Story The Ashes 2009: Australia in England [Day 3: 1st Ashes Test Posted]

[Roofrom50]

Great knock from Symonds there. Brett Lee played well. Go Aussies

 

[The Mongrel]

England v Australia, 1st One Day International
Jaques and Clarke punish English attack
Cricinfo staff
20 June 2009

Australia 294 for 4 (50 overs) (Jaques 107, Clarke 97*, Lewis 2-46) beat England 241 (44 overs) (Davies 93, Flintoff 49, Tait 3-29, Johnson 3-54) by 53 runs
Scorecard

Brilliant innings from Australians Phil Jaques and Michael Clarke has handed a decisive 53-run victory for Australia in the 1st One Day International at Lord's. Only a resilient 93 from English wicketkeeper Steven Davies provided respectability to the English score, as they suffered from the loss of early wickets, seeing them slump to 53-5 after 13 overs.

Marcus Trescothick fell early to Brett Lee, playing a mis-timed pull shot straight to Mike Hussey at mid wicket for six. The outspoken Kevin Pietersen barely got a start either as he fell for just eight, playing all around Brett Lee and having his off stump knocked out of the ground. Quick wickets followed as Paul Collingwood departed for just the four runs as a quick and fast yorker from Shaun Tait was dug out by Collingwood's foot, umpire Rudi Koertzen dismissing the Durham all-rounder who hobbled off lucky not to have broken a toe. Bell began to tease that he was set to lift the run rate as he struck his fourth boundary, but Mitchell Johnson was introduced and struck with his first delivery as Bell played on from just outside off stump.

Debutant Nick Compton was at the crease with high expectations, considering his rather impressive lineage including his grandfather Denis Compton. After getting off the mark with a glorious cover drive against a fired up Shaun Tait, Johnson again found the inside edge as the youngster chopped on for just seven, and the English were in big trouble at 53-5.

An invaluable 85-run stand between captain Andrew Flintoff and Davies helped steady the ship for the English, but just one shy of his half-century, Flintoff was trapped leg before by Andrew Symonds. With everything looking lost for the English, Davies and Hants all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas resisted against the Aussie bowlers as they combined for a 76-run partnership. However, on 34, Mascarenhas holed out to Tait in the deep as Johnson picked up his third wicket to finish up with figures of 3-54.

The English would only add another 27 runs, as Bracken finally ended Davies' resistence on 93 as he was bowled by Nathan Bracken. Shaun Tait cleaned up the tail to end the innings on 241, 53 runs short of the target on what was a pretty good batting surface.

Earlier, Ricky Ponting didn't hesitate in batting first after winning the toss on a Lord's track with just a touch of grass on its surface. "[The pitch] looks pretty good, it might move a bit early but that happens on most pitches," Ponting said. "I'd expect if there's any movement, it will be through the air as the grass won't do a whole lot. We'd like to post a total and then try and defend it."

Much like the trend the Australians have been following for the majority of the summer, openers Brad Haddin and Phil Jaques attacked English bowlers James Anderson and Jon Lewis as they motored along at near seven runs per over. But after James Anderson was removed from the attack in favour of Andrew Flintoff, Jon Lewis dismissed Brad Haddin with a good length ball which clipped the top of off stump.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was dismissed without scoring by Lewis, who found the outside edge which was gladly accepted by Flintoff at first slip. The Australians rebuilt, though, with an impressive 86-run partnership between Jaques and Michael Clarke, before Jaques departed for a brilliant 107 from 120 as he picked out Marcus Trescothick at deep midwicket, his innings including eighteen boundaries.

Andrew Symonds began attacking from the outset as he made 39, but Panesar again struck as Symonds midread the straighter delivery, too straight to attempted a late cut and resulting in his being bowled. Michael Clarke, dwindling along at a strike rate of sixty, punished the bowlers at the death as he remained unbeaten three runs short of his century, on 97 from 109 deliveries. Mike Hussey also provided support for the New South Welshman's onslaught, chipping in with 22 runs at more than a run a ball. England's premier one day bowler, James Anderson, was punished as he conceeded 0-76 in just eight overs, made even more amazing as he bowled one maiden.

