Steve Waugh's career with the Kent Spitfires took off in style at Canterbury, as Leicestershire Foxes' 168, which looked competitive when Kent were 52 for four, was passed with two balls to spare. Waugh kept the Spitfires' title hopes alive with an unbeaten 59 towards a five-wicket win in the last over, which takes them into undisputed third place behind the leaders, Worcestershire Royals, and Glamorgan Dragons. Waugh added 72 for the sixth wicket with Paul Nixon (33*) to secure the victory. Martin Saggers was Kent's top bowler, with three for 22 off his nine overs, while Min Patel (two for 34), Mark Ealham and Matthew Fleming all gave good support. Neil Burns (35) was the top scorer in an off-colour performance by the Foxes.

In Division Two, Surrey Lions kept a grip on their promotion hopes with a 70-run win over Hampshire Hawks. Adam Hollioake was hunter-in-chief under a moonlit night at the AMP Oval, with 32 and five for 43 as the Hawks were unable to clear the lower plains of the division. The Lions' healthy 262 was built around Ian Ward (38), Ali Brown (49), Mark Ramprakash (50) and Scott Newman (37). Dimitri Mascarenhas (four for 45) and Neil Johnson (three for 42) were the main wicket-takers for the Hawks, whose reply never got much above ground level after Tim Murtagh bowled Johnson for 44. Mushtaq Ahmed was particularly predatory for the Lions, with one for 19 off nine overs as the Hawks were picked off like sitting ducks.

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