Du Plessis does the job

Francois Du Plessis hit a brilliant unbeaten 77 to give Lancashire a thrilling three-wicket Friends Provident Trophy win over Roses rivals Yorkshire at Old Trafford.

Yorkshire reached 204 for seven thanks to a knock of 65 from Jacques Rudolph, while Kyle Hogg bowled impressively to finish with 3-27 from his ten overs.

The hosts were struggling on 76 for five in the 22nd over of a Duckworth-Lewis affected 45-over chase of 214.

But South African Du Plessis struck 77 off 80 balls and, combined with Hogg (31), helped the Lightning home despite the best efforts of veteran Yorkshire bowler Darren Gough, who claimed 3-43.

The result meant Lancashire stayed top of the North Division on seven points, which made them favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals, while Yorkshire are in third with four points.

Elsewhere in the division, Durham ended Scotland's hopes of reaching the knockout stages with a 46-run win in a match also affected by Duckworth-Lewis at the Citylets Grange.

Durham had made 181 for nine with Ben Harmison top scoring on 29, and John Blain took 3-31 but the Scots were only able to muster 52 for five - 46 runs short of the amended target.

In the South/West Division, Worcestershire thrashed Hampshire by nine wickets at New Road as Simon Jones took his best one-day figures of 5-32.

Vikram Solanki (81) and Steve Davies (76 not out) helped the Royals home.

Gloucestershire claimed a four-wicket victory over Somerset thanks largely to Craig Spearman’s unbeaten 140 in 119 balls.

Somerset posted 290 for six, captain Justin Langer weighing in with 112 not out, but Spearman smashed 12 fours and two sixes in a blistering innings to take Gloucestershire home with 10 balls to spare.

In the South East Division, Martin van Jaarsveld’s second century of the competition helped Kent ease to a nine-wicket victory over Sussex.

Kent reached their victory total of 219 with 47 balls to spare at Canterbury after Simon Cook had earlier snaffled 3-41 as the Sharks reached 218 for nine.

Essex remain top the division after they defeated Surrey by 156 runs, rattling up their highest total in limited-overs cricket.

Mark Pettini’s one-day best of 144, which included 17 fours and two sixes, aided by Jason Gallian’s 117, propelled Essex to 391 for five at the Brit Oval before they skittled Surrey for 235 as David Masters claimed 5-17.

Nottinghamshire climbed above opponents Leicestershire at the top of the Midlands Division with a two-wicket victory.

Darren Pattinson (4-35) and Samit Patel (3-34) helped bowl Leicestershire out for 197, with Paul Nixon hitting 75 and Boeta Dippenaar 51.

Matthew Wood (50) put on 84 for the first wicket with Will Jefferson for Notts, before James Allenby took four wickets but Luke Fletcher hit the winning runs off the last ball of the match.

Elsewhere, Northamptonshire remained in touch with the leaders after a 144-run stand between Riki Wessels and Stephen Peters helped them to a five-wicket victory over Warwickshire.

The Bears reached 232 for eight from their 50 overs, with Jonathan Trott leading the way with 120 from 142 balls.

Left-arm seamer Neil Carter ripped through the Northants top order with three wickets in four deliveries to reduce the visitors to 12 for three, but Peters (97) and Wessels (78) guided the Steelbacks to a comfortable win.