Britannic Assurance Ch'ship Day 1 Tuesday 31 August
DURHAM v NOTTS: Chester Le St.
John Wood's maiden first class half century helped Durham over-
come a sticky start and reach 308. The 23 year old paceman
whose previous best score was 28, made 63 not out after coming in
at 181/6. He and Simon Brown put on 49 for the last wicket. Ear-
lier, Wayne Larkins was yorked off a no ball and went on to make
62. That took him past 1,000 runs for the season for the 13th
time.
SURREY v HAMPSHIRE: The Oval
Opener Darren Bicknell made a magnificent unbeaten century
against Hampshire as Surrey reached 327/5 by the close of the
opening day. It was the 21st first class hundred of his career,
and Hampshire have been on the receiving end of three of them.
He reached three figures after 238 balls having hit 16 boun-
daries, and by the close was still there on 122. He was supported
by Alistair Brown (62).
WORCS v LANCS: Worcester
Spinner Richard Illingworth became the first Worcestershire
bowler to take 50 first class wickets this summer on an evenly
balanced day against Lancashire. The discarded England player
removed Gehan Mendis (44), Mike Atherton (1), Neil Fairbrother
(0) and Washm Akram (22) to finish with 4 81 from 35 overs. But
Lancashire fought back on a pitch offering turn and movement to
reach 301/9 with Nick Speak (49) top scorer.
LEICS v YORKS: Grace Road
Seamers Darren Gough of Yorkshire and Leicestershire's Alan Mul-
lally enhanced their claims for places on the England A tour to
South Africa this winter.. A total of 15 wickets fell at Grace
Road for just 288 runs with Gough taking 3/44 as Leicestershire
were all out for 158. Yorkshire made a solid start before Mul-
lally plunged them into trouble with 4/43. At stumps, they
were 130/5.
KENT v NORTHANTS: Canterbury
Test umpire Dickie Bird reprieved Graham Cowdrey as the Kent
batsman reached 65, his best of the season in a close total of
302/6. Cowdrey was halfway back to the pavilion when Bird re-
called him to the crease having given him out caught behind off
Curtly Ambrose. Cowdrey was given excellent back up by David
Fulton (75), Jonathan Longley (47) and Steve Marsh (47).
SUSSEX v ESSEX: Hove
Alan Wells hit his fifth hundred of the season at Hove to bolster
his calls for an England winter Carribean call up. Sussex cap-
tain Wells scored 106 and Keith Greenfield a maiden championship
century to take their side to 392/4. Martin Speight added 75 not
out. With three wins from their last four championship matches
Sussex are approaching Saturday's NatWest Trophy final in their
best form for years.
SOMERSET v GLOUCS: Taunton
Tim Hancock and Jack Russell turned the Gloucestershire innings
around with a stand of 143 at Taunton after both openers went in
the first eight balls.
Hancock, 12 fours in his 76 off 158 balls, and Russell (65
including 10 fours) gave the score respectability after
Gloucestershire slipped to 81/5.
They eventually reached 256 to which Somerset responded with
79/1. Musthaq Ahmed returned 5/81 Harvey Trump 4/32.
Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)