Australia's total of 294 proved too great a task for the English as the conditions worsened and the Australians managed to create more pronounced swing. Phil Jaques was named player of the match for his century as the Australians took a 1-0 lead in the five match series.

"Its just great to come out here and make some runs in front of a big crowd," Jaques said after receiving his award. "I've played a few times here for Worcs (Worcestershire, Jaques' former county), but never in front of a crowd quite like this.

"The side played really well today, and even when guys like Davies and Flintoff made some runs, we were able to strike back and take wickets at crucial times."

Flintoff was understandably disappointed at his side's performance. "We conceeded too many runs and again left too big of a task for the lower order to handle," he said. "We need to just work on bowling in the right areas, as that's the best way to keep the runs to a minimum."

The two sides meet again Tuesday at Kennington, where the English will attempt to level the series at 1-1 ahead of the third match at Chester-le-Street. Australia will likewise be looking for the victory and capitalise on today's clinical display.

? Cricinfo

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[The Mongrel]

 

[Jaztheman]

Wow fantastic updates, great effort made and it made a really nice read(read yesterday but forgot to post)

 

[The Mongrel]

England v Australia, 2nd One Day International, Kennington Oval
Collingwood pulls series level
Cricinfo staff
23 June 2009

England 225 for 5 (47.4 overs) (Collingwood 65*, Bell 61, Symonds 2-25) beat Australia 224-7 (50 overs) (White 70, Hussey 64, Anderson 3-51, Flintoff 2-37) by 5 wickets
Scorecard

Just three days following a comprehensive loss to Australia, England succeeded in levelling the 5-match NatWest series at The Oval in London. English all-rounder Paul Collingwood was instrumental in leading the English to a convincing five wicket victory as he played brilliantly for his unbeaten 65 in 85 deliveries as the English chased down a paltry 224 on a good batting strip.

Collingwood's unbeaten innings was accompanied by a painstaking 61 from opening batsman Ian Bell, as he faced 124 deliveries before he finally gave Shaun Tait a return catch. However, the English run chase showed a batting order possessing depth, as a quick fire 16* from wicketkeeper Steven Davies still allowed all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas a rest.

Earlier, James Anderson was in impressive touch as he punished the Australian top order, who faltered on their way to 5-66, as he snared 3-51 in a quite brilliant, but ultimately expensive, opening spell. Openers Brad Haddin and Phil Jaques started off aggressively as they put on a partnership of 42 in just six overs, but having swung every ball away from the right hander Haddin, Anderson caught Haddin on the crease to have him leg before for 14.

However the big scalp came two balls later as Anderson hit the perfect length to Ponting to take the outside edge into the waiting gloves of Stephen Davies as the Australian captain departed for no score. When Clarke got off the mark with a sparking drive off Anderson to the boundary, Anderson would hit back in his next over with an identical ball to the one that dismissed Ponting, a thin outside edge accepted by Davies as Clarke became Anderson's third victim.

After a blistering start including six boundaries, Jaques' patience ran out as he attempted an ugly swipe across the line against Jon Lewis, only to miss completely and have his stumps dismantled for 30. Big hitting Andrew Symonds, however, looked more subdued on the scorecard, though he attempted to come down the crease to the quick bowlers - missing more than hitting. His short stay at the crease ended in equally as ugly fashion as Jaques, as he mistimed a slog over cow corner off English captain Andrew Flintoff, second gamer Nick Compton taking the easy catch at midwicket.

With Australia in all sorts of trouble after 14 overs, it was left to Mike Hussey and Cameron White to save the Australian blushes against a swinging ball. Hussey - all too familiar with the English conditions considering his prolific batting record for Durham, Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire - looked to grind out an innings, while destructive Somerset all-rounder, Cameron White, looked to put Australia in a winning position with his big hitting.

English bowler Mascarenhas struggled against White and Hussey, with White especially confident against the medium-fast pace of Mascarenhas as he took twelve off one over, before putting the sword to Monty Panesar to surge past fifty. However, the 113-run stand between Hussey and White finally came to an end when White was struck in front of middle stump by Panesar, with umpire Jeremy Lloyds having no hesitation in sending the Victorian batsman back to the pavilion for a brilliant 70.

