County Championship round-up

Shreck and Zaheer cause havoc

Cricinfo staff

June 15, 2006

Division One

3rd day

Charlie Shreck produced a stunning career-best of 8 for 31 as Nottinghamshire swept to an astonishing innings win against Middlesex. The match hurtled to a conclusion as Shreck decimated the Middlesex second innings. The longest knock was Nick Compton's 56-ball 11 as the rest fell like a pack of cards. A magical ten-for was probably never on the cards with Ben Hutton injured, but Shreck was eyeing nine until Graeme Swann claimed the last wicket. The extraordinary scenes pushed David Hussey's important return to form firmly into the background, but his 107 - and a stand of 117 with Swann - moved Notts 82 ahead. Shreck need barely half those runs as Middlesex crumbled.

Kent wrapped up an impressive 95-run win over Durham despite a stand 141 between Jimmy Maher and Dale Benkenstein. Kent's lead was boosted by a stand of 121 by Andrew Hall and Niall O'Brien before early inroads were made through Amjad Khan and Min Patel. Maher and Benkenstein then formed their fine alliance as Robert Key tried all his options. It was a run out that finally removed Benkenstein and when Maher fell for 99, Kent's spinners took their chance. They were made to wait by a stubborn stand of 45 between Gareth Breese and Moneeb Iqbal but James Tredwell and Min Patel wrapped it up.

2nd day

For a full report on Warwickshire against Lancashire at Edgbaston click here.

Division Two

Zaheer Khan stands on the verge of taking all ten wickets in an innings after cutting through Essex at Chelmsford. Worcestershire declared on a massive 650 for 7 then Khan induced a crazy Essex collapse from 117 for 0 to 186 for 9 by the close. He blew the middle order away with pace and swing as Andy Flower, Ronnie Irani and James Foster made ducks. Khan's performance put bowling on the map in game previously dominated by the bat. Gareth Batty had struck his second Championship century and Varun Chopra had continued his fine start for Essex. Then the picture changed dramatically.

Gloucestershire took firm control over Derbyshire with an unexpected boost from their tail and early wickets. At 313 for 7, Derbyshire were fighting back well after removing Alex Gidman early in the day but encountered tough resistance by Martyn Ball and Jon Lewis who added 103. Lewis showed he could bat during his Test debut and proved it again with a captain's innings. His new-ball partner, Steve Kirby, then struck twice in his first spell but Travis Birt stopped a Derbyshire collapse and is poised close to a century.

Glamorgan are in charge against Northamptonshire after three second-innings wickets followed-up David Hemp's 99 and 60s from Mark Wallace and Alex Wharf. Glamorgan built a lead of 176 as Hemp provided the platform then Wallace and Wharf built positive contributions. The wickets were shared around with Monty Panesar taking three. In their second innings, Northants tottered to 81 for 3 at the close with Robert Croft and Darren Cosker striking late in the day.

Somerset have worked a promising position over Surrey after gaining a useful lead of 76 with Charl Willoughbhy taking four wickets and Andrew Caddick three. Mark Ramprakash was left stranded on 87 when the tail folded as Surrey slipped from 171 for 3 after Ally Brown fell for 63. Matthew Wood then built on the advantage with a compact half-century and, despite Neil Saker's three wickets, Somerset are on course for a powerful lead.

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