Cricket: Bicknell's haul of six victims

MARTIN BICKNELL led the way and bowlers in general held sway as the second round of County Championship matches began yesterday, writes Barrie Fairall. The fast bowler took 6 for 43 at Hove as Sussex, previously well beaten by Glamorgan, mustered only 213 against Surrey.

The openers, Neil Lenham and Jamie Hall, were Bicknell's first victims and he later removed Peter Moores and Martin Speight. Sussex were 152 for 7 before Tony Pigott and Ian Salisbury made more of a fist of it.

Bicknell, though, returned after the pair had added 44 in 28 overs to have Pigott caught and then had Eddie Hemmings edged to third slip. Salisbury was the last to go, leg before to Joey Benjamin after making 43.

Phil Tufnell, whose four wickets helped spin out Gloucestershire for 95 last Saturday, took 4 for 64 at Lord's as Middlesex, under John Carr's leadership in the absence of the injured Mike Gatting, dismissed Kent for 265. Gloucestershire, meanwhile, were on the receiving end again, this time at Northampton, where the all-rounder Kevin Curran helped put them out for 107 with 5 for 38.