NUL tables take shape after fresh round of games

The Norwich Union League tables are beginning to take shape after another round of exciting games has reached a conclusion. With wins for high-flying Warwickshire Bears and Worcestershire Royals the Division One trophy may well be heading for the Midlands. But Kent Spitfires kept up the pressure with victory over Notts Outlaws, while Glamorgan Dragons are quietly confident that they can take the trophy West.

Somerset Sabres cantered to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Leicestershire Foxes at Bath thanks to an intelligent all-round performance from Keith Parsons.

Parsons followed up his three wickets with a robust half-century as his side clinched their first Norwich Union League victory of the season. He was well supported by stand-in captain Mike Burns after Leicestershire Foxes had been dismissed for just 147, despite a fluent 62 from Trevor Ward.

Elsewhere Warwickshire Bears struggled with the bat against Yorkshire Phoenix, but still completed the victory that keeps them top of the table in a rain-affected contest. Only Dougie Brown could pass 20 for the visitors, as the hosts England-quartet of bowlers, Silverwood, White, Dawson and Sidebottom struck with two wickets apiece.

But with Shaun Pollock in your side most totals are defendable. The South Africa captain won the NUL Player of the Month award for May, and made a bid for the June award with the wickets of Phoenix's top three to place the pressure firmly back on the shoulders of the chasing team.

Phoenix stumbled to 111-8, and it took a stand of 50 for the ninth wicket between Simon Katich - who was left stranded on 39 not out - and Tim Bresnan to take them close to the target, before they eventually fell 14 runs short.

Worcestershire Royals kept up their pressure at the top of the table with a 166-run victory over Durham Dynamos. Royals were indebted to a fine 83 from Ben Smith as they ran up a formidable total of 265, but their unlikely hero was part-time bowler David Leatherdale. Leatherdale produced career-best figures of 5-9 as the Dynamos fell away to 99-8 in a rain-affected game.

Rob Key must be close to an England call-up. The Kent Spitfires opener was in the runs again, with 114 from just 98 balls as he helped his team to a daunting total of 317 against Nottinghamshire Outlaws. Captain Matthew Fleming fell just short of a half century, but ensured a quick start for the visitors before Key took control in an innings studded with seven fours and four sixes.

The Outlaws began their reply well, with Johnson in belligerent mood, but the run-rate proved too testing and their reply fell away despite a late assault from Paul Franks, and the Spitfires secured victory by 132 runs.

In Division Two Gloucestershire Gladiators sustained their promotion hopes with a five-wicket win over Middlesex Crusaders at Bristol. Only Andy Strauss prospered for the Crusaders, hitting 65, as his side succumbed to Mark Alleyne's medium pace (3-30) and Martyn Ball's off-spin (3-13).

Gladiators lost Barnett first ball in reply, but a 41-ball 60 (with 12 boundaries) from Ian Harvey made light of the target, with Alleyne seeing his side home with an unbeaten 32. The loss sees the Crusaders remain rock bottom of the second division.

Kevin Dean produced another incisive performance for Derbyshire Scorpions against Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Derby. The left-arm swing bowler took 3-29, including the key scalp of Hussey, to reduce the visitors to 44-5. He was well supported by his skipper, Dominic Cork (2-20), but the other bowlers failed to keep the pressure on and allowed the Steelbacks - led by Penberthy with a patient 55 - back into the game and to a respectable total of 180.

It almost proved enough for the Steelbacks as the Scorpions slipped to 88-7. But the Scorpions' tail contains quite a sting, and the ex-Somerset pair of Jason Kerr and Luke Sutton added an unbroken 94 for the eighth wicket to produce a thrilling finish and an eventual three-wicket win for the hosts.

Elsewhere there was a happy return for Adam Hollioake. The Surrey Lions' captain took three wickets on his first appearance of the summer following the tragedy of his brother's death, and witnessed his side secure a narrow victory over Hampshire Hawks.

The Lions benefited from probing spells from Giddins (2-34) and, in particular, Martin Bicknell, who took 2-15 in nine overs as the hosts struggled to 178-8. Ian Ward provided the anchor for the Lions' reply with 51, but when he was fifth man out with 58 still needed, it took sensible batting from Bicknell and a cameo from Ian Salisbury to see their side home in the final over.

Half centuries from Darren Robinson, Andy Flower and - inevitably it seems - Ronnie Irani, saw Essex Eagles to victory over Lancashire Lightning at Ilford.

Mark Chilton batted well for the visitors, with a fine 84, but he received scant support from his team-mates as they set a moderate target of 204. But that target seemed pretty remote when Peter Martin struck twice in his opening overs, before the Eagles batsmen knuckled down and got home with six overs to spare.