County Champ Day 4 & Tables and CB40 Cricket 17th July

Three excellent games were all played to conclusions. Here are the reports and tables for the County Championship, ahead of more matches beginning tomorrow.


County Championship

Day 4

Northamtonshire v Glamorgan - Glamorgan win by 3 wickets
Nor - 350-5 & Forfeit
Gla - Forfeit & 351-7

Overnight a deal was brokered to set up a game in Northampton. In the morning Sales went on to 138* as Glamorgan gave the hosts some easy runs. The visitors then set out to chase it down. The innings began badly with Bragg going for 0, but Rees (34) and Walters (29) took Glamorgan to 100-3. In the afternoon session Glamorgan took the game away from Northamptonshire with Wright (34) and North (73) putting on 81 for the 4th wicket, however at 192-5 Northamptonshire will have felt they had a strong chance of bowling the visitors out.
     Any hope of that though faded in the evening session as Allenby (67*) attacked the bowling hitting two 6s, and Wallace (54) also kept the runs ticking over. Two more wickets knocked Glamorgan back to 319-7 but Glover (21) saw them home late in the day.

Points: Northamptonshire 4, Glamorgan 17

CB40 Cricket

Nottinghamshire v Hampshire
Nottinghamshire won the toss and decided to field
Ham - 230-7
Not - 231-4

Nottinghamshire chose to open the bowling with Patel for the second game running and again it worked as he took a wicket with his third ball. Then he took another in his second as Hampshire made a bad start. Vince though was batting well and found steady partners with McKenzie (21) and Ervine (31). Nottinghamshire though continued to pick up wickets to prevent the visitors from building a big score. With only Pattinson having a bad day with the ball Hampshire were kept to 230. Vince (102) was dropped on 90 and in the final over went to his century.
     In contrast Nottinghamshire made a flying start as Hales (70) and Wessels (38) attacked hard in the powerplay both hitting boundaries all over the ground. They both gave half chances but after 8 overs the home side were 78-0 and the hard work had been done. Wessels was caught trying to reverse sweep and Hales, who looked imperious, drove in the air once too often. Taylor and Patel (34) both started slowly but with little pressure were able to keep Nottinghamshire in front. Briggs (2 for 27) was the only Hampshire bowler to threaten and the batsmen mostly played him off.
     Taylor (74) batted excellently and was unlucky to be caught and bowled with 3 runs required, but Nottinghamshire had the game in the bag and showed that despite having lost their opening matches they are one of the best sides in the group.

Star Player: Vince, for an almost chanceless hundred, without which Hampshire would not have even set a reasonable total.


Gloucestershire v Worcestershire
Glouceestershire won the toss and decided to field
Wor - 144-7
Glo - 145-6

Worcestershire lost a wicket to the first ball of the match and struggled from then on. They slipped to 21-3 as Gloucestershire made the best use of a tough track. Only Hughes defied the bowlers hitting 64 not out in a steady knock that only featured five 4s. Gidman starred with the ball taking 3 for just 20 from his 8 overs.
     The hosts made heavy weather of the small target despite getting to 51-0. They then collapsed to 52-3 and 81-5 with both Howell and Housego getting ducks. Gidman though held on with 33* to take Gloucestershire home with most of 13 overs to spare.

Star Player: Gidman, for his excellent all round effort of 3 wickets and 33 runs.


County Championship Tables

First Division

	Team	Played	Points
1	Warwickshire	8	117
2	Nottinghamshire	9	116
3	Middlesex	9	101
4	Somerset	9	96
5	Sussex	9	83
6	Lancashire	10	72
7	Surrey	9	66
8	Worcestershire	8	49
9	Durham	9	43

Second Division

	Team	Played	Points
1	Derbyshire	9	121
2	Yorkshire	9	96
3	Kent	8	89
4	Northamptonshire	10	86
5	Hampshire	9	86
6	Gloucestershire	9	77
7	Essex	9	72
8	Glamorgan	10	57
9	Leicestershire	9	55