A round-up from the latest Friends Provident Trophy matches
Cricinfo staff04-May-2009
Group BFor the second day running Middlesex suffered a batting implosion as they crumbled to 65 all out against Somerset at Bath. Gareth Berg (30) was the only batsman to reach double figures as Peter Trego took 4 for 17. Trego picked up his first when Neil Dexter edged into his stumps, but had Justin Langer to thank for his next when the captain plucked out a screaming catch at short midwicket to remove Billy Godleman. The innings was soon it tatters at 22 for 5 when Trego dispatched Dawid Malan and Ben Scott with full-length swinging deliveries. Charl Willoughby had taken the key early wicket when he trapped Phillip Hughes leg before, not playing a shot, for 5. Somerset didn’t waste any time knocking off the runs as Craig Kieswetter hit 36 off 21 balls and the entire match lasted just 32.4 overs.Joe Denly put the disappointment of missing out on England’s Twenty20 squad behind him with a match-winning, unbeaten 97 as Kent completed a four-wicket win against Scotland at Canterbury with 10 balls to spare in their D/L altered chase. Kent’s top order had done most of the work as they reached 169 for 2 before Scotland gave them a scare. Former captain Ryan Watson grabbed two wickets as Kent wobbled to 190 for 6, but Denly held firm to prevent any upset. Scotland’s competitive total was based around another half century from new captain Gavin Hamilton (78) and 65 from Cameron Borgas, the Australian, who continued his good form.
Group AHD Ackerman showed all his one-day prowess to hammer 118 off 87 as Leicestershire over came a tough challenge from Ireland to win by seven wickets at Grace Road. In a match reduced to 31 overs by rain, Ireland managed to set a useful target of 199 after Paul Stirling made a career-best 80 and Kevin O’Brien used his hitting power with a run-a-ball 67. However, it was made to look a simple chase as Ackerman and James Taylor (48) added 107 for the second wicket then Ackerman and Paul Nixon put on 55 in six overs as the home side eased home with two overs to spare.Steven Davies, another player to vanish from the England scene since the Caribbean tour, slammed 82 off 59 balls as Worcestershire sped to a 10-wicket victory against Nottinghamshire at New Road. Davies and Vikram Solanki (49 not out) raced to their adjusted target of 138 in 26 overs with 17 balls to spare. Worcestershire’s new-ball attack put them on top early as Ashley Noffke and Gareth Andrew reduced Nottinghamshire to 13 for 3. Alex Hales was brought down to earth after his century against Ireland when he was trapped lbw first ball and Samit Patel also collected a duck. Mark Wagh did his best to anchor the innings with 85, while late impetus was provided by Mark Ealham’s 20-ball 42, but there was too much ground to make up.
Group CEd Joyce hit an unbeaten 103 as Sussex made easy work of Durham at Chester-le-Street with an eight-wicket win. After a disappointing batting display from the home side, Sussex were able to pace their chase comfortably. Joyce and Joe Gatting added 117 for the first wicket to do most of the work. Durham’s innings had never really got going with only Will Smith (65) posting a half century but it was a cautious innings off 105 balls. Sussex’s spinners played a key role with young legspinner Will Beer claiming 2 for 29 and Rory Hamtilon-Brown grabbing three.For a full report of Surrey’s victory against Yorkshire at Headingley click here
Group DAndrew Hall took four wickets as Northamptonshire saw off Glamorgan by 35 runs at Wantage Road. The match was reduced to 39 overs per side and the home side’s total of 200 didn’t appear too daunting. However, without Mark Cosgrove who injured his hamstring against Essex, Glamorgan struggled for momentum and after Lee Daggert took two wickets in an over the batting crumbled. They slid 95 for 8 as Hall struck more quick blows and Dean Cosker’s 50 only reduced the margin of defeat, though it completed a fine all-round day for Cosker as he earlier claimed 3 for 26.Essex bounced back from their high-scoring defeat against Glamorgan as they registered a comfortable six-wicket win against Derbyshire at Derby. Varun Chopra top-scored in the chase with 69 off 93 balls before Graham Napier added the finishing touches with 28 from 15 balls to make the win look even more convincing. Napier earlier took three middle-order wickets to slow Derbyshire’s momentum after a stand of 75 between Wavell Hinds and Garry Park had laid a platform. Hinds marshalled the rest of the innings with 81 but the target didn’t test Essex.
Worcestershire 3 3 00 0 6 +1.129 638/106.1 532/109.0 Nottinghamshire 3 2 1 00 4 +1.956 642/106.0 505/123.1Hampshire 3 2 1 0 04 +0.047 809/148.1 812/150.0 Leicestershire 4 1 3 0 0 2-0.904 848/179.0 898/159.1 Ireland 30 3 0 0 0 -1.781537/114.0 727/112.0
Somerset 33 0 0 0 6 +3.054629/92.3 517/138.0 Kent 3 21 0 0 4 -0.312 524/117.4629/132.0 Warwickshire 2 1 10 0 2 +0.899 454/80.4 454/96.0 Middlesex 3 1 2 00 2 -0.246 500/150.0 343/95.5Scotland 3 0 3 0 00 -1.958 527/144.0 691/123.0
Gloucestershire 3 3 0 0 06 +1.174 765/146.2 608/150.0 Yorkshire 4 2 2 0 0 4+0.016 840/183.0 837/183.0 Sussex 31 2 0 0 2 -0.005633/143.2 647/146.2 Surrey 3 12 0 0 2 -0.496 572/133.0638/133.0 Durham 3 1 20 0 2 -0.758 646/150.0 726/143.2
Lancashire 3 3 00 0 6 +0.842 723/141.2 641/150.0 Essex 3 2 1 00 4 +0.034 773/138.3 772/139.1Northamptonshire 3 1 2 0 02 -0.018 721/139.0 688/132.1 Derbyshire 3 1 2 0 0 2-0.093 638/139.0 640/136.4 Glamorgan 41 3 0 0 2 -0.620830/185.1 944/185.0