As Hussey attempted to increase the run rate, he struck gold against Anderson with a pair of boundaries, but captain Flintoff picked up his second as he beat Hussey with a full length ball to dismiss him for a vital 64, leaving tailenders Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson to push the score past 220, with Johnson landing a lusty blows off Anderson and Flintoff, the Aussies posting a total of 224-7 after 50 overs.

Earlier, Ricky Ponting made his record in the toss two from two, as he again chose to bat on a flat Oval pitch. However, the cloud cover that was overhead in the Australian innings moved away for England, leaving them with a flat deck against minimal swing.

While Lee and Nathan Bracken managed to swing the ball for the first few overs, Trescothick seemingly refused to take a backward step as he put the sword to the Aussie bowlers. With the fifty up within ten overs, Trescothick lost his concentration - and his wicket - as he reached for a ball well outside off stump, angling the ball into his off stump for 26. While the bowlers continued the pressure on Ian Bell, second gamer Nick Compton was promoted to number three and struggled to a score of nine as he and Bell added just 21 runs in seven overs. Compton's struggle ended on his 21st delivery, as Symonds produced a feather edge from his off spin bowler, Haddin claiming a regulation chance.

However, the mounting pressure from the Aussies was seemingly undone by the undiscipline in the Australian attack, who bowled conceded a total of eighteen extras in the English innings. Even Kevin Pietersen's dismissal on 20 kept England in a solid position at 3-101, as Pietersen played a firm drive outside off stump against Symonds, only to pick out the safe hands of Hussey at cover. Pietersen's dismissal saw match-winner Paul Collingwood come to the crease, immediately setting out with a crafty pull shot of Mitchell Johnson to get off the mark with his first boundary. Ian Bell crawled past his half-century in a knock that very nearly cost England the match as his innings of 61 came in 124 deliveries. With the partnership on 69, Bell finally departed as he dug out a Shaun Tait yorker, only for the ball to pop back up to the bowler to end his innings. With the score 170-4 after 39.2 overs, it left England 55 runs to get in a touch over ten overs.

Paul Collingwood, though, was calm as he pushed past his half-century against the inexperience of Tait and Johnson. At the other end, though, Flintoff struggled to just ten before Michael Clarke snuck through bat and pad to snare his first victim. But a target of just 22 runs in 29 deliveries was monstered in just 14 balls, as Davies punished the Aussie bowlers with 16* in eight deliveries. However, the real star was Collingwood, who's unbeaten 65 was able to level the series at 1-1. The victory marked the first one day international win for English coach Peter Moores over Australia, who will hope to follow in his predecessor, Duncan Fletcher's, footsteps in next month's Vodofone Ashes Series with a victory.

© Cricinfo

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[kookaburra69]

Great update mate.
Nice to see England level the series.

 

[The Mongrel]

 

[The Mongrel]

County Championship round-up
Hodge decimates Notts as Rashid pushes for England call-up
Cricinfo staff
June 24, 2009

Division One

Middlesex 230 (Godleman 72, Rashid 5-64, Harwood 3-55) & 305-4 (Shah 88, Hutton 77, Smith 50*, Rashid 2-89) beat Yorkshire 238 (McGrath 63, Peploe 6-62) & 293 (Vaughan 53, Peploe 4-51, Hogg 3-71) by six wickets

Middlesex batsman Owais Shah renewed hopes of an English recall with a fighting 88 to lead his side to a comprehensive six wicket victory at Headingley. Chasing 304, Middlesex looked in complete control as Shah and Benjamin Hutton (77) posted a stand of 153 runs for the second wicket. The attack of Hoggard, Bresnan, Rashid and the Australian Shane Harwood struggled to make any inroads, with Adil Rashid the most impressive as he continued to give himself a chance for an England call up, finishing with match figures of 7-153. For Middlesex, Christopher Peploe and West Australian Brad Hogg combined well, Peploe starring with a ten-wicket haul to claim the man of the match award. English test captain Michael Vaughan continued his good form with a grinding 53 in Yorkshire's second innings.

