County Cricket Round-Up: 9th September

County Cricket Round-Up: 9th September

Michael di Venuto registered a double-century as Durham close in on the title.

©Action Images / Keith Williams

LV County Championship Division One, day one

Durham are chasing 11 points to retain the LV County Championship and by closing day one against second-placed Nottinghamshire on 377 for one at The Riverside, they will feel they have one hand on the trophy. Michael di Venuto hit 219, and Kyle Coetzer 109 in an opening stand worth 314, Coetzer falling when he was run out by Mark Ealham.

Somerset were the other side in with a slight chance of overall glory and they restricted Lancashire to 297 for five at Taunton. The home side were going well by taking five wickets for 153 before 155 not out from Paul Horton and 69 not out from Kyle Hogg left things evenly poised.

Ed Joyce continued his fine form with 107 as Sussex were bowled out for 254 by Warwickshire. He faced 225 balls but the next best score came from Murray Goodwin, who hit 32, as Ant Botha (4-32) and Naqaash Tahir (3-48) ripped through the line-up. Warwickshire then slumped to 15 for two in reply, losing Botha (1) and Tahir, who as a nightwatchman, was run out without scoring.

Jimmy Adams (91) and Nic Pothas (93) missed out on centuries but their fifth-wicket stand of 161 steadied relegation-threatened Hampshire, enabling them to close on 357 for eight against Worcestershire. Richard Jones, Jack Shantry and Moeen Ali all picked up two wickets at New Road.

LV County Championship Division Two, day one

Darren Stevens' unbeaten 129 helped Kent, on the brink of promotion, reach an imposing 390 for four against Middlesex at Uxbridge. He built on the foundations laid by Sam Northeast (84) and Martin van Jaarsveld (86).

Jon Batty ground out 110 unbeaten runs in 296 balls to help Surrey reach 305 for five against Northamptonshire. Usman Afzaal also made 62 and Stewart Walters 40 as Johannes van der Wath grabbed a couple of wickets.

Northamptonshire have not offered a new contract to 23-year-old all-rounder Mark Nelson, who will be released at the end of the season. He had been at the club for the last two years but has been unable to force his way into the first team at Wantage Road.

© Cricket World 2009

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