Cricket: Newport finds right formula

WORCESTERSHIRE FINALLY broke Glamorgan's resistance at New Road yesterday to register their first County Championship win of the season.

Phil Newport, the former England pace bowler in his final season before retirement, took 2 for 5 in 10 balls before Glamorgan were dismissed for 149. Worcestershire, second from bottom of the table, ran out winners by 48 runs in the 17th over.

Saqlain Mushtaq has signed a new two-year contract to stay with Surrey until the end of next season. The Pakistan off-spinner, who made his debut for Surrey in 1997, will join up with the club again after the World Cup.

His fellow spinner, Ian Salisbury inspired Surrey yesterday with a century that left Marcus Trescothick and Jamie Cox having to conjure a Somerset fightback at The Oval. They made a good start to their second innings, but Trescothick fell for 76 and Pirin Holloway quickly followed to leave Somerset on 136 for 2 at tea with Cox an unbeaten 46.

Salisbury put on 122 with Martin Bicknell (69) for the ninth wicket and he had scored exactly 100, hitting 14 fours when he ran out of partners with Surrey on 558.

Middlesex were following on at Lord's after tumbling from 155 for 3 to 233 all out against Sussex. Mark Robinson struck three times this morning to add to his one success of yesterday and then bowled Justin Langer for 21 as Middlesex batted again.

The former Yorkshire and Northamptonshire seamer had Mark Ramprakash caught by Chris Adams for 81, but the Middlesex captain was defiant second time around with an unbeaten 41 to steer his side to 113 for two, still 84 behind.

Hampshire's Robin Smith, with 68, stood alone in defiance of Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Hampshire, 41 for 1 overnight, were bowled out for 203, a deficit of 121, with Paul Franks and Vasbert Drakes taking three wickets apiece.

Andrew Symonds cruised to 177 to guide Kent past Leicestershire's total of 369, at Canterbury. Resuming on 81, Symonds reached his 100 off 150 balls, hitting 16 fours. He then continued to sparkle with support from Matthew Fleming (24) and Steve Marsh (22no) as Kent reached 420. Symonds eventually fell lbw to David Millns and Leicestershire were 69 without loss in reply.

Yorkshire extended their lead over Durham to 196 at Headingley, mainly thanks to some thumping strokes by Chris Silverwood, who made 39. In the same space of time Richard Blakey added only two runs to his overnight total of 21.

Yorkshire were 310 all out in reply to Durham's 117. In their second innings, Durham reached 125 for 4 with Jon Lewis unbeaten on 64.

Jeremy Snape was left two runs short of his century as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 408 by Essex at Gloucester. Essex, 135 behind at the start of their second innings, reached 142 for 2 at tea with Tim Walton unbeaten on 71.