 as Glamorgan were bundled out for 200. Even Matthew Maynard couldn't save them this time, although his 55-run partnership with Adrian Dale came after McLean had reduced Glamorgan to 15 for 3. Robert Croft propped up the tail with 46, but Somerset were in utter command by the close, after Marcus Trescothick's blistering 70 from 74 balls. Peter Bowler had made a more sedate 51 not out, in a total of 161 for 1.
Scorecard
Nixon McLean found inspiration in West Indies' exploits in Antigua, taking 5 for 43 as Glamorgan were bundled out for 200. Even Matthew Maynard couldn't save them this time, although his 55-run partnership with Adrian Dale came after McLean had reduced Glamorgan to 15 for 3. Robert Croft propped up the tail with 46, but Somerset were in utter command by the close, after Marcus Trescothick's blistering 70 from 74 balls. Peter Bowler had made a more sedate 51 not out, in a total of 161 for 1.
Other match
Warwickshire v Cardiff UCCE, Abergavenny
Scorecard
Warwickshire's captain Michael Powell slapped the Cardiff students for a rapid 140, but Ian Bell missed the chance to remind the England selectors of his potential, as he was stumped for 21. Cardiff replied strongly to Warwickshire's 367 for 4 dec, closing on 106 for 1.
Scorecard
Warwickshire's captain Michael Powell slapped the Cardiff students for a rapid 140, but Ian Bell missed the chance to remind the England selectors of his potential, as he was stumped for 21. Cardiff replied strongly to Warwickshire's 367 for 4 dec, closing on 106 for 1.