Sussex 288 (Hopkinon 94, Thornley 57, Clark 4-60) & 414-5 dec. (Thornley 148*, Yardy 111, Clark 3-94) beat Hampshire 286 (Brown 107, Lamb 70, Mushtaq Ahmed 3-62, Butterworth 3-73) & 210 (Lamb 94, Pothas 73, Saqlain Mushtaq 6-52) by 206 runs

A match-winning 148* from young English batsman Michael Thornley handed Sussex a 206-run rout of Hampshire at Southampton. Fellow Sussex batsman Carl Hopkinson was impressive in his first innings with 94, while captain Michael Yardy (111) posted his second first class century of the season. Leading Australian bowler Stuart Clark played a lone hand for the Hampshire attack which continues to sorely miss the retired Shane Warne. Tasmanian all-rounder Luke Butterworth impressed for the Sussex side as he finished with four wickets, but it was former Pakistan duo Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed who dominated, combining for nine wickets for the match. Half centuries to Greg Lamb (94) and Nic Pothas (73) couldn't save the Hampshire side as they crumbled to Saqlain's 6-52.

Lancashire 458 (Hodge 143, Hogg 69, Shreck 5-132) & 176-3 (Hodge 79*) beat Nottinghamshire 249 (Patel 75, Hogg 3-41) & 383 (Patel 142, Bailey 73, Newby 3-57) by seven wickets

Australian batsman Brad Hodge continued to assert his place in the test team as he powered Lancashire to a seven wicket victory over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Hodge followed his 143 in the first innings with an unbeaten 79 in the second innings to continue his good run of form, narrowly upstaging Nottinghamshire batsman Samit Patel, who was unstoppable on his way to scores of 75 and 142. After a first innings failure, Tasmanian George Bailey found some form with an explosive 73, before his trapped leg before by Steve Croft. South African Kolpak duo Neil McKenzie (23 & 8) and Boeta Dippenaar (12 & 41) struggled for their respective sides, as the bowlers struggled in general, only Charlie Shreck managing to claim a bag, snaring 5-132.

Division Two

Essex 324 (Cook 103, Bopara 69, Rowe 4-83) & 359 (Westley 104, Tudor 90, Mortaza 60, Broad 4-118) beat Leicestershire 350 (Robinson 80, Henriques 51, Middlebrook 3-56) & 316 (Sadler 102, Nixon 52, Tudor 3-56, Mortaza 3-75) by 17 runs

James Foster's injury was the only thing that could sour a sweet Essex victory over Leicestershire in a nailbiter at Chelmsford. The captain-keeper suffered a painful blow to his collarbone from Bangladesh bowler Mashrafe Mortaza in the first innings, an injury which will keep him out for more than a month. English opener Alistair Cook starred, however, as he effortlessly made 103 in his first innings in a man of the match display. Young Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques made an impressive start to his Leicestershire career as he dismissed the English opener in both innings to finish up with three wickets on debut, and a half century in the first innings. Chasing 334, Leicestershire fell just short on the back of a brave century from veteran John Sadler and a half century from Paul Nixon. However, Mortaza and Alex Tudor picked up three second innings wickets each to secure the Essex win.

? Cricinfo

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[The Mongrel]

Australia in England, 2009
Hodge called up as Symonds set to miss series
Cricinfo staff
June 24, 2009

Victoria and Lancashire batsman Brad Hodge has been called up to the Australian one-day squad as cover for the injured Andrew Symonds. The Queensland all-rounder was today ruled out of the rest of the one day series with a fractured collarbone which he suffered in a nets session at training as speedster Brett Lee struck the big man with a short ball.

Hodge's callup comes on the back of some scintilating form for Division One county side Lancashire as he led his side to victory today over Nottinghamshire with scores of 143 and 79*.

Symonds' injury comes at an inopportune moment with the England having levelling the series 1-1 and will see the Australians restructure their side ahead of the third one dayer tommorrow.

Hodge, however, is not expected to play, with all-rounder Shane Watson to take the place of Symonds in the side. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Watson will open the batting with Phil Jaques, enabling wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to move down the order to four or five.

