With the Norwich Union season drawing towards its close, and still a number of issues to be decided, there's an intensity about all the matches taking place at present. The next round is spread over three days, with the bulk of them to be played on Sunday.

It is then that the already relegated Somerset Sabres take on Kent Spitfires at Taunton. The Spitfires cannot take the title they won with a late run last year, but they can still land one of the minor places in the prize money. There is also a possibility that Leicestershire Foxes could use some stealth and cunning to reach those heights as well. They go to Scarborough to take on Yorkshire Phoenix.

The matches in Division Two on Sunday could go a long way towards deciding the promotion issue, and indeed, the divisional title. Gloucestershire Gladiators, who are top, meet Derbyshire Scorpions who are not out of the promotion race. Meanwhile Essex Eagles in third place take on the second team in the table, Surrey Lions. Northamptonshire Steelbacks are currently just out of the promotion bracket and they visit Lancashire Lightning – perhaps aware of the dangers of combining steel with lightning.

On Tuesday the Yorkshire Phoenix team will be descending on Edgbaston to play Warwickshire Bears, who cannot now take the title but will want a high finish. Then, on Wednesday, the lights will be shining at Grace Road as Leicestershire Foxes meet Somerset Sabres in the last of this season's floodlit matches.

© CricInfo