Cricket: Boon in bloom as Durham dominate

DAVID BOON'S imperious century underpinned Durham's innings against Yorkshire at the Riverside yesterday. The Australian finished unbeaten on 120, with his patient hundred coming in 290 minutes off 263 balls and with 11 fours, as Durham, second in the County Championship, finished on 311 for 7.

Boon was helped by 57 from Nick Speak, Martin Speight's 41 and Michael Foster's 35. Paul Hutchison was the pick of the Yorkshire bowlers with figures of 3 for 40.

John Stephenson had a hand in five of Derbyshire's six wickets to fall at Basingstoke, as Hampshire pegged back the visitors. Adrian Rollins and Michael Slater put on 92 for the first wicket, before the Australian became the first of Stephenson's three victims, falling lbw for 47.

After Tim Tweats also departed leg before for nine, Stephenson then bowled Kim Barnett for 47, before taking catches to remove Rollins when he had reached 89 and Matthew Cassar for 10.

At the close, Derbyshire were 245 for 6 with Karl Krikken unbeaten on 25.

Jason Gallian and Tim Robinson compiled an unbroken 130 third-wicket stand for Nottinghamshire by the time rain stopped play against Kent at Canterbury. Matthew Dowman and Usman Afzaal both departed cheaply to leave Nottinghamshire on 54 for 2, before Gallian and Robinson who both made fifties, set about the Kent bowling.

Just 50 minutes of play took place at New Road, as persistent rain restricted Worcestershire to 37 without loss from 11.4 overs against fourth-placed Gloucestershire.

There was no play in Northamptonshire's game against Middlesex.