© Cricinfo

English County Championship 2009
Lancashire sign Silva in Hodge's absence
Cricinfo staff
June 24, 2009

Sri Lankan batsman Chamara Silva will tomorrow arrive in England earlier than expected as he assumes to role of cover to Australian batsman Brad Hodge until the end of the Ashes series.

Originally signed as Hodge's replacement for July's Vodofone Ashes series, Hodge's call-up to the Australian side to replace Symonds saw Silva fly in early to take place in Friday's Friends Provident Trophy match against Worcestershire.

The Sri Lankan burst onto the cricketing scene in 2007 in the Sri Lankan tour of New Zealand, and has since remained a steady part of the Sri Lankan middle order. He arrived today with fellow Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga, who replaces injured Glamorgan seamer Damien Wright.

© Cricinfo

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[Griffo]

Malinga for Wright? Id take that deal every day of the week

 

[Deleted member 13648]

As a note, that is the biggest I can get the scorecard otherwise it gets resized automatically.

It looks clear enough there.

Yeah looks much better now, thanks

 

[The Mongrel]

England v Australia, 3rd One Day International, Chester-le-Street
Freddie heroics pull England home in tense finish
Cricinfo staff
25 June 2009

England 278 for 5 (50 overs) (Trescothick 119*, Flintoff 73, Lee 2-51) beat Australia 275-8 (50 overs) (Ponting 73, Clarke 70, Broad 4-69, Flintoff 2-36) by 3 runs
Scorecard

England captain Andrew Flintoff's stunning all-round performance, coupled with opener Marcus Trescothick's brilliant century was enough to hand England a series lead in a three-run thriller at Chester-le-Street. Flintoff was instrumental in pushing the English score of 250 as he raced to 73 in just 53 deliveries as England looked in danger of floundering following a string of quick top order wickets. Chasing 279, not even half-centuries from captain Ricky Ponting and makeshift opener Michael Clarke could push the Australians over the line, as Flintoff picked up 2-36 in his nine over spell while Leicestershire seamer Stuart Broad picked up four wickets.

English openers Trescothick and Ian Bell came to the crease on a flat Riverside Ground pitch and Bell, intent on making up for his sluggish half century in the second one dayer, looked to score freely. However, his efforts were largely misguided as Brett Lee beat the outside edge as Bell wandered down the pitch, playing some casual wafts outside his off stump. His innings ended abruptly on just eight as his pull shot down Shaun Tait's throat at fine leg was representative of a frustrated man.

Following two disappointments in his first two international matches, Middlesex batsman Nick Compton was again thrust up the order to number three, and again struggled against the pace of Lee and the accuracy of first change bowler, Nathan Bracken. He finally fell with an undisciplined shot outside his off stump as he flayed the bat at a shorter ball from Bracken, only to pick out the safe hands of Michael Clarke at backward point. With the score at 51-2, it was up to Kevin Pietersen to make some overdue runs, and he looked confident early as he played an ambitious drive outside off stump against Lee which pierced the field and cannoned into the boundary rope.

Soon, Trescothick would pass fifty in style with a textbook drive off Tasmanian quick Ben Hilfenhaus, but the English were largely struggling as the run rate fell to just four an over. Victorian leg spinner Cameron White was largely responsible for the fall as he finally found the control of his bowling he's struggled with for so long as the English batsmen found it hard to score freely against his variations. Pietersen was the first to take the bait White set as Pietersen holed out to Brad Hodge in the deep for 25. 108-3 became 122-4 as Paul Collingwood was caught adjacent to his off stump to a swinging ball from Lee; umpire Mark Benson having no trouble in giving the Durham all-rounder out leg before.

Struggling for form, it was up to Andrew Flintoff to push the run rate up with a captain's knock, and the man called 'Freddie' delivered a telling blow against the Australian attack as he found some of his class in a punishing innings. He and Trescothick combined for a partnership of 113, 73 of which came off the bat of Flintoff as he attacked all Australian bowlers. The worst affected was White, who's figured were destroyed in two overs by Flintoff, a tidy 1-19 from eight overs ballooning out to 1-43 in a ten over spell. Flintoff's showcase finally came to an end on 73 as he was run out by a direct hit from Hodge, putting England in a great position. However, it was the last 22 balls which were particularly important for the English, Trescothick moving to a classy century, and Ravi Bopara racing to 33 as he and Trescothick made a mockery of Tait and Bracken at the death, putting on 43 runs in under four overs.

