Lathwell rises to occasion

Cricket: Derbyshire 524 Somerset 238-4

Mark Lathwell saved his first Championship century of the summer for this vital match, checking the contenders after they had made a record score. Derbyshire are still favourites on a pitch that is not improving, but Lathwell, passing 1,000 runs for a fifth consecutive season, has at least raised Somerset spirits.

When he is in this form, driving and turning, with impeccable timing, three England fast bowlers, he looks the opener the selectors thought he would become when he was picked against Australia in 1993. He was given his cue by his partner Marcos Trescothick. With Derbyshire's score looming, Trescothick set about some famous names while Lathwell picked off runs at the other end. The pair had reached 76 in 18 overs when the left-handed Trescothick, who had pulled Dominic Cork for a magnificent six, followed him down the legside, with Karl Krikken taking a splendid catch.

Lathwell made his 100 off 141 balls, including 19 fours, before stepping back to play on. Peter Bowler's excellent support ended when Andrew Harris won the second of successive lbw appeals. Harris, 1 for 17 in a spell of eight overs, was the first Derbyshire bowler to make the ball kick, at the River End, as Andrew Caddick had done on Tuesday. Glen Roberts' tidy bowling deserved a wicket.

Somerset needed a lift after a dismal morning when the fielding vied with the bowling in ineptness. Krikken is known to be an awkward seven or eight; what was unexpected was the ability of Roberts and Harris to take advantage. Krikken and Roberts added 100 in 23 overs, passing the best for the eighth wicket against Somerset, 113 in 1929.

Krikken might have been taken at slip, off Caddick, when 72 but added another 17 before being caught behind, swinging at Jason Kerr. Roberts reached 50 on his debut, including eight fours, before being well caught at cover. And when Harris played on, the Derbyshire total was a record against Somerset, passing the previous best of 495 for 7 in 1981. Somerset conceded 98 runs in 21 overs to the last four batsmen. Andre van Troost's injury meant they were a bowler short; they were also lacking professional pride.

Hampshire's teenage pace bowler Dmitri Mascarenhas took 6 for 88 against Glamorgan at Southampton - the best figures this century by a Hampshire player on debut. The figures of Mascarenhas, an English-born Australian of Sri Lankan parentage, compare with Charles Llewellyn's 8 for 132 against Australia in 1899. Glamorgan were 401 all out, and at the close, Hampshire were 208 behind at 193 for 2, with Jason Laney unbeaten on 102 - his first Championship century.

Phil Tufnell struck two late blows to boost Middlesex's chances against Lancashire at Old Trafford. Lancashire need just 130 to clinch their first home win of the season. But Tufnell trapped Jason Gallian lbw and had John Crawley caught off a top edge, both for ducks. As Richard Johnson had already trapped Steve Titchard lbw first ball, Lancashire will resume today on 2 for 3.