Irani display clears way for Essex
HITTING eight sixes and five fours, Ronnie Irani scored a
whirlwind century off 47 balls to lift Essex`s total to an invin-
cible 303 for seven and set up a 68-run AXA Equity and Law League
victory over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.
With Glamorgan beaten, Essex, who have five matches to play, are
clear leaders.
Irani`s devastation of a depleted Gloucestershire came in the
wake of 78 by Mark Waugh and Graham Gooch`s 51.
Warwickshire`s defence of the Sunday crown gathered momentum as
they beat Northamptonshire by 24 runs at Edgbaston, and moved
into second place with their eighth consecutive victory.
Their control was established by Neil Smith (60) and Roger Twose
(62) and Trevor Penney`s unbeaten 42 from 32 balls, which secured
a total of 222 for six.
Northamptonshire lost six wickets for 114 and the match was in
danger of dying as a spectacle for a crowd of 6,200 until Tony
Penberthy (44) and Russell Warren (42) put on 69 in eight overs.
An unbroken stand of 179 in 20 overs by Neil Fairbrother, 86 off
80 balls, and Graham Lloyd, 88 off 64, helped Lancashire to an
87-run win over Somerset at Taunton.
Somerset, bemused at conceding 72 off their last five overs, went
out to bat like doomed men and faded to their fourth Sunday de-
feat in a row.
Roles were reversed at Lord`s after Sussex`s innings defeat in
the championship on Saturday. Middlesex, bottom of the Sunday
League and without a win since their first match this season,
were dispatched by seven wickets with two overs to spare.
An efficient Sussex performance in the field restricted Middlesex
to 163 for nine and Keith Greenfield (77) and Bill Athey (42 not
out) flourished in a third-wicket stand of 117.
James Whitaker, playing his first innings since injuring an ankle
at Worcester a month ago, guided Leicestershire to a five-wicket
victory over Surrey at Grace Road with 17 balls to spare.
Whitaker, whose unbeaten 65 from 82 balls included eight fours,
shared a decisive fifth-wicket partnership of 96 with Ben Smith
after Leicester, chasing 181, had slumped to 54 for four in the
12th over.
Paul Pollard`s blistering 95, which took his tally to a remark-
able 512 in seven Sunday knocks this summer, eased Not-
tinghamshire to a five-wicket victory over Yorkshire at
Cleethorpes.
Devon Malcolm, whose eight wayward overs cost 73 runs, redeemed
himself by blasting 10 off the last three balls of the Derbyshire
innings to carry them to a one-wicket victory over title-
contenders Glamorgan at Derby.
Glamorgan recovered from 12 for two to score 247 for six with
half-centuries from Stephen James, Tony Cottey and Robert Croft.
Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk)
Contributed by Gazza (G.hunt@bath.ac.uk)