Earlier, Flintoff finally won the toss and had no hesitation in batting on a flat deck in perfect conditions, alien to English cricket. Despite winning their last match, the English made two changes, bringing in the extra batsman Ravi Bopara and seamer Stuart Broad at the expense of Monty Panesar and Dimitri Mascarenhas, two changes that proved to be crucial in England's victory. The Australians also made the two changes as Ben Hilfenhaus replaced Mitchell Johnson while Brad Hodge was a surprise inclusion for the injured Andrew Symonds, and the expected replacement Shane Watson was ruled out with a groin strain.

Michael Clarke was moved up to the top of the Australian order for the first time since the 2005 VB Series against Pakistan and the West Indies as Brad Haddin moved down the order. He and Phil Jaques looked confident early in pursuit of 279, Jaques racing out of the blocks in a quick fire 79-run stand for the opening wicket. However, after being on the receiving end of some harsh punishment early, the tall Stuart Broad managed the first break through as Phil Jaques gave his wicket away, skying a shorter ball from Broad to Paul Collingwood at his beloved point position. However, it wasn't just the English captain who would find some form, as Ricky Ponting was in good touch from his first delivery as he rocked back to dispatch Broad to the square leg boundary.

With the run rate stagnating, Clarke edged past his half century and looked to raise the tempo, but on 70, he played across the line to Paul Collingwood, the medium pacer bowling Clarke to pick up the second English wicket. Collingwood and fellow medium pacer Bopara looked to keep the Australian run rate down, but the renewed introduction of the English seamers saw the run rate again rise, as Ponting moved past his first half-century of the one day series. However, the increased run rate was accompanied by the loss of 3-19 as the Australian run chase fell into a precarious position as the required run rate climbed over six an over.

The first of the three wickets was the captain, as Stuart Broad dismissed him for 73 in just 79 deliveries, managing to find the inside edge - and Ponting's off stump - to set about a collapse. Brad Hodge failed to get going as he departed for 13, giving Flintoff a much deserved wicket, as he spooned a catch back to the bowler after digging out a yorker. Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin again failed, attempting to force Anderson over the top, only to again search out Paul Collingwood who completed the easy catch. Needing another rescue act from Mike Hussey and Cameron White, the Australians were still a chance as White scored freely under the pressure. However, Hussey's dismissal for 11 to Stuart Broad left the equation at 30 runs in 30 deliveries. Following a lusty blow for six off Broad, Brett Lee looked to repeat the treatment, only to cream an off drive to Marcus Trescothick at cover. The final nail in the coffin came from Flintoff, as Cameron White only managed to find Trescothick at deep long on, just meters short of a maximum. Tailenders Bracken and Hilfenhaus tried in vein to get the Aussies over the line, unable to get the required nine runs off the final over, Paul Collingwood holding his nerve in a brilliant display to keep Australia three runs short as England took a stunning victory.

Player of the match Andrew Flintoff was ecstatic with his side's win, but played down his contribution, "it was great to see the guys get a win and hold our nerve in tough circumstances. It was a great effort by everyone in the side, certainly a team effort which you can't just narrow down to a few performances. [Our] bowling was too expensive at times, but that's what happens in these sort of games, so as long as you can take wickets, the pressure is always on."

Australia have the chance to regain some form in Wednesday's festival match against the MCC XI, while England will name a 13-man squad for the last two one day games of the series ahead of next Friday's fourth one day game at Manchester.

