Benson & Hedges Cup
Ben Hollioake bounced back to form with both bat and ball as Surrey completed their Benson & Hedges Cup qualifying campaign with a 100% record, and effectively ended Somerset's interest in this year's competition.
New England captain Alec Stewart scored a century while sharing a second-wicket partnership of 185 with Hollioake, who made 91 from 98 balls. Hollioake then went on to pick up three wickets as Surrey secured a nine-run win at The Oval.
Earlier this week Hollioake had had a heart-to-heart with elder brother Adam, the Surrey and England one-day captain, about his poor early-season form, and on this showing, the words of wisdom would appear to have worked wonders.
Now the 20-year-old all-rounder will be hoping his Gold Award-winning efforts have not come too late to earn selection for the Texaco Trophy one-day international series against South Africa later this month.
Somerset had looked set to stake their claim for second place in the section when Michael Burns and player-coach Dermot Reeve put on 158 for the first wicket in response to the defending champions' 296 for six.
But once Burns, who was dismissed five runs short of his century, and Reeve (60) were both back in the pavilion, the innings subsided to 287 all out off the penultimate delivery.
Surrey opener Stewart had earlier scored 108 before becoming one of three victims for Marcus Trescothick, whose side must now hope Kent suffer a heavy defeat against British Universities today if they are to have a chance of reaching the knock-out stages from Group C.
Vince Wells claimed a competition-best six for 25 to shoot out Minor Counties for 126 and fire Leicestershire to the top of Group A with a massive 256-run victory in their final qualifying match.
Darren Maddy's century had earlier led Leicestershire's charge to 382 for six to boost their run rate, and they must now hope either Warwickshire or Lancashire fail to win today to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals.
Maddy, who is desperately trying to attract the attention of England's selectors, scored 151 in 166 minutes off 125 balls, a knock which included nineteen 4s and three 6s.
He fell just seven runs short of his county's B & H best of 158 not out by Brian Davison in 1972.
Leicestershire's total also just missed setting a new record, finishing six short of the competition best of 388 for seven made by Essex against Scotland six years ago.
Gold Award winner Maddy, who now averages just under 103 in the competition this season, received support from all-rounder Chris Lewis (55 not out off 30 balls) down the order before Wells set about ensuring an early finish.
The Minor Counties made a solid start but from 85 for one after 14 overs, they rapidly subsided, and were eventually dismissed in 29 overs to complete their five matches in the section without a point. Summaries:
At Leicester: Leicestershire beat Minor Counties by 256 runs. Leicestershire 382 for six (D L Maddy 151, C C Lewis 55 no); Minor Counties 126 (V J Wells six for 25)
At Forfar: Derbyshire beat Scotland by three wickets. Scotland 174 (B G Lockie 51); Derbyshire 177 for seven.
At The Foster's Oval: Surrey beat Somerset by nine runs. Surrey 296 for six (A J Stewart 108, B C Hollioake 91); Somerset 287 (M Burns 95, D A Reeve 60).
qCricket fans can today open a building society account which will help to raise much-needed funds for Warwickshire Cricket Club.
The Century Saver Accounts have been launched by another Midlands institution, West Bromwich Building Society.
After the account has been open for a year, the building society will donate the equivalent of 1% of the average balance to Warwickshire Cricket Club.
The cricketers are not the only ones who will benefit from this scheme. Savers receive discounts on match tickets, commission-free foreign currency, and savings on Thomas Cook holidays.
The building society has offered a similar account for West Bromwich Albion Football Club fans for two-and-a-half years.
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