Sussex make Surrey struggle

Ormond swayed the balance back towards Surrey

Surrey lost four early wickets replying to Sussex's 429 in the meeting of the Championship's top two teams at Hove.

Jimmy Ormond took four wickets, including skipper Chris Adams caught behind without adding to his overnight 107, to bowl the hosts out.

But the home attack fought back with four scalps before the defending champions could reach three figures, Robin Martin-Jenkins claiming two wickets.

Kent captain David Fulton hit a half-century to built a daunting target for Essex at Canterbury, the hosts passing 200 in their second innings before tea.

Mark Ealham had earlier taken two further wickets, finishing with 5-26 to bowl the visitors out six runs behind their own first innings 189.

Stuart Law neared his fourth century of the season as Lancashire closed in on Leicestershire's first innings 259 at Grace Road, reaching 221-4 by tea.

Opener Sven Koenig hit a half-century but Middlesex stuttered in reply to Nottinghamshire's 254.

Stuart MacGill, fresh off the plane from Australia, took two early wickets as the visitors went to tea 126-3.

Compatriot Ashley Noffke had earlier taken the remaining wicket to finish with 5-52.

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Division Two

Nicky Peng hit a patient 58 as Durham, enjoying better weather on the second day at the Riverside, reached 345 all out against Somerset.

Nixon McLean led the visiting bowlers with 3-56.

Northants gained revenge for Wednesday evening's one-day defeat when they reduced Hampshire to 208-6 in their Championship fixture at the Rose Bowl.

Simon Katich was the only exception to a poor batting display, reaching three figures just before the break.

The prospects for a result at Cheltenham already looked bleak by tea on day two, by which time Gloucestershire has reached 81-2 in the 22 overs available against Yorkshire .

And just 34 overs were bowled before an early tea on the opening day at New Road, as Worcestershire reached 109-5 against Glamorgan, David Harrison taking four wickets.