© Cricinfo

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[kookaburra69]

Awsome win for england there!!
Keep up the stunning presentation mate

 

[The Mongrel]

 

[The Mongrel]

Friends Provident Trophy round-up
van Jaarsveld and McGrath star in losing causes as Harmison puts name forward
Cricinfo staff
June 25, 2009

North Conference

Worcestershire 298-9 (50 overs) (M Ali 81, Foster 50*, Mahmood 3-49) beat Lancashire 126 (30.3 overs) (Flintoff 36, Price 3-5, K Ali 3-36)

A confident batting and then a clinical fielding display earned Worcestershire a crushing victory over Lancashire in an upset at Old Trafford. Worcester opener Moeen Ali starred with the bat as he made a crafty 81 against a Lancashire attack including Sajid Mahmood and English captain Andrew Flintoff, who was dispatched for 58 in his seven over spell. Dutch youngster Alexei Kervezee supported Ali well with 43, which some good late order hitting from Ed Foster helped push the score over 290. Lancashire's run chase stuttered as Roger Sillence and Kabir Ali reduced the home side to 52-5, Kolpak star Neil McKenzie and newly arrived international Chamara Silva both falling for seventeen. Flintoff managed to find some form with the bat, before succumbing to Ray Price for 36, Price claiming three wickets for just five in four and a half overs. Former Zimbabwean Andy Blignaut and Australian Andrew McDonald had largely forgettable games for Worcs, as the lesser lights stood up in the victory.

Nottinghamshire 251-3 (43.2 overs) (Wagh 79, Patel 59) beat Yorkshire 247-5 (50 overs) (McGrath 120*, Lumb 47, Shreck 2-40) by 7 wickets

Not even an unbeaten 120 from Yorkshire batsman Anthony McGrath could save his side from a comfortable seven wicket loss at the hands of Nottinghamshire. After slumping to 47-3, McGrath combined with Michael Lumb and Tim Bresnan to post a respectable 247, McGrath's unbeaten century taking 134 balls and including 17 fours and six in the innings of the day. Charlie Shreck was the pick of the Notts bowlers as he picked up 2-40 in his ten overs, claiming the big wickets of Jacques Rudolph for 6 and Michael Vaughan for 7 at Trent Bridge. Kolpak signed player Boeta Dippenaar started the Notts runchase with a solid 45, but it was Mark Wagh with 79 in 104 deliveries that made sure the victory was Nottinghamshire's, while Samit Patel (59*) and George Bailey (47*) secured the victory.

Warwickshire 249-3 (48.2 overs) (Trott 96*, Bell 75*) beat Northamptonshire 247-8 (50 overs) (O'Brien 59, Klusener 51, Tahir 2-42) by 7 wickets

Middle order batsmen Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott helped their side recover from an early stumble as Warwickshire cruised to a seven wicket victory at Edgbaston. Trott's innings of 96* in 118 deliveries was well supported by Bell's 75 in 93 balls as the two combined for a match-winning 147-run stand. Darren Maddy was confident early with 48, before Monty Panesar completed an easy return catch to dismiss him, while Lance Klusener backed up his batting efforts to clean up Kumar Sangakkara for just five. Earlier, Klusener and Irishman Niall O'Brien combined to rescue Northants from a precarious position of 91-5 as both scored brilliant half centuries. Ashley Giles picked up two early wickets, including the important wicket of Australian test opener Chris Rogers for a scratchy 21. Opening bowler Naqeeb Tahir was influential, conceeding just 2-42 in his ten overs as Warwickshire easily accounted for Northamptonshire.

Durham 260-8 (50 overs) (Benkenstein 64, Coetzer 54, Broad 2-42) beat Leicestershire 188 (38.4 overs) (Maunders 84, Harmison 4-40) by 72 runs

Stephen Harmison reaffirmed his claims for a spot in the test side as he ran through Leicestershire as Durham comfortably accepted victory at Grace Road. Harmison's 4-40 in ten overs was supported by fellow internationals Liam Plunkett and Paul Collingwood who each claimed two wickets as Leicestershire capitulated to 188 all out. Opener John Maunders was a lone hand as he made 84, while fellow partner and captain Darren Robinson was dimissed first ball of the innings after receiving a rising short ball from Harmison. Durham captain Dale Benkenstein was instrumental in pushing the Durham score over 260 as he made 64, well supported by a half century from Kyle Coetzer and some tailend hitting from Callum Thorp. Australian Martin Love was one of Stuart Broad's two victims, falling for 16, while Harmison also managed to pick up Moises Henriques for 23, after Henriques had earlier conceeded 1-56 from his ten overs.

