Durham take token lead over Worcs

Phil Mustard dug Durham out of a hole at Chester-le-Street with a sprightly unbeaten knock of 63 under pressure

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LV= County Championship Division One leaders Durham will carry the slenderest of leads over rock-bottom Worcestershire into day three after the bowlers again dominated at the Riverside.

After 13 wickets fell on day one, with the visitors all out for 193 despite Durham missing England Lions pair Steve Harmison and Graham Onions, a further seven wickets fell for the addition of 154 runs.

That ensured Durham could do no better than 194 all out, a lead of only one after no play was possible after tea due to the threat of lightning

Kabir Ali was the chief beneficiary, returning 6-68, while Matt Mason weighed in with three wickets. Home wicketkeeper Phil Mustard, with an unbeaten 63, was the only batsman to pass 50.

Second-placed Nottinghamshire will be hoping to press home their advantage over Lancashire at Trent Bridge after restricting the Red Rose to 237 for six in their first knock.

Having made 388, Chris Read’s side picked up regular wickets, thanks in large part to Mark Ealham’s 3-26.

Indeed, were it not for veteran Mal Loye’s defiant 84, the visitors might already be in serious trouble.

Elsewhere, Yorkshire look set to collect a big first-innings lead over Somerset at Taunton.

Having made 438 batting first, Yorkshire put in a disciplined performance in the field to leave the opposition 326 for nine at the end of play.

The only thorn in their side, and he was a significant one, was former England opener Marcus Trescothick who clubbed 146 to make light of his team-mates’ struggles.

Mal Loye falls to Samit Patel for 84 as Lancashire closed 151 behind their Trent Bridge hosts with four wickets in hand

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One of the batsman’s former Test colleagues, seamer Matthew Hoggard, was the main threat, picking up 4-82.

In Division Two, leaders Gloucestershire kept themselves in the game against Kent as 14 wickets fell in three sessions at Beckenham.

The high-fliers lost eight wickets for 97 runs to capitulate for 166 - 61 adrift - but fought back to reduce the home side to 149 for six.

Martin van Jaarsveld’s 62 was the top score as paceman Steve Kirby, with four cheap wickets, made the most of the conditions.

At Lord’s, promotion challengers Surrey were making inroads into Middlesex’s 385 all out at stumps.

The hosts had started on 265 for five but Andre Nel (4-59) and Simon King (3-59) ensured they fell 15 short of the 400-mark.

Surrey then reached 87 for two before former England pair Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher came together.

They added an unbroken 99 to see Surrey to 186 for two, with the former on 64no and Butcher two short of his fifty.

At Derbyshire’s County Ground the hosts closed on 188 for two in response to Leicestershire’s first-innings 412 all out.

James Taylor was able to add just three to his overnight 86 before falling lbw to Ian Hunter as Leicestershire’s last five wickets tumbled for 71. Taylor’s scalp was one of five for Hunter.

Australian Chris Rogers hit a brisk 47 in reply before Harry Gurney removed both openers, bringing Garry Park (70no) and Dan Redfern (36no) together.