Bell century not enough

Francois Du Plessis punishes a short ball during Lancashire's comprehensive win over Glamorgan

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Warwickshire's Ian Bell continued his early-season bid to win back his England place with another century against Somerset - but it was in a lost cause as the visitors cantered to an eight-wicket win in Friends Provident Trophy Group B at Edgbaston.

In a second punishing knock inside five days, Bell followed up his 172 in the LV= County Championship meeting at Taunton with a controlled innings of 108 from 123 balls in a total of 271 for nine.

But this was swallowed up with four overs to spare as Craig Kieswetter matched Bell's achievement by adding an unbeatan 138 to the 150 not out he scored when the two teams played out the high-scoring draw last week.

Zander de Bruyn (73 not out) put on an unbroken 188 in 29 overs with Kieswetter - earlier he had blunted Bell's impact by strangling Warwickshire in a mid-innings spell of 3-30 from 10 overs.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan made 43 as his bid to earn a Test recall continued in Yorkshire's 80-run win over Durham at the Riverside.

Vaughan looked in fine touch, but was dismissed by off-spinner Gareth Breese when seemingly well set for a more significant contribution.

Glimpses of brilliance adorned his innings but it was the substance of wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy's late hitting which proved most significant.

Brophy blasted an unbeaten 66 to help Yorkshire post 268 for seven after losing the toss, a total which was beyond the hosts despite a fighting effort from Dale Benkenstein, who was last out in a late clatter of five wickets for 26 runs to end the contest.

Essex began their defence of the competition with a convincing seven-wicket victory against Northamptonshire at Chelmsford.

After the visitors had been bowled out for 281 in the final over of their innings, Essex reached the winning post with 10 deliveries to spare.

Alex Hales en route to a half-century as Nottinghamshire brush Leicestershire aside in a one-sided clash at Trent Bridge

Matt Walker, the new recruit from Kent, played a leading role in the triumph, striking an unbeaten 69 from 65 balls.

England bowler James Anderson was a surprise inclusion in the Lancashire side as they began their campaign in style with an 80-run win over Glamorgan at Old Trafford.

However, he was overshadowed by new-ball partner Kyle Hogg, who took three of the first four wickets to fall as Glamorgan’s top order crumbled to 21 for four in the eighth over. Hogg finished with impressive figures of 3-21 from eight overs.

Scores of 66 from Tom Smith and Francois du Plessis had earlier helped the hosts post a challenging 241 for six.

Moeen Ali showed why Worcestershire consider he might be the long-term replacement for the retired Graeme Hick with a match-winning 125 in their 53-run success over Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Worcestershire, choosing to bat first, made a formidable 320 for eight from their 50 overs and Hampshire were unable to sustain the challenge, being all out for 267 at the start of the 49th over.

England spinner Graeme Swann made a successful return from an elbow operation as Nottinghamshire made short work of Leicestershire at Trent Bridge.

The 30-year-old, who missed England’s one-day series in the West Indies, looked in fine fettle as his 3-23 helped dismiss the visitors for just 155.

The Outlaws won by eight wickets with 20 overs to spare couresy of Mark Wagh's unbeaten 68 and 52 from youngster Alex Hales.

Half-centuries from Craig Spearman (69 not out) and Chris Taylor (68no) guided Gloucestershire to a seven-wicket victory over Sussex at Bristol.

Earlier, Michael Yardy had top-scored for Sussex with 58, while left-arm spinner Vikram Banerjee took 3-47 and claimed two catches.