County round-up: Vincent caps comeback as Sussex edge closer to berth in last eight

(GETTY)

It's been quite a year for Lou Vincent, the former New Zealand Test cricketer. Yesterday, he scored an unbeaten 44 as his side, Sussex, moved a step closer to a place in the Friends Life Twenty20 knock-out stage with a resounding win over Gloucestershire. Just 12 months ago, he was travelling around the UK with his tent, playing for club and representative sides as he recovered from depression.

The 32-year-old has been one of the key men for Sussex this season, who sit second in the Southern Group behind Hampshire with 14 points, even if this is his biggest score to date. Nonetheless, he averages a touch over 32 and he could be a crucial component if Sussex are to repeat their Twenty20 triumph of two years ago at Edgbaston.

Earlier, off-spinner Chris Nash had recorded barely believable figures of 4 for 7 from his three overs, helping to ensure that Gloucestershire were held to 121. The Gladiators sit second-bottom in the South Group and any hope they may have harboured of glory in this competition – Muttiah Muralitharan has not worked the required miracles – are now gone.

The same is not true of another County Championship Second Division side, Kent, whose recent run of good form continued with a five-wicket victory over Glamorgan yesterday. Two homegrown youngsters – Adam Ball with the, ahem, ball and Sam Northeast with the bat – played crucial roles as Kent claimed their sixth victory of the campaign.

Nottinghamshire, meanwhile, proved once again that they're the class of the North Group field with a thumping victory over Yorkshire, by 6 wickets. Yorkshire's captain Andrew Gale top-scored with 62 but his side could not prevent Notts romping to victory with 11 balls to spare. Second-placed Leicestershire also won, by 6 wickets over Northamptonshire. Will Jefferson stood tall with the bat, hitting 41.