2 May 2007

LV County Championship Division One

Despite the best efforts of Younus Khan (over 300 runs, and 4 second innings wickets), Hampshire clung on to draw against Yorkshire at the Rose Bowl. Starting the day on 16 for 1 in pursuit of 443, they closed on 366 for 8 as an obdurate Nic Pothas (76 not out) prevented Yorkshire taking their third consecutive victory.

Yorkshire 299 (Younis Khan 106, M P Vaughan 72, A Rashid 54, J T A Bruce 4-56) & 439-4 dec (Younis Khan 202 no, G L Brophy 100 no, M J Hoggard 61)
Hampshire 296 (M J Brown 105, N Pothas 70 no, T T Bresnan 4-65) & 366-8 (J H K Adams 90, N Pothas 76 no, M J Lumb 57, J P Crawley 50, Younis Khan 4-52)

Hampshire (9pts) drew with Yorkshire (9pts)

Worcestershire were unable to stave off defeat against Worcestershire at New Road. The end came quickly on the final day as they scored only 209 after following on in response to Warwickshire's 610 for 6 declared. Overnight unbeaten batsmen Graham Hick (66) and Ben Smith (65) were removed quickly and from there on in, it was a procession with Dale Steyn picking up 5 for 49. Warwickshire's margin of victory was an innings and 113 runs.

Warwickshire 610-6 dec (T R Ambrose 251 no, J O Troughton 162, H H Streak 66) Worcestershire 288 (G A Hick 91, B F Smith 50) & 209 (G A Hick 66, B F Smith 65, D W Steyn 5-49)

Warwickshire (22pts) beat Worcestershire (3pts) by an innings and
113 runs

Lancashire overcame a scare to beat Surrey by 7 wickets at Old Trafford. With Surrey resuming on 34 for 6, chances were that Lancashire would wrap up a comfortable victory, but Surrey rallied to make 120 before Lancashire were reduced to 8 for 3 in pursuit of 90. Mark Chilton (34 not out) and Paul Horton (49 not out) ensured victory without the loss of any further wickets.

Surrey 284 (J N Batty 70, A D Brown 69, S A Newman 60, G Keedy 4-57)
& 120 (G Chapple 4-40)
Lancashire 315 (S G Law 120, N C Saker 5-76) & 90-3

Lancashire (20pts) beat Surrey (5pts) by 7 wkts

Kent, who made 368 all out against Sussex at Canterbury, beat the reigning champions, dismissing them for 102 and 160. Captain Chris Adams top scored with 42 as Yasir Arafat, a centurion on day 1, took 4 for 36. Following on, Sussex at least passed their first innings score, but collapsed dismally as Simon Cook took 6-35 to round out a win by the margin of an innings and 106 runs.

Kent 368 (Yasir Arafat 122, M J Walker 103, R S C Martin-Jenkins 5-67)
Sussex 102 (R McLaren 4-12, Yasir Arafat 4-36) & 160 (S J Cook 6-35)

Kent (21pts) beat Sussex (3pts) by an innings and 106 runs

Updated Division One Table

LV County Championship Division Two

Despite a declaration at 249 for 4 in Gloucestershire's second innings, Leicestershire were able to claim a draw, mainly thanks to an innings of 47 not out from James Allenby. Anthony Ireland rocked the visitors early on with three wickets, but despite batting with a man short due to the absence of Claude Henderson, Gloucestershire were unable to take the two remaining wickets for victory.

Gloucestershire 507 (Kadeer Ali 92, M J North 86, S J Adshead 81, G P Hodnett 67, J Allenby 5-125) & 249-4 dec (M J North 106, G P Hodnett 55)
Leicestershire 376 (T J New 98, M C Rosenberg 64 no, H D Ackerman 59) & 218-7

Gloucestershire (12pts) drew with Leicestershire (10pts)

Northamptonshire were bowled out for 416 in response to Essex's 334 all out at Northampton. An eighth-wicket partnership of 110 between Johannes Van Der Wath (94) and DH Wigley (53) handed them a first innings lead. Danish Kaneria took 4 for 108. Essex were swiftly bowled out for 190, leaving Northamptonshire a simple looking task to take victory.

Despite some early scares, they completed a 6 wicket win, Usman Afzaal and David Sales top scoring in their fourth innings.

Essex 334 (A N Cook 136, M L Pettini 67, S P Crook 4-56) & 190 (M L Pettini 50, J F Brown 4-26)
Northamptonshire 416 (J J van der Wath 94, U Afzaal 66, D H Wigley 53, S P Crook 53,
Danish Kaneria 4-108) & 110-4

Northamptonshire (22pts) beat Essex (5pts) by 6 wkts

Nottinghamshire duly wrapped up victory over Glamorgan, by an innings and 8 runs at Trent Bridge. 66 not out from Ben Wright was not enough to save Glamorgan, who could only muster 262 and 205 in reply to Nottinghamshire's imposing 475. Charlie Shreck took 6-62 to torment the Welshmen. The win will consolidate Nottinghamshire's position at the top of the division.

Nottinghamshire 475 (J E R Gallian 178, S R Patel 108, D J Hussey 81, A G Wharf 4-97)
Glamorgan 262 (D L Hemp 54, M J Powell 53, M A Ealham 4-37) & 205 (B J Wright 66 no, C E Shreck 6-62)

Nottinghamshire (22pts) beat Glamorgan (5pts) by an innings and 8 runs

The game at Taunton between Somerset and Derbyshire looks ended in a draw with Somerset, following on, reaching stunps at 309 for 4. Put back in after being bowled out for 530 in reply to 801 for 8, they batted throughout the final day's play with Justin Langer recording an unbeaten 136. Neil Edwards added 81.

Derbyshire 801-8 dec (S M Katich 221, I J Harvey 153, D J Pipe 106, A G Botha 101, S D Stubbings 58, G G Wagg 55 no)
Somerset 530 (C L White 138, P D Trego 67, C Kieswetter 63, M L Turner 57, W J Durston 50, G G Wagg 5-148) & 309-4 (J L Langer 136 no, N J Edwards 81)

Somerset (11pts) drew with Derbyshire (12pts)

Updated Division Two Tables

MCC University Match

Durham declared their second innings against Durham UCCE at 141 for 7, to leave the UCCE side a target of 301 to win the match. Durham promptly wrapped up victory by 163 runs thanks to Neil Killen taking 4 for 22 to dismiss their UCCE colleagues for 137. Durham's victory was mainly set up by centuries on day 1 from Will Smith (105) and Kyle Coetzer (153no).

John Pennington
© Cricket World 2007