Leicestershire v Worcestershire

STEPHEN MOORE may have nightmares about falling three short of 100 against Leicestershire on the first day at New Road but Steven Davies, his team-mate, put one of his own to rest with an unbeaten century on the ground where he trod on his stumps to cost Worcestershire victory last year.

While Moore was pragmatic in striking 18 fours before playing on to Claude Henderson, Davies oozed class as he began watchfully and then accelerated away, taking 53 balls over his second 50.

Worcestershire had slipped to 121 for four as a couple of balls bounced extravagantly to account for Lou Vincent and Graeme Hick but recovered well with an unbroken stand of 197 in 38 overs between Davies and Gareth Batty.

DAVID TOWNSEND

Essex v Surrey

ESSEX missed an excellent opportunity to dismiss a weakened Surrey team cheaply on a day full of off-field intrigue at Colchester.

There was some seam movement, swing and turn for their attack, but even though Ravi Bopara claimed a maiden five-wicket haul, Essex bowled poorly, giving too much width and allowing Surrey to recover from 143 for six.

Stewart Walters, deputising for Mark Ramprakash, who was absent because of undisclosed personal reasons, underlined his promise with ten fours in his 41. Ian Salisbury, no less aggressive, led the recovery, hitting 15 fours in his 74 before Neil Saker eked out a maiden first-class fifty off 133 balls.

Will Jefferson, the Essex batsman, has been released from his contract.

GEOFFREY DEAN

Somerset v Glamorgan

FOR a stand-in overseas player, Mark Cosgrove is proving to be a whiz for Glamorgan. He stands squat and still at the crease, belts through the line of the ball and strikes half-century after half-century. This was his eighth in nine matches and his 77 provided a necessary impetus, given the rain and bad light of the past two days.

No play was possible until after lunch, whereupon some brazen hitting from Andrew Caddick, captaining Somerset for the first time, brought about a third batting point. The last two wickets added 103, of which he made 68 from 80 balls, including nine fours and two sixes off Robert Croft.

Huw Waters took one further wicket, giving him career-best figures of five for 86. This came through a fine low catch by Gareth Rees, running in from deep square leg.

IVO TENNANT

NATWEST PRO40

Lancashire v Middlesex

LANCASHIRE LIGHTNING self-destructed to hand Middlesex Crusaders a 12-run win on Duckworth/Lewis method in a rain-affected first division match at Old Trafford last night. Chad Keegan took two wickets in his first over and wickets fell regularly as Lancashire, chasing a reduced target of 97 off 12 overs in reply to Middlesex’s 244 for six, threw away their wickets with silly shots and run -outs.

Only Nathan Astle, with 21, provided any resistance, but by the time he fell, with the score on 58 for five, the game was as good as over. Johann Louw, Paul Weekes and Chris Peploe bowled well at the death to induce panic in the batsmen.

Owais Shah lay the foundations for the win with an unbeaten 125. His chanceless hundred came off 114 balls and included two sixes and eight fours.