Derbyshire v Glamorgan at Derby
Derbyshire retained their second place despite having lost their first game of the season Derbyshire will be delighted if they are able to field their captain and leading wicket taker Dominic Cork for this game, his absence might have cost them win number four earlier in the week. Corks supporting cast of bowlers though have all been in the wickets in the early season and will be seeking to repeat the earlier success. Leading batsman Michael Di Venuto will be hoping to continue his form.

Glamorgan for their part have succeeded in securing two victories in their four games despite a severe shortage of first innings runs, opening bowlers Thomas and Jones have been their most effective weapons while only Powell and James have achieved any kind of consistency with the bat. Importantly though their lesser batsmen do not roll over.

A superior pace attack and greater batting consistency than their visitors make Derbyshire favourites to repeat their round one away victory over the welsh county.

Gloucestershire v Worcestershire at Bristol
Just one point separates these sides in fourth and fifth, but they have gained them in different ways, Gloucestershire lead with the ball and Worcester with the bat – but, that said, it is Worcestershire who have lost two of their four games coming into this west country derby. Those defeats – in their last two games – may have shaken the side who won against the same opposition earlier in the summer.

Graham Hick and Gareth Batty have failed, thus far in the season, to produce the runs that would be expected of them for Worcestershire, but, the collapse against John Stephenson of Essex aside the team have batted solidly to date – if these two can contribute more they can post a big total and do so swiftly.

For Gloucestershire it has always been the way that the bits and pieces players, such as skipper Mark Alleyne and the wonderful Jack Russell contribute that has been the key, this has made them a highly successful one day side, but an erratic first class one. If Harvey and Lewis can apply pressure with the ball the home team could prosper, but as both of these sides can get both their runs and their wickets from various sources, and local pride is at stake it is hard pick a winner.

Middlesex v Durham at Lord's
Thanks to Derbyshire's defeat in grey of Chelmsford earlier in the week Middlesex bring the championship's only perfect record to this game. They will be expected to continue it against a Durham side that they totally outclassed at the Riverside in April, although, to be fair Durham had poor luck losing two players injured in that game.

Although Middlesex's batsmen have scored comparatively few runs this has not been down to the low cost of their wickets, but to the cheapness with which Noffke, Cooke and their supporting cast have claimed those of their opponents on the way to on ten wicket and two innings victories.

Durham's hopes lie in the improved grit shown by their own batting in the twelve-point draw, and near victory at riverside against Gloucestershire. In their 470 for 8 declared everyone fought for their runs and if that lesson remains learned then they will be far less easy meat than in the opening game of the season

Northamptonshire v Essex at Northampton
Both of these sides' batsmen will welcome the opportunity to play on the placid surface at Northampton having faced some bowler friendly conditions in their last matches. It seems certain that Ronnie Irani's side come into this game as favourites having pulled off their second win of the season. Irani's performance was, as in so many of Essex's better results in recent years the key to victory, however the lack of pace in their bowling attack could seriously hamper chances on this ground.

That said though, the dependence of Northants on runs from Hussey and Loye means the home side cannot rest easily. They will, though, be please with the form of Tony Penberthy Essex lad Adrian Rollins showed scoring 106 and 60 in the defeat at Nottingham. There is also an unknown in the potential greeting that Essex may receive from Ricky Anderson who left that county at the end of last season, leading wicket taker Carl Greenidge will also pose a threat.

                          P   W  L  D  Bat Bowl Deduct Points
Middlesex                 3   3  0  0  13    9   0.00   58.00
Derbyshire                4   3  1  0   8   12   0.25   55.75
Essex                     4   2  1  1   8   12   0.50   47.50
Gloucestershire           4   1  1  2   9   11   0.00   40.00
Worcestershire            4   1  2  1  14    9   0.00   39.00
Nottinghamshire           4   2  2  0   2   12   0.50   37.50
Glamorgan                 3   2  1  0   3    9   0.00   36.00
Durham                    4   0  3  1   7   12   0.00   23.00
Northamptonshire          4   0  3  1   9    9   0.50   21.50

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