Cricket

Captain Brian Lara was yesterday fined #2000 by Warwickshire's disciplinary committee for turning up late and missing Sunday's AXA League defeat by Somerset at Taunton. The brilliant West Indian flew back home to Trinidad early last week on business but his expected return on Saturday was delayed, and after being diverted to Gatwick Airport he finally arrived at the ground 20 minutes before the start of the match. But with Warwickshire unaware that their captain's arrival was imminent, they were unable to name him in their side and slipped to a four-wicket defeat - a costly blow to their attempts at retaining the AXA title.

Lara was summoned to appear before a disciplinary hearing at Edgbaston yesterday, comprising chief executive Dennis Amiss and chairman Mike Smith, and was ordered to pay a #2000 fine, a small proportion of the estimated #60,000 he will earn this season for Warwickshire.

Meanwhile, Mark Ramprakash scored an unbeaten century as he warmed up for England's first Test against South Africa by guiding Middlesex to a comprehensive nine-wicket County Championship victory over Glamorgan at Lord's.

Australian batsman Justin Langer also reached three figures as he and Ramprakash put on an unbroken stand of 276 which steered Middlesex beyond their victory target of 313 and up to sixth place in the table.

The defending champions, without a win at headquarters since 1954, were condemned to their first four-day defeat of the season as Langer and Rampra-kash powered on. Langer finished on 153, which came off 268 balls with twenty 4s, while Rampra-kash struck 21 fours in a score of 128 off 210 deliveries.

At Bristol, South Africa's second-string attack bounced back from the disappointment of their first innings display to lead their side to a 167-run victory over Gloucestershire.

Young fast bowlers Makhaya Ntini and Mornantau Hayward each took three second-innings wickets as their county opponents were dismissed for 134 - and that after a last wicket stand of 48 by Mike Smith and Jon Lewis - having been set a victory target of 302. Summaries:

At Lord's: Middlesex (22pts) defeated Glamorgan (7) by nine wickets. Glamorgan 308 (P A Cottey 81, S P James 79, J P Hewitt 5-69) and 260 (M J Powell 79 no, A D Shaw 51); Middlesex 256 (D C Nash 76, S L Watkin 5-30) and 314 for one (J L Langer 153 no, M R Ramprakash 128 no).

At Worcester: Worcestershire (11) drew with Sussex (9). Worcestershire 353 for nine decl (G A Hick 104, J D Lewry 4-104) and 343 for three decl (V S Solanki 155, G A Hick 132); Sussex 278 (M G Bevan 96, S R Lampitt 5-56) and 123 for no wicket (W G Khan 53 no, M T E Peirce 51 no).

Vodafone Challenge Series

At Bristol: South Africa beat Gloucestershire by 167 runs. South Africa 416 for eight decl (G Kirsten 125, L Klusener 73 no, J N Rhodes 59, M W Alleyne 4-63) and 288 for four decl (G Kirsten 131 no, J N Rhodes 123); Gloucestershire 403 for nine decl. (M W Alleyne 109, M G N Windows 68, R C J Williams 67, G I Macmillan 52) and 134.

Other match. At The Parks: Oxford University drew with Yorkshire. Oxford University 260 for seven decl (D J Eadie 68 no, J A M Molins 51) and 233 for eight dec (J A G Fulton 78); Yorkshire 203 for four decl (C White 80, M P Vaughan 69) and 209 for seven (M P Vaughan 59).

qSteve Crawley, the explosive Grange batsman, has been preferred to Scotland's record run scorer, Iain Philip, in the side to compete for the Costcutter Cup at the Harrogate Festival next week. Team:

Salmond (c), Allingham, Butt, Crawley, Davies, Lockie, Patterson, Stanger, Tennant, Williamson, Wright.Twelfth man - Watts.