County Champ Div1 Update

Lancashire v Leicestershire

Lancashire kept up the heat on leaders Surrey with a comfortable win over Leicestershire at Liverpool. Everyone in the top six made a half century as the second placed side declared on 503-6, Leicestershire captain Phil De Freitas using nine bowlers in all, before Gary Keedy kept up his recent good form with seven wickets in the match, and Carl Hooper took 5-52 in the second innings.

Darren's Maddy and Stevens put up a fight during Leicestershire's first innings with 85 and 65 respectively, but after they were forced to follow on, the visitors failed to set a testing target, and Lancashire's openers were easily able to knowck off the 24 required.

Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire:

At Edgbaston, another side with fast fading title aspirations Warwickshire had to make do with a dram in a thoroughly entertaining game which had everything. The hosts posted 351 first up with half centuries for Ian Trott, Mark Wagh and Kenyan spinner Collins Obuya before the visitors enjoyed a run feast on days two and three.

Notts scored 646 with 221 for Kevin Pieterson and 104 for Chris Cairns. Guy Welton scored 99 - just missing out on a third first class century, and Usman Afzaal (72) and Paul Franks (62*) also enjoyed time in the middle. When the hosts batted again, Nick Knight scored 146 and Ian Bell 64 in a total of 405 which left Notts needing 111 in just 11 overs. Stuart MacGill collected six wickets.

David Shepherd wouldn't have known what to do with himself, but Waqar Younis knew exactly what he was doing, picking up 4-30 as Notts were held to 67-5.

Kent v Sussex:

These two sides appear to be fighting to retain division one status for another year, and it was Sussex who gained a vital victory, thanks in large to allrounder Robin Martin-Jenkins and Pakistani spinner Mushtaq Ahmed.

Martin-Jenkins scored 67 and 84 and then took 3-7 as Kent's betting crumbled in the fourth innings. Ahmed finished with 9-126 in the match.

James Kirtley again appeared as a substitute after being left out by England, but this time there was less controversy, as Paul Hutchison made little contribution before leaving. Kirtley did pick up four first innings wickets however.

Kent's new overseas player Andrew Symonds failed to spare the Canterbury side defeat, despite taking three wickets and scoring 54 in their first innings.

Middlesex v Essex:

This game at Lords was more barely more competitive than the first test between England and Zimbabwe, but fortunately for Essex the weather helped them escape with a draw.

Ben Hutton scored a century and Ed Joyce, Abdul Razzaq and Paul Weekes all scored fifties as the hosts posted 363 first up. Essex could only reply with 166, Ravi Bopara scoring 48, though it could have been worse - number ten Graham Napier second top scored with 44 after the visitors were in severe trouble at 78-8.

69 from Paul Grayson gave Essex hope after they followed on, but despite a third of the match being washed out, they were grateful to James Middlebrook (52) and eighteen-year-old Bopara (40*) who added 100 for the eighth wicket and warded off the potential of an innings defeat. Simon Cook finished with 7-87 in the match, and Essex will have to play much better to survive in the top flight.

Summary of results:

Lancs 503-6d (MJ Chilton 108, SG Law 82, CL Hooper 74, A Flintoff 71*, IJ Sutcliffe 55, MB Loye 54) & 24-0 beat Leics 314 (DL Maddy 85, DI Stevens 65) & 212 by 10 wickets.

Warks 351 (IJL Trott 63, MA Wagh 58, CO Obuya 55) & 405 (NV Knight 146, IR Bell 64) drew with Notts 646 (KP Pieterson 221, CL Cairns 104, GE Welton 99, U Afzaal 72, PJ Franks 62*) & 77-5.

Sussex 311 (RSC Martin-Jenkins 67, CJ Adams 62) & 286 (RSC Martin-Jenkins 84, MW Goodwin 58, PA Cottey 52) beat Kent 275 (A Symonds 54, Mushtaq Ahmed 5-70) & 131 by 191 runs.

Middx 363 (BL Hutton 107, EC Joyce 69, Abdul Razzaq 54, PN Weekes 51*, JM Dakin 5-86) drew with Essex 166 & 269-8 (AP Grayson 69, JD Middlebrook 52).

Posted by Barrie