NCL2: Sussex, Notts & Worcester win

On a rain-affected day of National League 2 action, Sussex saw off Scotland at The Grange thanks to Michael Yardy's 83 and Luke Wright' 25 off 13 balls to post 263, Yasir Arafat taking three wickets. The Scots' reply came up well short, Mushtaq Ahmed taking four wickets alongside Robin Martin-Jenkins and Mark Davis' two each, and despite Gregor Maiden's 32, the Saltires collapsed to 149 all out.

Three Chris Read stumpings off Stuart MacGill helped Nottinghamshire beat local rivals Leicestershire at Trent Bridge. Jason Gallian (73) and Kevin Pietersen both made fifties in the hosts' 249, with Read contributing a breezy 31 before Leics slipped to 4-3. Darren Maddy (75), Damien Brandy and Paul Nixon kept the Foxes in the game before all three were stumped, before late cameos from Ottis Gibson and Claude Henderson kept the margin to 20 runs.

At Lord's, Worcestershire recovered from 27-3 to post 261, veterans Graeme Hick (120) and David Leatherdale (63) adding 160 for the fourth wicket as Simon Cook starred for Middlesex with 5-34. Only three Crusaders batsmen made double figures in reply, Ben Scott (42) and Owais Shah (54*) adding 94 for the third wicket before 108-2 became 178 all out, Cook again standing alone and unbeaten on 21*.

Posted by Neil