Round-up: O'Brien strikes again to send T20 record tumbling

Kevin O'Brien and Hamish Marshall both clubbed centuries as Gloucestershire made a record-breaking 254 for 3 in their Friends Life t20 victory over Middlesex at Uxbridge yesterday.

O'Brien, who hit the fastest century in World Cup history to help Ireland beat England in March, led the way with a stunning 119 off 52 balls, striking 11 sixes and seven fours, while Marshall contributed 102 off 54 deliveries to an opening stand of 192.

It broke the previous highest domestic T20 score, which was 250 for 3 set by Somerset against Gloucestershire in 2006. In reply, Middlesex slumped to 67 for 6 before finishing on 149 for 8 as they fell to a 105-run defeat.

Marcus Trescothick produced another T20 masterclass as Somerset moved to the top of the South Group with a seven-wicket victory over Glamorgan at Taunton. Trescothick hit 58 off only 28 balls with a dazzling array of strokes to help his side reach a target of 167 with 26 balls to spare.

Openers Alex Hales and Riki Wessels both hit half-centuries as North Group leaders Nottinghamshire thrashed Lancashire by 53 runs at Trent Bridge.

In the County Championship, Adam Wheater’s maiden century for Essex and James Foster’s 103 left Second Division leaders Northamptonshire facing a daunting victory target of 416 at Chelmsford.

After establishing a first-innings lead of 84, Essex amassed 331 for 9 declared in their second, Wheater smashing 164 from 143 balls, and then claimed the wicket of Stephen Peters before the close as the visitors reached 37 for 1 at stumps.