Cricket: Knight excels but Mullally takes plaudits

A MAGNIFICENT unbeaten 102 from 135 balls by England's Nick Knight was not enough to give Warwickshire victory over Leicestershire in a thrilling National League First Division match at Grace Road yesterday. Knight's England colleague, Alan Mullally, hit the winning run for the home side with a single off the last ball, after they had been set a revised victory target of 205 off 42 overs.

At one stage Leicestershire looked to be cruising to their first National League win of the season but then lost five wickets for 29 runs and eventually needed 10 runs off the final over. Knight had helped Warwickshire to 212 for 7 from their 45 overs.

Matthew Rawnsley claimed career-best National League figures to help Worcestershire to a 67-run win over Kent at Tunbridge Wells. Rawnsley took 5 for 23 as Kent, set a revised target of 170 in 26 overs, were out for 102.

Earlier Worcestershire were indebted to Vikram Solanki's 55 off 74 balls. It was the visitors' third win in five starts and condemned Kent to their third defeat of the season.

Mark Alleyne took the plaudits for Gloucestershire in a 20-run National League First Division victory over Essex at Ilford yesterday. The all- rounder struck a fluent 59 from 90 balls to help his side reach 224 for 9 before taking 3 for 29 with the ball as the home side were all out for 204. Jack Russell was Gloucestershire's other hero, compiling an unbeaten 58 from 51 balls. Ronnie Irani was the most successful of the Essex bowlers, claiming 4 for 49, while Darren Robinson top-scored for the home side with 47.

Ian Blackwell could not quite lead injury-ravaged Derbyshire team to victory at Glamorgan as the Second Division match ended in a tie. The promising all-rounder had carried his side to within one run of a revised target of 206 with a brilliant 97 when he was caught down the leg side off Darren Thomas.

The game looked over when Anthony Woolley was run out with Derbyshire still 45 runs short, but Blackwell and Stephen Griffiths brought the sides level.

Devon Malcolm took three wickets to shatter Middlesex's top order and set up a 38-run Second Division victory at Northamptonshire. The former England paceman removed Paul Weekes, Mike Roseberry and Justin Langer in successive overs as the visitors, chasing a revised target of 160 in 26 overs, collapsed to 121 all out.

Middlesex's Tony Penberthy also had success with the ball, finishing with 4 for 17 for the visitors. Russell Warren led the way for Northants with 61 runs in their total of 201 for 9.

In Saturday's County Championship matches, Surrey went top of the table after securing a fourth successive victory, by an innings and 28 runs, against Kent at Tunbridge Wells.

Graeme Hick struck a superb 134, his eighth century against Sussex, to help Worcestershire salvage a draw at Horsham. Worcestershire were hanging on at 255 for 9 when rain led to an early finish.

At Ilford Stuart Law hit an unbeaten 107 as Essex and Hampshire drew. Elsewhere, Yorkshire fought back to earn a draw against Derbyshire at Derby. Half-centuries from Anthony McGrath and Richard Blakey guided the visitors to safety.