Championship Div 2 Roundup

Gloucestershire v Worcestershire

The rain saved Gloucestershire from a likely defeat on day 4 but Worcestershire remain top of the second division. Gloucestershire posted 271 in the fist innings after Johnathan Lewis top scored from number eleven with 47.

Lewis then claimed the vital wickets of Ben Smith (92) and Steve Rhodes (63), but Anurag Singh (50) and Andrew Hall (73) helped make sure Worcestershire gained a healthy first innings advantage with a total of 439.

Gloucestershire were then reduced to 115-5 midway through the fourth afternoon but with the score on 133 rain came and never relented. The whole of day three was also washed out and the hosts will be grateful. They remain in third with a good shot at promotion.

Yorkshire v Hampshire

Rain also saved Hampshire at Scarborough. The hosts still had a shot at victory thanks to a morning session which yielded 188 runs in just 30 overs. A declaration left Hampshire to chase 307 in 80 overs but after losing early wickets the visitors shut up shop. A brief collapse later in the day gave Yorkshire more hope but James Hamblin and Shaun Udal saved the day.

Earlier, Yorkshire had racked up 384 - at one stage they were 303-2 - with stand in captain Matthew Wood making 155 and Michael Lumb 64. Yorshire though lost three wickets for no score late on day one, and their last four wickets for just four runs as Hampshire got themselves back in contention.

But Hampshires top seven batsmen managed just 13 runs between them, with the exception of Simon Katich the Australian batsman, who with able suport from the lower order made a brilliant 143* to save the follow on.

Another 59 from Lumb and 53 from Stephen Fleming aided the declaration but Hampshire held on.

Derbyshire v Durham (day 3)

Durham got themselves in the box seat with a massive first innings total of 501-8 declared. After Jon Lewis continued his impressive season with 77, the unfortunate Nicky Peng (99) and Vince Wells (106) added 197 for the fifth wicket. A maiden championship 50 from Philip Mustard (70*) carried them further, and 24 no balls didn't help Derbyshires cause.

The Derby batting has been brittle to say the least in 2003, but one man has carried the fight regularly. Michael Di Venuto, Australian star, recorded his fourth century of the season (143) and passed 1000 runs in the process. With 62 from Steve Selwood, Derby were able to declare at 361-5.

Durham quickly amassed 110-2 from just 14.1 overs, Michael Gough hitting six fours in a 15 ball 31. Another celaration then left the hosts to chase 251 in a little over half a day.

Di Venuto went early - a major blow - but Selwood and Luke Sutton added 104 for the fifth wicket. However the wicketkeeper was run out and with Selwood and Cork going Derbyshire had lost three wickets for three runs, ending their chances of victory. Lungley and Gunter shut up shop and each side took ten points, Derby remaining bottom.


Gloucs 271 & 133-5 drew with Worcs 439 (BF Smith 92, A Hall 73, SR Rhodes 63, A Singh 50).

Yorks 384 (MJ Wood 155, MJ Lumb 64) & 211-4 (MJ Lumb 59, SP Fleming 53) drew with Hants 289 (SM Katich 143*) & 180-6.

Durham 501-8d (VJ Wells 106, N Peng 99, JJB Lewis 77, PJ Mustard 70*) & 110-2d drew with Derby 361-5 (MJ Di Venuto 143, SA Selwood 62) & 204-7 (SA Selwood 88).

Posted by Barrie