Sussex thwarted by the weather
A round-up of the latest County Championship matches
Cricinfo staff
22-Jul-2006
Division One
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Day 4
Sussex where thwarted by the thunderstorms sweeping the country as Middlesex held on for a draw, nine wickets down, at Southgate. After yesterday's last session of farce as declaration bowlers lobbed up rubbish, Middlesex's target was 421 in 96 overs on the final day. They started positively through Ed Smith and Nick Compton, but when Mushtaq Ahmed removed Owais Shah and Ed Joyce in quick succession, survival was their only option. A series of heavy showers lopped 24 overs off the day and Compton made a fine 86. However, Mushtaq and Ollie Rayner chipped away at the middle order and Mushtaq removed Eoin Morgan with two balls remaining. Chris Silverwood, though, managed to block those deliveries, leaving Sussex to settle for a 13-point lead at the top of the table. The Press Association reports that Chris Adams, the Sussex captain, wasn't happy that he couldn't bowl one more over at the last pair and he exchanged words with umpire Barry Dudleston when he ruled that time was up.
Sussex where thwarted by the thunderstorms sweeping the country as Middlesex held on for a draw, nine wickets down, at Southgate. After yesterday's last session of farce as declaration bowlers lobbed up rubbish, Middlesex's target was 421 in 96 overs on the final day. They started positively through Ed Smith and Nick Compton, but when Mushtaq Ahmed removed Owais Shah and Ed Joyce in quick succession, survival was their only option. A series of heavy showers lopped 24 overs off the day and Compton made a fine 86. However, Mushtaq and Ollie Rayner chipped away at the middle order and Mushtaq removed Eoin Morgan with two balls remaining. Chris Silverwood, though, managed to block those deliveries, leaving Sussex to settle for a 13-point lead at the top of the table. The Press Association reports that Chris Adams, the Sussex captain, wasn't happy that he couldn't bowl one more over at the last pair and he exchanged words with umpire Barry Dudleston when he ruled that time was up.
Division Two
Day 3
A fine century from Ben Smith gave Gloucestershire a tougher victory target than expected as he and Matt Mason added 72 for Worcestershire's last wicket at New Road. Smith moved from his overnight 73 to 106 before falling lbw to Martyn Ball, while Mason hit two sixes in his 29. Zaheer Khan gave Worcestershire an early strike with the key wicket of Craig Spearman before thunderstorms halted the chase and pushed the match in the final day.
A fine century from Ben Smith gave Gloucestershire a tougher victory target than expected as he and Matt Mason added 72 for Worcestershire's last wicket at New Road. Smith moved from his overnight 73 to 106 before falling lbw to Martyn Ball, while Mason hit two sixes in his 29. Zaheer Khan gave Worcestershire an early strike with the key wicket of Craig Spearman before thunderstorms halted the chase and pushed the match in the final day.
Day 4
Rikki Clarke hit the first double century of his career as Surrey went past 700 against Somerset at Guildford before rain brought an early end to the run feast. His stand with Ian Salisbury extended to 135 before the tail fell quickly as Cameron White completed an expensive five-wicket haul.
Rikki Clarke hit the first double century of his career as Surrey went past 700 against Somerset at Guildford before rain brought an early end to the run feast. His stand with Ian Salisbury extended to 135 before the tail fell quickly as Cameron White completed an expensive five-wicket haul.
Just 25 overs were possible on the final day at Grace Road as Leicestershire and Derbyshire were forced to settle for a draw. That result was always on the cards at the start of the day with Derbyshire moving into a comfortable lead. Michael di Venuto had time to extend his century - his first of the summer - to 161 before the rain came.
The match at Chelmsford drifted to a draw as the Glamorgan top order enjoyed batting practice and the Essex bowlers went through the motions. Brendon McCullum and Mark Wallace opened with a stand of 107 then James Franklin eased to a half-century in the closing stages. Grant Flower picked up three wickets while his brother, Andy, grabbed a rare first-class scalp - just his seventh in 217 matches.