County Cricket Round-Up - 24th July

County Cricket Round-Up - 24th July

Ed Joyce made a century as Sussex thrashed Worcestershire

©REUTERS / Action Images

A round-up the latest action in county cricket including an important result in the Championship match between Durham and Somerset and the CB40 programme. By Daniel Grummitt.

Durham’s middle-order misfired once again on the final day of their LV= County Championship match at Taunton against Somerset. Resuming on 209 for one, the home side were bowled out for 378 with Charl Willoughby (four for 80) and Alfonso Thomas (three for 73) sharing seven wickets. This left the home side needing 119 for victory, which they achieved in less than 22 overs with Arul Suppiah ending unbeaten on 66 from 61 balls.
 
Derbyshire comfortably beat Kent in Group A of the Clydesdale Bank 40 courtesy of a century from overseas player Martin Guptill at the top of the order. He made 102 and shared a fourth wicket stand of 129 with Greg Smith (68 from 57 balls) as the home side ended with 249 for nine from their 40 overs. Darren Stevens hit a brisk 65 in the Kent reply but they were eventually bowled out for 218 in the 35th over to lose by 31 runs.
 
Nottinghamshire recorded a 19-run win over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham, a half-century from Alex Hales coupled with useful contributions from Riki Wessels (37 from 24), Samit Patel (45 from 50) and Scott Elstone (36 from 32) hauling them up to an imposing total of 266 after electing to bat. Ian Cockbain top-scored with 79 in the Gladiators’ reply but they ended short on 247 for nine as Luke Fletcher returned figures of three for 39.
 
Leicestershire’s batsmen, despite being shorn of the injured James Taylor, easily overhauled a modest Northamptonshire total of 206 for six at Grace Road. Josh Cobb batted throughout the Foxes’ innings to end with an excellent 91 from 88 balls and shared a swashbuckling opening stand of 58 with Andrew McDonald (35 from 19) in five overs. Earlier Nadeem Malik had taken three for 37 to help restrict the Steelbacks, who had half-centuries from Stephen Peters and Andrew Hall to thank for hauling them up to a competitive total.
 
An explosive spell of bowling from Junaid Khan (four for 29) proved too much for the Unicorns’ lower-order as they were bowled out for just 179 against Lancashire at Colwyn Bay. Simon Kerrigan (two for 21) and Stephen Parry (one for 32) had done the early damage, with former Hampshire and Sussex batsman Michael Thornely top-scoring with 47. Lancashire eased past the target with 12 overs and eight wickets unused, Steven Croft ending with 59 not out.
 
Ed Joyce (101 not out from 89) and Chris Nash (61 from 55) shared a fast-paced 153 for the first wicket against Worcestershire to ease Sussex to an eight-wicket victory. The Pears had earlier been held to 217 for seven from their 40 overs thanks to some tidy bowling from the visitors’ spin attack.
 
Surrey beat Warwickshire by three wickets with an over to spare at Guildford as Yasir Arafat took five for 45 to hold the visitors to just 225 for eight after they had elected to bat. Rikki Clarke added impetus with a late 76 from 61 balls after Arafat had removed the top-order cheaply. Zander de Bruyn anchored the home side’s run chase with a well-paced 84 from 92 balls and was ably assisted by a breezy 39 from Tom Maynard.
 
Tomorrow’s Fixture (Start time in brackets)

Group B, CB40, Northamptonshire v Hampshire at Northampton (1640)
 
County News in Brief

Kent have submitted a 28-day approach for Warwickshire seamer Naqaash Tahir, while the Bears have made approaches for Jack Brooks and Gary Keedy. They are also considering signing teenage fast-bowler Ricardo Gordon from club cricket.
 
Maurice Holmes has been cleared to play for Barnt Green in the Birmingham & District Premier League as he attempts to rectify his troublesome bowling action.
 
Ian Westwood will miss Warwickshire’s next championship match with a finger injury.
 
James Taylor has suffered a shoulder injury; the extent of the problem is as yet unknown.

© Cricket World 2011