White spurs sensational Sabres

Craig White © Getty Images

Cameron White’s big hitting helped holders Somerset set a new Twenty20 standard as they posted the highest score in the history of sprint cricket.

The Sabres racked up an unfeasible 250 for three - on the back of White’s unbeaten 116 and 90 from his fellow Australian Justin Langer - against Gloucestershire at Taunton in the first round of matches in this year’s competition.

The fourth summer of Twenty20 cricket therefore got off to a famous start as White hit nine sixes and seven fours from only 53 balls, sharing a second-wicket stand of 186 with Langer.

The Gladiators were unable to mount a significant response, Charl Willoughby (4-30) taking most advantage as they faltered to 133 all out.

In the same Midlands/West/Wales Division, there were not quite the same fireworks at Northampton where Warwickshire got the better of the Steelbacks by 24 runs.

The Bears’ 185 for five was full of handy performances, and then Ian Westwood - better known as an early batsman in the longer game - took 3-29 with his off-breaks as Northants were bowled out for 161.

In the South Division, Surrey seemed intent for a while on trying to match Somerset in raising the bar for the highest total.

On a night of derby matches up and down the country, the Brown Caps got off to a flier against Middlesex at Lord’s thanks to an opening stand of 148 between Ali Brown (83) and James Benning (57).

In the end they had to settle for 218 for seven as off-spinner Paul Weekes nipped in with three wickets.

But Surrey seamer Tim Murtagh then saw off three home batsmen for ducks at the top of the Middlesex order - and despite half-centuries from Eoin Morgan (66) and Scott Styris (56) in a fifth-wicket stand of 106, the Crusaders left themselves with too much to do on the way to a 40-run defeat.

At Arundel, 4-30 from leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed could not stop Hampshire making an acceptable 152 for six thanks to an unbeaten 55 from Greg Lamb. But that was not quite enough as hosts Sussex got home by four wickets with five balls to spare.

The other match in the south saw Kent (186 for six) get the better of Essex by 39 runs at Beckenham, where Eagles captain Ronnie Irani made 61 but three wickets each for new signing Tyron Henderson and Neil Dexter helped the Spitfires gain the day.

Michael Vaughan watches Yorkshire push aside Durham © Getty Images

Up north, Durham were no match for Yorkshire at Headingley.

The Dynamos lurched from their weekend C&G Trophy disappointment to another defeat, this time by eight wickets as Yorkshire had little trouble chasing 121 for eight after Darren Lehmann had taken 3-19 with his part-time left-arm spin.

At Grace Road, Leicestershire’s 137 for six did not look instantly promising - but it turned out to be plenty for Nottinghamshire who managed only 123 for eight in reply.

Favourites Lancashire came unstuck at Derby, where left-arm seamer Graham Wagg continued his comeback with three top-order wickets for 24 as the Lightning misfired for 114 all out.

Derbyshire made a meal of their reply but got home in the end with five wickets and three balls to spare, Steve Stubbings (51) bagging a half-century on the way.

Batting second also proved the best bet at Sophia Gardens, particularly for New Zealander Brendon McCullum (63) who smashed eight fours and three sixes off only 26 balls to set Glamorgan on the way to a comfortable chase of Worcestershire’s hard-working 163 for seven.

There was also a half-century for Michael Powell (54) in a second-wicket stand of 101 before a minor mid-innings stumble which delayed the conclusion until the start of the last over.