Dragons on the brink

Glamorgan are on the verge of winning the NCL after Sunday's games, whilst Warwickshire's relegation fears were eased and Lancashire kept up the faint challenge to the Dragons.

Glamorgan have Matthew Elliott to thank for today's win, as the Australian opener batted through the innings to win with an over to spare.

Pre-match rain had reduced the game to 37 overs a side, and Hampshire had John Crawley's rapid 56 to thank in the main for their eventual total of 208 all out, although a sensational final over from part time medium pacer David Hemp saw him record a triple-wicket maiden. Crawley aside, 4 other men made it to 20, but only opener James Adams with 40 made it past 26.

A feature of Glamorgan in one day cricket over recent years has been the aggressive starts provided by former England spinner Robert Croft, and today was no different as the captain hammered 52 from 37 balls to set his side on the way. Dmitri Mascarenhas engineered a fight-back with a fine spell as the visitors fell from 79-0 to 86-3, and then Matthew Maynard's wicket lead to 3 more falling quickly as they were reduced to 178-7 with time running out. Elliott held firm throughout though, and as Darren Thomas made up for his disappointing display with the ball by blasting 22 from 18 balls, the victory was secured with an over to spare.

HAMPSHIRE 208
Crawley 56(48), Adams 40(54), Hemp 3-11(2), Davies 2-13(3.1), Kasprowicz 2-27(8), Wharf 2-27(7)
GLAMORGAN 209-7
Elliott 79*(94), Croft 52(37), Mascarenhas 3-54(7), Mullally 2-52(7)


At Whitgift School, second placed Lancashire kept up their challenge, and further hit Surrey's bid to avoid relegation with a comprehensive 8 wicket victory.

The early architect was Dominic Cork, who opened the bowling and bowled his overs straight through as Surrey were reduced to 72-6 before Adam Hollioake and Alex Tudor combined to add 128 for the 7th wicket and allowed the side to recover to 235-8 from their overs.

This target was made to look far too small by Mark Chilton and Iain Sutcliffe, who both registered centuries and shared an opening stand of 223 as 2 late wickets from James Benning were unable to prevent a victory with almost 7 overs to spare.

SURREY 235-8
Hollioake 66(77), Tudor 56(70), Cork 3-35(9), Chapple 2-39(9)
LANCASHIRE 238-2
Chilton 115(115), Sutcliffe 102*(106), Benning 2-59(8.1)


Finally, Edgbaston saw a crucial relegation clash between the 2 sides that are currently occupying the first 2 spots in the County Championship. As in that competition, it was Warwickshire who prevailed in a totally one-sided game.

After being put in, only Michael Bevan with 35 made an impression after Heath Streak ran though the top order with a spell of 6-3-7-3. From 17-3, Kent never made a battle of it, and Keith Piper claimed 5 victims behind the stumps as Warwickshire's string of back-up bowlers, headed by Mark Wagh's superb 9 over spell, combined to skittle the visitors for a mere 135.

With run rate a potential issue at the end of the season, the Bears went all out for the win, opener Neil Carter hammering 2 sixes from Ian Butler's first over as both openers made 13 from 9 balls. When Wagh was second to go at 51-2, Nick Knight and Ian Bell combined to add 78 rapid runs, and the result was never in doubt, as they cruised home with more than 20 overs to spare.

KENT 135
Bevan 35(61), Streak 3-7(6), Hogg 2-14(4.5), Wagh 2-18(9)
WARWICKSHIRE 139-4
Bell 51(61), Knight 36(60)

Posted by Marc