Royals and Gladiators extend lead in NUL tables

Worcestershire Royals extended their lead at the top of the first division of the Norwich Union League to eight points with a six-wicket victory over Yorkshire Phoenix at Worcester. And to complete a great day for Royals, their nearest challengers, Warwickshire Bears, went down to a 62-run defeat against Glamorgan Dragons.

But, with the Dragons having two games in hand, it's far too early for Royals to relax.

Darren Lehmann won the toss for the visitors, and, having elected to bat would have been alarmed to see his side slide to 65-4, with Andy Bichel taking 3-30 for the hosts. But the captain (56) led by example, as first with Fellows (28) and then with Lumb (32), he rebuilt the Phoenix innings, leading his side to a respectable 207-8.

In reply the Royals lost Peters and the in-form Solanki for just 17 before Hick and Smith threatened to dominate in a partnership of 68.

But Hick fell to the part-time off-spin of McGrath and Leatherdale was stumped off Lehmann as the Phoenix claimed back the initiative. However, Ben Smith (92 not out) is in fine form, and in a partnership of 109 with Gareth Batty (54 not out) he timed the acceleration beautifully and saw his side to victory.

In the other key match towards the top of the table, Warwickshire Bears entertained Glamorgan Dragons at Edgbaston.

The Dragons benefited from half-century contributions from Ian Thomas, Matthew Maynard and Adrian Dale as they set the hosts a daunting target of 301 to win. The Bears started poorly, and despite an encouraging partnership of 104 between Troughton and Bell, it never looked likely that they would achieve victory.

The Bears remain second courtesy of a marginally superior run-rate, but the Dragons are now level on points with them with games in hand.

Durham Dynamos had the better of the dog-fight at the bottom of the division one table with victory over Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Chester-le-Street.

With Michael Gough (57) and Nicky Peng (38) ensuring a good start for the home side the stage was set for Paul Collingwood. And the England man did not disappoint with a fine 118 not out in 100 balls with 10 fours and two sixes.

The Outlaws were soon under pressure in reply, losing Johnson, Welton and Afzaal for the combined total of just 30 runs. A partnership of 146 between Kevin Pietersen (85 in 75 balls; 9x4 2x6) and Nicky Boje (60 from 62 balls; 4x4 1x6) gave the visitors renewed hope. But with them falling in quick succession - Pietersen to the ubiquitous Collingwood - the innings fell away against Nick Phillips (3-52) and Neil Killeen (3-31).

Elsewhere in the top division Leicestershire Foxes won the mid-table tussle against Kent Spitfires at Grace Road by 17 runs.

The Foxes innings appeared to be in disarray as they slipped to 115-6, but Darren Stevens (48) and Darren Maddy (50 not out) helped their side recover to a competitive final score of 206-9.

The Spitfires never got going in reply, with Jamie Grove (3-29) dismissing both openers (Key and Fleming) before Hockley was run out for four. Only Walker, with 40, resisted, but when he fell to Crowe to leave the score on 110-7, the writing was on the wall despite a spirited stand of 62 for the eighth wicket between Geraint Jones (27) and James Golding (47 not out).

The Foxes remain safe, and in with an outside chance of winning the league, but the Spitfires form has nose-dived of late and relegation is now a real possibility for them.

Normal service has been resumed in Bristol as the former one-day kings, Gloucestershire Gladiators, re-enforced the view that last year's disappointing showing was just an aberration. They rushed to victory at Cheltenham in just the 18th over of their reply as Sussex Sharks sunk without trace.

All the Gladiators bowlers contributed to the Sharks demise, with Smith, Harvey and Averis sharing the top order with two wickets each before Martyn Ball mopped up the tail with 4-15.

A target of 117 was unlikely to trouble the team that remain top of the second division and so it proved. Ian Harvey capped a fine all-round performance in striking a brisk from 68 not out from just 43 balls. By contrast the Sharks Mark Robinson followed his first ball duck by conceding 43 runs from three overs.

But Surrey Lions kept up the pressure on the leaders with victory over Essex Eagles at Guildford. The Lions set a target of 311, with Ian Ward (62) and Mark Ramprakash (74) both performing well. Jason Ratcliffe then provided the finishing touches with 53 from just 31 balls towards the end.

The Eagles started well in response, scoring at six an over, but with Robinson (26) departing with the score at 42 and Jefferson (23) at 86 the innings ran into trouble.

Mark Pettini (51) and Andy Flower (50) added 99 for the fifth wicket, but when they both fell to Ratcliffe the run-rate proved far too testing and the hosts secured a 73-run win.

Gloucestershire Gladiators have an eight-point lead in the second division table, but the Lions have a couple of games in hand. It promises to be a fascinating second half of the season in both divisions.