Trescothick hits new heights

9 May 2007

Marcus Trescothick made a career-best 284 © Getty Images

Marcus Trescothick smashed his previous best first-class score of 219 on the second morning of Somerset’s LV County Championship Division Two match against Northamptonshire.

The England batsman, who withdrew from the recent Ashes series and missed the World Cup with a stress-related illness, took less than an hour to reach his personal landmark, having resumed on 185 not out overnight.

Trescothick’s double hundred at Wantage Road contained 25 boundaries and three sixes, and the innings will increase calls for him to be recalled by England ahead of the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.

He was eventually dismissed for 284 and James Hildreth (111) also reached three figures before rain stopped play on 641 for six.

Ian Blackwell added 81 before the interruption while for the hosts, England spinner Monty Panesar took his second and third wickets of the innings, but at a cost of 149.

Rain also interrupted play at Derbyshire, where Leicestershire had collapsed to 83 for five on the first morning before stabilising to reach 152 for six.

Graham Wagg was in excellent form © Getty Images

After reaching 35 without loss, the dismissal of John Maunders for 15 sparked a mini-collapse.

Tom New was bowled by Graham Wagg second ball and HD Ackerman went for two as Leicestershire lost three wickets for the addition of one run.

Captain Darren Robinson followed soon after before James Allenby (36) joined him in the pavilion with the visitors struggling.

Nottinghamshire reached 152 for four after opting to bat against Middlesex before the rain hit Trent Bridge.

Wicket-keeper David Nash caught both Jason Gallian (17) and Mark Wagh (10) off the bowling of Richard Johnson and Tim Murtagh respectively but Bilal Shafayat (55 not out) held firm.

In Division One, in-form captain Darren Maddy led by example as early pace-setters Warwickshire reached 221 for four against Surrey at the Brit Oval, but England batsman Ian Bell failed to make double figures.

Maddy hit an unbeaten 133 before rain stopped play for the day, after losing opening partner Ian Westwood for 24. Bell was trapped lbw by Neil Saker for only nine.

Michael Di Venuto scored a double ton

At Headingley Carnegie, Yorkshire made steady progress to reach 202 for one against Worcestershire. Craig White hit 97, with 17 fours, while fellow opener Joe Sayers was unbeaten on 86.

Durham had to rely on an unbeaten double century from Michael Di Venuto against Kent as England star Paul Collingwood failed to score.

The home side had to recover from the early losses of Will Smith for 13 and Collingwood, bowled third ball by Yasir Arafat.

That brought Kyle Coetzer in to join Di Venuto and the Scot made 74, while Tasmanian Di Venuto continued unabashed to 204 not out in a Durham total of 407.

James Tredwell and Ryan McLaren led the Kent attack with 4-88 and 4-91 respectively.

Kent were 20 without loss in reply when bad light stopped play.

No play was possible between Hampshire and Lancashire on the first day due to rain at the Rose Bowl.