Peter Trego decimates Notts

Peter Trego: career-best figures sunk Nottinghamshire © Middlesex CCC

Peter Trego's six wickets provided the impetus for Middlesex as they dominated Nottinghamshire on day two, at Nottingham. Trego, on trial with the county after being rejected by Kent and Somerset, removed Nottinghamshire's top four batsmen, including the Pakistani Test batsman Younis Khan, to leave the home side reeling on 97 for 6. They were indebted to Mark Ealham and Graeme Swann's partnership of 49 to salvage respect - Swann's innings of 53 was particularly enterprising, coming from just 50 balls.

Trego returned to dismiss Swann, and bowl Andrew Harris, to return his figures of 6 for 59 - his best return in first class cricket. Nottinghamshire were dismissed for just 181, some 144 runs short of Middlesex's first innings score of 325. Middlesex lost two quick wickets in their reply. However, with Shah, 95, and Joyce, 61, both well set, the visitors will be able to set a huge target for Notts.

Warwickshire continued their control of their match against Glamorgan with a brutal batting display. Ian Westwood and Jonathan Trott were both not out overnight, and they continued into day three, both scoring excellent hundreds. Trott's 152 was his second hundred of the season, and his highest score too, as Warwickshire declared on 545 for 7. Glamorgan trailed by 306, but got off to an encouraging start, with openers Daniel Cherry and Mark Wallace putting on 90 for the first wicket. Cherry fell to Neil Carter for 24, leaving Glamorgan 99 for 1 with a mountain to climb.

A six-wicket haul by Mushtaq Ahmed prevented Gloucestershire from seriously challenging Sussex's first innings score of 365 at Cheltenham. Starting the day on 28 for 1, Gloucestershire lost wickets regularly, and only Phil Weston, with 46, made a serious contribution. Mushtaq, who ended with 6 for 65, was well supported by the Pakistan Test player Naved-ul-Hasan who took 4 for 53. Although Sussex bowled the home side out for 224, giving them a lead of 141, they lost four wickets in their second innings to the Sri Lankan leg-spinner Malinga Bandara. Gloucestershire will still feel they are in this game - but if Sussex get away to a good start tomorrow morning, their lead could prove too big for the home side.

Somerset's Matthew Wood struck a commanding and undefeated 182, as his side replied to Yorkshire's 406 all out. Yorkshire still had three wickets remaining in their first innings, at the start of play on day two, but their tail could only muster a furhter 29 runs. Andy Caddick took his 50th wicket of the season, in season-best figures of 6 for 96. Wood's hundred came from 264 balls, with 24 boundaries, to leave Somerset trailing by just 33 runs with five first-innings wickets remaining. Both teams will need a good start tomorrow morning if a victory is to be forced.

Northamptonshire responded to their poor show yesterday by restricting Derbyshire's lead to 79. Starting the day on 135 for 4, Derbyshire lost Hassan Adnan without adding to his overnight score. Ian Hunter, who had bowled so well on the first day, struck a vital and quickfire 20, but Derbyshire were disappointing in only making 219, especially after their fine efforts yesterday. Northamptonshire were buoyed by their success, ending the day on 311 for 3, a lead of 232 with seven wickets remaining. Martin Love, 159 and David Sales, 63, are both undefeated in a partnership worth 125, with Love passing 1000 runs for the season. In a see-saw game thus far, tomorrow will likely prove the crucial day; if Northants can continue to bat aggressively in the morning, they could set up a huge and unlikely total for Derbyshire to chase. Derbyshire have yet to win a game this season, and will be desperate not to let Northants get away.