The odds are shortening on Gloucestershire reaching their fourth consecutive Benson & Hedges final after they bundled out the opposition for under 100 for second time in three days. Leicestershire head their group after winning a tight scrap at Headingley, and Hampshire won a thriller at The Oval by the narrowest of margins. There were Gold Awards for Chris Taylor, Murray Goodwin, Graeme Bridge, Tony Penberthy, Shaun Udal and Michael Bevan.

At Bristol, a hat-trick from Ian Harvey shattered Warwickshire's top order after Gloucestershire posted 240 for six off 43 overs after a delayed start. The visitors eventually crashed to 91 all out, leaving Gloucestershire victors by 149 runs, their second consecutive B & H win. Earlier Harvey had steadied the Gloucestershire innings from a perilous 44 for three, with 34 off as many balls. But it was Chris Taylor who played the innings of the day - his 93 off 96 balls contained three sixes and five fours, and won him the Gold Award. Matt Windows also made a telling contribution, with 86 off 96 balls.

There was a nail-biter at Headingley, where a gallant 93 from Craig White wasn't quite enough to carry Yorkshire past Leicestershire's 221. With the game reduced to 46 overs a side, White's 110-run third-wicket partnership with Michael Lumb (43) had apperently put Yorkshire on the path to victory. But an incisive spell from off-spinner Carl Crowe (3-35) appied the brakes and Yorkshire eventually fell six runs short. Iain Sutcliffe had anchored Leicestershire's innings with 65, and Michael Bevan was looking dangerous on 48 when he fell to fellow Australian Darren Lehmann's part-time left-arm spin.

It was tighter still at The Oval, where Surrey fell short of Hampshire's 243 by just one run. Shaun Udal was Hampshire's hero, with four key wickets as the visitors managed to derail the home side's run chase, after a partnership of 70 between Alec Stewart (52) and Mark Ramprakash (39) had apparently put them on track. Even a rapid 50 from Azhar Mahmood wasn't quite enough to see Surrey home. Earlier Robin Smith returned to form with 64 off 99 balls, consolidating the flying start made by James Hamblin (21 off 27) and Neil Johnson (46 off 35).

Durham beat Lancashire by 16 runs in a rain-affected encounter at Chester-le-Street. Set 171 to win under the Duckworth/Lewis method, Lancashire were bowled out for 154. Neil Killeen (3-12 off 8 overs) was their main assailant, and there were two wickets apiece for Ian Hunter, Paul Collingwood and Graeme Bridge. Earlier Durham had staged a remarkable recovery from 67 for six to 159 for seven before rain intervened. Both openers were back in the pavilion with the score on five, and it was the lower-order batting who hurried the score along, with Graeme Bridge smashing 37 not out off 32 balls and Michael Gough ending unbeaten on 26. The most miserly figures belonged to Sonny Ramadhin's grandson Kyle Hogg. His nine overs cost only 13 runs for one wicket.

Kent were overpowered at Canterbury after Zimbabwe's Murray Goodwin boosted Sussex to 282 for three off their 50 overs. Robin Martin-Jankins (4-22) and James Kirtley (4-34) were the bowling heroes as Sussex dismissed Kent for just 156, winning by 126 runs. Earlier the Sussex openers put on 137 before Richard Montgomerie fell to Andrew Symonds for 71. His partner Timothy Ambrose fell four runs later for 64. Zimbabwean Murray Goodwin then blasted four sixes and five fours in his 85 off only 59 balls. Captain Chris Adams chipped in with 41 off 51 balls.

Worcestershire cruised to a five-wicket win at Northampton. Set a target of 233 they were given a powerful start by Vikram Solanki (50 off 60 balls). A more sedate 52 from Stephen Peters helped build the platform, and a rapid 33 from David Leatherdale ensured victory with two and a half overs to spare. Northants' 232 for seven was more than they might have expected after a slow start. Michael Hussey took 98 balls for his 58, and when he was fifth man out the score stood on only 127. However, Tony Penberthy, (53 off 81 balls) and Jeff Cook (50 off 37) picked up the scoring rate.

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