AXA Sunday League round-up:
Hick only a half happy centurion
THROAT balls were in short supply as Graeme Hick cruised to a
century off 68 deliveries to set up Worcestershire`s 79-run vic-
tory against Durham at Darlington yesterday.
It was Hick`s 100th century in all forms of cricket since making
his county debut in 1984, but there was little more than a half-
smile and two brief waves of the bat from a man for whom this op-
portunity arose only because of England`s failings at Edgbaston.
Hick`s 130, the highest Sunday League score made against Durham,
came off 81 balls with 12 fours and six sixes, two of which
cleared the stand into the football ground.
Worcestershire made 185 off the last 20 overs to reach 272 for
five and Durham were all out for 193.
Hampshire falter
Spectators also perked up at the news that Hampshire`s Robin
Smith and Darren Gough of Yorkshire had made themselves available
for duty at Southampton.
In the event, David Byas 78, Michael Bevan, 97, and Craig White,
50 off 24 balls with three sixes and four fours, dominated the
early show as Yorkshire reached 264 for two.
Smith came back with a superb century, with nine fours and two
sixes, but when he was caught at the wicket for 115, Hampshire
faltered to defeat by 19 runs.
Five in a row for Warwickshire
Rapid half-centuries from Neil Smith, Dominic Ostler and Roger
Twose propelled Warwickshire, the champions, to a 112-run win
over Leicestershire and their fifth on the trot in the competi-
tion.
Twose and Dermot Reeve put on 83 in the last eight overs to carry
Warwickshire to 277 for four and Leicestershire were off the pace
well before Reeve took three wickets in four balls to send them
tumbling for 165.
Gloucestershire recorded their first League win of the season at
Bristol where, having dismissed Middlesex for 200, they won by
six wickets with seven balls to spare, Mark Alleyne celebrating
his 100th successive Sunday appearance with 60 not out.
Keith Greenfield struck a Sunday best 101 as Sussex made it five
wins in six matches with a 12-run victory over Nottinghamshire at
Arundel.
Greenfield`s century helped the home side to 240 for six and they
restricted Nottinghamshire to 229 for six in reply.
Essex spoil Surrey anniversary
Surrey failed to do justice to an afternoon of nostalgia at the
Oval, losing to Essex by 61 runs.
Forty Surrey players of varied vintage paraded round the ground
in veteran cars at tea as part of the county`s 150th anniversary
celebrations, but by then Essex had all but ended hopes of an ac-
companying home victory with a 38-over total of 271 for six.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk)
Contributed by Gazza (G.Hunt@bath.ac.uk)