South Conference

Hampshire 286-8 (50 overs) (Pietersen 90, Benham 61, Murtagh 3-51) beat Middlesex 238 (44 overs) (Strauss 45, Mascarenhas 4-45) by 48 runs

Dimitri Mascharenhas sent out a message to the English selectors not to leave him out of the squad for the final two one day matches against Australia as he claimed 4-45 against a formidable Middlesex batting lineup as Hampshire edged to a 48-run victory at Old Trafford. Mascarenhas' haul coincided with the failure of the Middlesex top order, with the top six batsmen all with international experience. English dynamo Kevin Pietersen was instrumental as Hants posted 286-8 after fifty overs, the South African born batsman racing to 90 in 87 deliveries, including 15 boundaries, before Jamie Dalrymple managed to bowl him. Opener Chris Benham provided early runs, his 61 only taking 74 deliveries before Dalrymple again struck. English opener Andrew Strauss looked confident against the man who caused him so much trouble in the 2007 Ashes series, Stuart Clark struggling on the flat Old Trafford deck. However, it was James Bruce able to recover from some early stick, to claim Strauss leg before wicket for 45. Nick Compton's poor form continued as Clark dismissed him for 27, as he looks certain to be dropped from England's squad, while Ed Joyce and Owais Shah also succumbed to the Hampshire pace attack. Needing runs from the bottom order, Brad Hogg was dismissed by Chris Tremlett for just nine, effectively ending Middlesex's chances.

Somerset 286 (47.2 overs) (Langer 124, Wood 51, Wharf 4-57) beat Glamorgan 192 (40.4 overs) (Peng 65, Blackwell 5-35) by 94 runs

Somerset pairing Ian Blackwell and Justin Langer combined to down Glamorgan in the South Conference match at Taunton. Langer was unflappable as he raced to 124 in 119 deliveries; including 13 boundaries, while Blackwell starred with a career best haul of 5-35. Langer's innings was only substantially supported by a half century from Michael Wood, while Marcus Trescothick failed to back up his international innings, scoring just 27, while Craig Kieswetter and Ben Phillips added handy runs at the end of the innings. Glamorgan openers Nicky Peng and Mark Powell got the side off to a confident start, adding 109 for the first wicket, but the Glamorgan chase was short-lived as Mark Turner claimed two wickets in two deliveries, including captain Daniel Cherry first ball. Any chances of Glamorgan's middle and late orders mounting a comeback was truely put down, as Blackwell claimed Peng and four others as Glamorgan were dismissed for 192. Lasith Malinga was impressive on his Lancashire debut, claiming 3-45 in just under ten overs while Ashes 2005 hero, Simon Jones, managed just one wicket in eight overs, playing second fiddle to Alex Wharf who claimed 4-57 in nine overs.

Surrey 265-3 (45.5 overs) (Newman 107, Batty 67, Hussey 50, Stevens 2-57) beat Kent 264-6 (50 overs) (van Jaarsveld 131*, Key 45, Hamilton-Brown 2-46) by 7 wickets

Kolpak player Martin van Jaarsveld's impressive 131* was not enough to save Kent from a seven wicket loss at the hands of Surrey in the final match of the South Conference for the day at The Oval. Only a patient 107 from opener Scott Newman could lead Surrey to a confident victory, helped by the agressive efforts of Jon Batty's innings of 67 from 40 delivieries and a half century in 48 deliveries from Victorian David Hussey. Newman's 107 took 168 painstaking deliveries, but was enough to secure victory despite two wickets to 33-year old seamer Darren Stevens and a wicket to recalled Australian legspinner Stuart MacGill. Earlier, van Jaarsveld was brilliant as he posted an unbeaten 131 in 134 deliveries, and innings which included 15 boundaries. Robert Key was able to race to 45, before young all-rounder Rory Hamilton-Brown spun his way past the Kent captain's inside edge to trap him leg before wicket. Surrey's bowling attack, though, struggled against van Jaarsveld and company, with Mohammad Akram and the spinner Hamilton-Brown the only bowlers confident against the Kent line-up.

© Cricinfo

I'd just like someone to let me know if the links to the scorecards of these County games do indeed work or not? If you click on the ground name which is underlined (for example, where it may say "at Taunton") it should link you to the scorecard.

Thanks.