Cricket / Round-Up: Somerset fall prey to Donald

ALLAN DONALD demonstrated the value of a hostile fast bowler to any side with Championship aspirations at Taunton yesterday.

The South African returned only a modest 2 for 41, but he still put third-placed Warwickshire into a powerful position by effectively removing two of Somerset's senior batsmen from the match. Andy Hayhurst has a dislocated finger and Richard Harden a suspected broken hand, and their appearance in the second innings, when Somerset are likely to be in deficit after managing just 278 at their first attempt, is in serious doubt.

Nottinghamshire, one place behind Warwickshire, fell foul of the former England batsman, Bill Athey, whose stylish 133 masterminded Gloucestershire's recovery from 57 for 3 to 295 for 6 at Trent Bridge.

A third-wicket stand of 160 between Kent's two in-form batsmen, Trevor Ward and Carl Hooper, turned their side's fortunes against Middlesex at Canterbury. Both completed 1,000 runs for the season and Ward's 150 was his second successive Championship century.

Sussex owed their recovery from 31 for 4 to 360 against Glamorgan at Eastbourne to a career-best 179 from Martin Speight, who shared two stands worth 137 with Peter Moores and Franklyn Stephenson.

A brilliant 172 from John Crawley, the Cambridge University captain, was the cornerstone of Lancashire's 376 for 3 against Surrey at Lytham. Nick Speak supplied an eloquent 95 while Neil Fairbrother was unbeaten on 66.

Ian Turner, Hampshire's left- arm spinner, dismissed four Worcestershire batsmen, including Graeme Hick, in his first Championship outing of the season, but the home side closed on 305 for 8.

Liam Botham echoed his father's feats when he took 5 for 64 and hit 73 not out, including a six off the penultimate ball, to earn England Under-15 a two-wicket win over Wales Under-15 at Abergavenny.