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Your support makes all the difference.Andy Caddick, fired up by his omission from England's squad for the one-day internationals against Australia, bowled Somerset to a six-wicket victory over Sussex at Taunton. Then again, Sussex are hardly as tough a proposition as the Australians, even allowing for the tourists' embarrassment at New Road yesterday.
Sussex are struggling to hold their heads up in the county game almost as much as England are at international level. Nevertheless, Caddick can still take pride in his haul of 4 for 19. Had Mark Robinson nibbled at an offering outside the off-stump after Nick Phillips and Amer Khan had fallen to successive deliveries, Caddick would have had a hat-trick and the visitors might not have made even the meagre 109 they managed to accumulate in 31.4 overs.
His impressive eight-over spell followed a morning call from the England selectors, which left him needing " time to collect my thoughts." Maybe it did not take him long.
Only Neil Taylor, with 40, offered much resistance in Sussex's poor display, which Mark Lathwell helped Somerset to put into perspective with 53 not out.
Nasser Hussain suffered a similar selectorial fate, but his 12 runs as Essex scampered home by two wickets against Durham at Chelmsford was hardly a source of a sleepless night for the triumvirate.
A curious match at Essex's HQ turned into a batting contest between John Morris and Danny Law, who for once outshone his Australian namesake, Stuart. Morris contributed 110 to Durham's total of 208, and then Danny Law set up the Essex victory with 82 off 75 balls.
He came in with the Essex innings apparently in tatters at 38 for 4, but at a small ground some judicious hitting can quickly change the balance of power. His effort included four sixes off the off-spinner James Boiling, and ended when he sliced a drive to Mark Foster in the 37th over.
Essex still required 24 with only two wickets left but the left-handed Mark Ilott and Ashley Cowan struck some bold blows to see Essex to their third Sunday victory in as many outings.
Morris, who suffered a severe loss of form, scored his 110 from 96 balls before he was run out. Dropped on 20 when Ilott failed to accept a sharp return catch, Morris went on to hit seven sixes and four fours, but unfortunately for Durham none of their other batsmen were able to help him out.
If Hussain failed, Alan Mullally did his best to breed insomnia among the England selectors with a three-wicket haul at Southampton as Leicestershire defeated Hampshire by 38 runs.
But, as in Caddick's case, he was hardly savaging a fearsome foe. He took 3 for 36 and Vince Wells claimed 3 for 33 as Hampshire were all out for 193 pursuing Leicestershire's 231 for six.
The South African Neil Johnson, promoted to open the innings, was the top scorer for Leicestershire with 54, while Ben Smith kept the score moving by hitting an unbeaten 51.
Hampshire's challenge faded from the moment Robin Smith was caught on the third man boundary by Wells off Mullally without scoring. Kevin James hit 50 in 54 balls but his efforts were always unlikely to prove enough as Hampshire struggled along behind the required run rate. James and Adrian Aymes put on 53 in nine overs for the sixth wicket.
Mullally dismissed Shaun Udal and Raj Maru in successive deliveries but last man Cardigan Connor prevented the hat-trick.
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