County Championship round-up

Horton ton boosts Lancashire

Cricinfo staff

August 23, 2007

Division One

3rd day

Paul Horton's third Championship century of the season led Lancashire out of early trouble in reply to Hampshire's 393 at Old Trafford. Sean Ervine's 103 boosted the visitors during the morning session, then Daren Powell struck two quick blows with the new ball as Lancashire wobbled on 7 for 2. However, Horton added 131 with Stuart Law (53) and an unbroken 142 with Luke Sutton (69) to give the home side a good chance of reaching Hampshire's total. Ervine's earlier century came with help from the last two wickets, which added 81 even though James Bruce and David Griffiths contributed only one run between them.

Rain swept across the south-east, ruling out play between Kent and Worcestershire at Canterbury for the third day, and the same was true at The Oval between Surrey and Sussex.

2nd day

For John Ward's report on the second day at Scarborough, between Yorkshire and Warwickshire, click here.

Division Two

Derbyshire will be pleased with their efforts at Cardiff, dismissing Glamorgan for 245, then quickly erasing the deficit and building a sturdy lead. Travis Birt (84) and Michael Dighton (60) contributed well, capitalising on Dighton's opening stand of 90 with Phil Weston. Graham Wagg earlier collected four wickets to go with his half-century.

Nottinghamshire's lower order, marshalled by Graeme Swann (51), pulled the side out of a hole as they set about maintaining their promotion push at Trent Bridge. Notts, Stuart Broad's new county, were in trouble at 127 for 6 in reply to Northamptonshire's 285, but managed to get within two runs of that at the halfway mark, thanks to Andre Adams (32), Mark Davies (35*) and even the No 11 Andrew Harris (10) had a role - sharing a last-wicket stand of 47 with Davies. Three wickets in the final session left the game intriguingly poised.

Only 8.2 overs were possible at Lord's as Middlesex and Gloucestershire were left kicking their heels. However, there was enough time for Steve Kirby to bowl Nick Compton before the rain arrived, with Andrew Strauss unbeaten on 9.

There was no play at all at Colchester between Essex and Leicestershire.

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