A triple hundred from Graeme Hick was the highlight of the second day of the latest round of Frizzell County Championship matches. Hick made an unbeaten 315 (386 balls, 2 sixes, 49 fours) against Durham in the Division Two match at New Road. It enabled him to declare Worcestershire's first innings on 643 for seven, a lead of 523. It was the highest-ever score by a Worcestershire player at New Road, and surpassed John Crawley's 272 as the highest score of the season. Durham closed on 50 for no wicket, still 473 behind.

A maiden double century by Abdur Razzaq provided another batting exhibition, and enabled Middlesex to rack up 633 for seven against Glamorgan. Razzaq made an unbeaten 203 (2 sixes, 19 fours) and Ed Joyce completed a century as Middlesex's magnificent batting form continued unabated. Spinners Phil Tufnell and Paul Weekes then bagged three wickets each to put the home side on the rack at 173 for seven.

In the First Division, Lancashire took a slender first-innings lead after bowling Kent out for 214. Peter Martin (five for 54) played the starring role, while Paul Nixon was Kent's top scorer with 49. But Amjad Khan and Mark Ealham have taken three wickets each to put the hosts back under pressure, ending the day on 197 for seven, a lead of just 209.

Richard Montgomerie and Matthew Prior helped ensure a healthy lead for Sussex over stragglers Yorkshire. Montgomerie made 78 and Prior 85, and Mark Davis and unbeaten 70 to propel Sussex to 392 all out by stumps, a lead of 137.

Graham Wagg (four for 43) precipitated a Somerset collapse at Edgbaston. After being handily placed at 121 for three, the visitors were dismissed for 208, and Dominic Ostler (110*) then consolidated Warwickshire's position, taking them to 236 for five, a lead of 258, by the close.

In the other two Second Division games, Aftab Habib led Essex back from the depths of 100 for six at Gloucester. With help first from Jon Dakin and then from John Stephenson, Habib (66) helped Essex to end the day on 283 for nine, still 100 behind. Ian Harvey (four for 59) and Jonathan Lewis (three for 63) were the main wicket-takers.

At Northampton, Nottinghamshire extended their first innings to 489, with Paul Franks making 67. But Mal Loye has kept the hosts in tough, with an unbeaten 105, well supported by David Sales with 61. Their third-wicket partnership is so far worth 186, with Northants 248 for two at stumps.

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