Warks and Notts set up CB40 decider

Chris Read's unbeaten 66 off 51 deliveries helped Notts set up a tense victory over Durham that keeps their CB40 dream intact

Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire will do battle at Edgbaston next week in a match that will decide the identity of the Clydesdale Bank 40 Group C winners.

Half-centuries from Samit Patel and Chris Read helped Nottinghamshire to a thrilling three-run victory over Durham and set up a winner-takes-all clash with Warwickshire for a Clydesdale Bank 40 semi-final place.

Needing victory to maintain their push for top spot in Group C, Patel hit 75 and Read an unbeaten 66 from 51 balls as Nottinghamshire posted 257 for seven after batting first at Trent Bridge, with 85 runs coming in the last seven overs.

A Durham third-wicket partnership of 86 between Gordon Muchall (47) and Ben Harmison (46) set up a great finish, but the visitors failed to score the 18 they needed off the final over.

Nottinghamshire will go to Edgbaston on Saturday knowing victory will continue the quest for a first one-day trophy since 1991.

Warwickshire, meanwhile, cemented their position as leaders courtesy of victory over Scotland at Edgbaston.

Australian George Bailey struck an 82-ball century for Scotland, sharing a record fourth-wicket stand of 198 with Richie Berrington in a total of 267 for four.

But an explosive 81 off 69 balls from Neil Carter set the Bears on their way to a four-wicket win with three overs to spare.

Kent remain in with a shout of qualifying thanks to a convincing victory over Leicestershire at Grace Road.

After dismissing the Foxes for 182 in 38.1 overs, Kent cruised to their target with little trouble to clinch a six-wicket win with 6.4 overs to spare. Rob Key, Joe Denly, Darren Stevens and Alex Blake all passed 40.

James Middlebrook was key to Northants' win over Derbyshire, taking 3-34 before hitting 57 not out, his best one-day score

In Group B, Alex Gidman struck his first century of the season in a nine-wicket mauling of the Netherlands which maintained Gloucestershire’s ambitions of reaching the last four.

Australian Michael Dighton made 51 and Wesley Barresi 39 in the visitors’ 191 after winning the toss in excellent batting conditions at Bristol. David Payne returned 3-33.

The total never seemed likely to be enough, and the Gladiators cruised to victory despite losing Will Porterfield to the first ball of their reply, with captain Gidman’s 104 not out and James Franklin’s unbeaten 77 guiding them home with 3.3 overs to spare.

Graham Wagg’s last home game as a Derbyshire player ended in defeat after an impressive all-round display by James Middlebrook took Northamptonshire to a five-wicket victory.

Wagg, who is leaving the club after five seasons, took the first two wickets before Middlebrook followed his 3-34 haul with an unbeaten 57 - his highest one-day score - in Northants’ successful pursuit of 172 to win.

Already qualified Somerset crashed to only their second CB40 defeat of the season despite a century from England one-day wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter against Worcestershire in Group A at New Road.

Kieswetter’s sixth one-day century, from just 97 balls, threatened to take Somerset to an unlikely win but Worcestershire held their nerve to secure a 49-run victory.

Somerset, who secured their place in the semi-finals yesterday, need to beat Glamorgan in their final group match at Taunton on Saturday to ensure they have a home tie.

Lancashire survived a major scare to secure a thrilling last-ball win over the Unicorns at Colwyn Bay.

Overcoming a five-wicket haul from medium-pacer Neil Hancock, the Lightning had to score 13 off the final over in their pursuit of 254 for victory.

Kyle Hogg hit 12 of them, including a straight six off Jonathan Miles, to finish 35 not out off 26 balls as Lancashire won by two wickets.