Worcestershire v Leicestershire
WORCESTER (third day of four): Leicestershire, with all second-innings wickets in hand, need 404 to beat Worcestershire
LOU VINCENT proved himself a model cricketer yesterday, endearing himself to all parts of the ground. After grinding home Worcestershire’s advantage, he was dropped once, on 132, and it took an excellent catch to get rid of him on 141 as Paul Nixon, the wicketkeeper, saw his glancing sweep early and took it low down leg-side.
The 27-year-old New Zealander showed he has two speeds. His fifty in the first innings took 41 balls, yesterday he got there in 148, rescuing Worcestershire. When Ben Smith lost his off stump to Nick Walker, Worcestershire were 84 for three. But Vincent, resisting his expansive drives, put on 144 with Graeme Hick.
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Mindful that Leicestershire chased 356 to beat them at Grace Road three weeks ago, Worcestershire left Leicestershire 451 to win. MATTHEW PRYOR
Glamorgan v Northamptonshire
CARDIFF (second day of four): Glamorgan, with eight second- innigs wickets in hand, are 100 runs behind Northamptonshire
ONCE his eye is in, Lance Klusener can still strike a cricket ball with a brutality few can match. His sixth century of the season, which included 15 fours and two sixes, gave Northamptonshire an ideal lead, 165, on a pitch increasingly taking spin.
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Glamorgan struggled to combat Monty Panesar and Jason Brown in a long final session. Klusener’s innings of 131 came off 160 balls and, with Chris Rogers (77) and the lower order contributing, Northamptonshire could contemplate only batting once. When Glamorgan went in again, Dan Cherry left a ball from Matt Nicholson that cut back, and Panesar had David Hemp leg before. IVO TENNANT
Gloucestershire v Surrey
BRISTOL (third day of four): Surrey, with nine second-innings wickets in hand, need 457 runs to beat Gloucestershire
SURREY, the champions, were spared the indignity of following on, but they had to endure some embarrassing moments before they were challenged to score 501 to win in a minimum of 111 overs. Azhar Mahmood injured his knee playing football in the warm-up, Alan Butcher, the coach, had to field as substitute and five catches went down as Gloucestershire built on their first-innings lead of 171.
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Craig Spearman was dropped twice in making 45, Hamish Marshall was put down twice on his way to 76 and Steve Adshead was spilt before his unbeaten 79 enabled Gloucestershire to declare at 329 for eight. PAT GIBSON