National League, 5 May

National Cricket League roundup - 5 May 2003

Division 1

Gloucestershire v Leicestershire, Bristol

Gloucestershire won the toss, elected to bat and proceeded to put the Leicestershire attack to the sword. An opening partnership of 139 between Kiwi Craig Spearman and Phil Weston was little more than an appetiser for what was to follow, despite the fact that the hard-hitting Spearman had clubbed nine boundaries and four maximums when he was first out for 89 from 66 balls.

Weston was joined at the wicket by Tim Hancock who continued the long-handled approach with great aplomb, smashing a further six sixes as the Leicestershire attack was flayed to all parts. Charles Dagnall stuck well to the task, removing Weston for 92, Hancock (82) and Jonty Rhodes (5) before the Gloucestershire innings closed on an enormous 311-4.

A shaky start by the visitors saw Virender Sehwag and Trevor Ward back in the pavilion by the time the reply had reached 54, both falling to the medium pace of Jonathan Lewis, but despite a resolute knock by Darren Stevens, no-one was able to stick around until the England veteran Phil DeFreitas demonstrated that there's life in the old dog yet with a typically belligerent innings.

DeFreitas eventually perished, last man out, ten short of his century when he charged James Averis once too often and was stumped by Jack Russell. By then, Leicestershire had been firmly put in their place by Averis and Martyn Ball, falling 58 runs short of the victory target.

Gloucestershire 311-4 (Weston 92, Spearman 89, Hancock 82, Dagnall 3-52) beat Leicestershire 254 all out (DeFreitas 90, Stevens 65, Ball 3-59) by 57 runs.


Yorkshire v Essex, Headingley

The game started badly for Yorkshire and got progressively worse. First of all, Darren Gough pulled up after delivering the first ball of his fourth over, clutching his leg. Thankfully, it turned out to be a tweaked hamstring as opposed to further damage to 'that' troublesome knee, but it is yet another setback for the inspirational paceman on his comeback trail.

Steady knocks throughout the Essex top order, especially half-centuries from Jefferson and Habib ensured that a challenging target would be set, despite the best efforts of 18 year old Tim Bresnan who picked up the wickets of Foster, Grayson and Habib at a personal cost of just 29 from eight hostile overs.

Chasing 212 to win, the Yorkshire reply coughed and spluttered before the wheels totally came off. The seam attack of Scott Brant and Graham Napier was more than the home side could handle as each grabbed four wickets. James Foster picked up four catches behind the stumps as the first seven wickets fell for the addition of just 24 runs.

Only Ryan Sidebottom offered anything more than token resistance, finishing undefeated on 17 as no other Yorkshireman managed to contribute double figures on a sorry day for the White Rose county. When Joe Grant trapped Steve Kirby in front, it was all over as Darren Gough did not make it to the wicket, but in truth it was over as a contest much earlier than that.

Essex 211-6 (Jefferson 57, Habib 50, Bresnan 3-29) beat Yorkshire 54 all out (Napier 4-18, Brant 4-25) by 157 runs.


Worcestershire v Surrey, New Road

A thriller at Worcester ended with the home supporters disappointed and the Surrey fans jubilant as the visitors consolidated their position at the top of the table and maintained their 100% record in the competition this season.

Worcestershire won the toss and elected to bat, with Stephen Peters and Vikram Solanki constructing a steady if unspectacular opening partnership of 88 before James Ormond winkled out Solanki. Enter Graeme Hick, the scene set for a typical innings before his adoring fans.

Discarded by England, some would say prematurely, he remains one of the principal exponents of the one-day innings. Moving to his half century at a run a ball, working the ball into the gaps he suddenly cut loose, taking a liking to the bowling of the otherwise impeccable Nantie Hayward as Hick blazed four scintillating boundaries in an over. Just as it seemed that he would progress to three figures, he played early at a ball from Martin Bicknell and perished for 81 from just 67 deliveries.

Chasing 245 to win, Surrey were reduced to 4-1 in the first over, losing Ian Ward to the bowling of Kabir Ali. Whereas Worcestershire have Hick, Surrey have Ally Brown and Mark Ramprakash. If one of the big guns get in, Surrey always have a chance. On Monday, both produced the goods in a thrilling partnership for the second wicket which realised 153. Ramprakash stroked 67 effortless runs, while Brown bludgeoned his way to 81 from 68 balls in an innings which contained 12 fours and two sixes.

Both were removed by the off breaks of Gareth Batty in successive overs, and gradually Worcestershire fought their way back into the contest. Hayward and Kabir Ali chipped in with three wickets apiece as Surrey suddenly found batting to be a much more difficult exercise than had seemed earlier.

When Saqlain departed for a duck, Surrey had subsided to 239-9, still six runs short of victory. Martin Bicknell and James Ormond safely negotiated the final obstacle, but it was the narrowest of squeaks.

Surrey 247-9 (Brown 81, Ramprakash 67, Kabir Ali 3-43, Hayward 3-66) beat Worcestershire 244-5 (Hick 81, Kadeer Ali 52, Peters 48, Solanki 40) by 1 wicket


Glamorgan v Kent, Cardiff

Kent won the toss and elected to bat in what turned out to be a comprehensive victory for the home team. A solid 68 by Robert Key, who featured in a partnership of 80 for the second wicket with Ed Smith gave the visitors a solid start after the early loss of Ealham, but a solid all-round bowling performance led by Robert Croft helped to subdue the stroke play so much so that Kent were only 192-9 at the end of the alotted 45 overs.

Glamorgan too stuttered at the start of their reply, losing Ian Thomas with the total on 15, but Croft and Powell produced a fine partnership of 108 for the second wicket to give the home fans cause for optimism.

Maynard and Hemp came together with the score on 147-3 and took the total past the required target with few worries, Glamorgan only requiring 36 overs to surpass the Kent score.

Glamorgan 195-3 (Croft 59, Powell 58) beat Kent 192-9 (Key 68, Croft 3-33) by 7 wickets.


Division 2

Division 2 reports will follow later.


Posted by Eddie