County Championship round-up

Cork special boosts Lancashire

Cricinfo staff

September 16, 2006

Division One

Dominic Cork lofts Gareth Breese down the ground during his 154 © Getty Images

Dominic Cork's 154, his first-class century and second highest score, enabled Lancashire to collect full batting points against Durham at Old Trafford meaning they take 11 from the match. That prospect appeared unlikely at the start of the day as they resumed on 210 for 5. Glen Chapple began positively, but edged Gareth Breese to slip, before Cork entered the fray and joined Luke Sutton. The pair added 105 for the seventh wicket, but even when Sutton fell Cork wasn't finish. If anything he went even harder at Durham and moved from 100 to 150 in 41 balls. Tom Smith reached his highest first-class score as they added 131 for the eighth wicket, which finally ended when Cork thumped a return catch to Gary Scott but Durham missed a vital bowling point. Lancashire had one final dart at the Durham batsmen, time enough for Cork to remove Scott, but thoughts had already turned to the final round of matches. Sussex will start with an eight point advantage at the top, while Durham have been pulled well into the relegation fight, as the season goes down to the wire.

Yorkshire kept their division one survival hopes alive with an outstanding 68-run victory against Nottinghamshire Headingley. Once again they had their legspinners - Mark Lawson and Adil Rashid - to thank as the pair shared another seven wickets, the same as the first innings. Yorkshire had dangled the carrot, setting Nottinghamshire 282 to win after Michael Lumb's unbeaten 84. Jason Gillespie struck in the first over, but the visitors progressed to a promising 172 for 4 before Deon Kruis removed Graeme Swann and Mark Ealham on the same score. The tail then folded to Rashid and Lawson, despite a second valiant innings from David Hussey who followed his 119 from yesterday with an unbeaten 86.

The final day at Edgbaston turned into a farewell for Nick Knight as Warwickshire and Kent played out a draw. Once it became clear a result wasn't on the cards, Knight was given the chance to take centre stage. In a rare spell of bowling he sent down nine overs of medium pace in his final outing for Warwickshire before retirement and also claimed two catches. Matthew Walker milked the easy offerings for a century before Kent declared and Knight had a final chance at the crease. He stroked the last two boundaries of his first-class career, meaning he ended his Warwickshire days with an average of 50, before stumps were drawn.

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Yesterday's round-up

Players/Umpires

Dominic Cork

David Hussey

Nick Knight

Deon Kruis

Mark Lawson

Michael Lumb

Adil Rashid

Series/Tournaments

County Championship Division One

County Championship Division Two

Teams

Durham

England

Kent

Lancashire

Nottinghamshire

Warwickshire

Yorkshire