Cricket: County Round-Up: Maddy turns game with the ball

DARREN MADDY, the England opener, swapped bat for ball to great effect yesterday as Leicestershire fought back against Gloucestershire in the County Championship at Grace Road.

Maddy recorded a career-best 3 for 5 in just 2.4 overs as the visitors, bottom of the table, crashed to 166 all out. They lost their last seven wickets for 34 runs in 10 overs to toss away the initiative they had gained on Tuesday. They had bowled the home side out for 214 and, at the start of the second day, looked in good shape at 92 for 2 before the collapse.

A day of carnage for batsmen at Canterbury saw 17 players dismissed for 122 runs as Northamptonshire and Kent failed to come to terms with the tricky conditions following a first-day wash-out.

Northamptonshire were bowled out for a paltry total of 69, with Julian Thompson taking 6 for 27, before Kent struggled in turn. Devon Malcolm claimed 4 for 22 as Kent closed on 53 for 7.

The weather interrupted Surrey's charge towards the title. Rain wiped 97 overs from the day's allocation at Derby and, in the 35 minutes play that was possible, the Oval side had to be content with adding another 30 runs and collecting a third batting point as they moved on to 315 for 6.