Clarke leads from the front

Rikki Clarke followed up his two wickets with a stylish 79 against Durham's students

Captain Rikki Clarke shone with both ball and bat as Derbyshire made short work of Durham UCCE on the second day of their pre-season friendly.

The former England all-rounder claimed 2-11 to help bowl the students out for just 70 in testing conditions at Derby.

He then struck a fluent 79 - more than double the next highest score in the match - as Derbyshire closed on 186 for six.

They lead by 116 runs and retain significant hope of forcing a result on the final day, despite the opening day being washed out.

Derbyshire’s position of considerable strength also owed much to Kevin Dean’s haul of 4-16, while seamer Robbie Williams impressed for Durham UCCE by taking four of the six Derbyshire wickets to fall.

Martin van Jaarsveld narrowly missed out on a century but Kent continued to dominate their clash with Bradford/Leeds UCCE at Canterbury.

The South African, 71 not out overnight, fell for 99 as Kent, who resumed on 366 for two, declared on 481 for five.

Ryan McLaren, Darren Stevens and Matt Coles took a wicket apiece in reducing Bradford/Leeds UCCE to 59 by the close.

David Nash’s unbeaten hundred was the highlight of the day for Middlesex, who established a huge lead over Oxford UCCE at the Parks.

Middlesex converted their overnight score of 120 for two into an imposing 403 for seven thanks to Nash’s 100 not out and sizeable contributions from Ed Smith (88), Eoin Morgan (61) and Tim Murtagh (49).

Oxford UCCE, bowled out for a meagre 126 in the first innings, reached 14 without loss by the close, reducing the deficit to 263.

Inclement weather allowed only 28.4 overs at Fenner’s, where Cambridge UCCE - replying to Essex’s 406 for four declared - reached 76 for two.

Hampshire were also frustrated by the rain, adding 12 to their overnight total to declare on 249 for eight before Cardiff UCCE reached 10 for one.

No play was possible at the Brit Oval, meaning Loughborough UCC will resume on the third and final day against Surrey on 148 for one, with Johan Malcolm-Hansen unbeaten on 93.