CC2: 30 July - 2 August

Captains Craig Spearman and Matthew Wood showed caution, allowing the match between Gloucestershire and Yorkshire at Cheltenham to fizzle out into a draw. After Gloucestershire declared on 284-6, Yorkshire required 322 to win, at a rate of seven an over. Yorkshire opted to defend, finishing on 75-2. Both sides had good reason to not take any risks, as the fight for the third promotion place is so tight. Spearman top scored in Gloucestershire's second innings with 94, and the fiery Yorkshire paceman, Steve Kirby continued to impress, taking six wickets in the westcountry sides first innings.

At the Riverside, Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar played a huge part in Durham's thrashing of Somerset by 318 runs. Shoaib took 4-39 in Somerset's first innings of 139, as well as 4-9 in the second innings, when they managed only 56. At one point, Somerset were 6-8, however Richard Johnson and Nixon McLean made the situation a little less embarrassing. Neil Killeen was also successful with the ball, taking 4-30 in the first innings.

Posted by Kelvin