Cricket: Hughes makes mark: Round-up

WICKETS tumbled as some unlikely bowlers made the most of responsive pitches in yesterday's County Championship.

The Northamptonshire pace bowler John Hughes, playing in his first Championship match for three years, took 5 for 69 as Hampshire were dismissed for 229 at Southampton.

Hughes - only playing because of an injury to Paul Taylor - partnered the West Indian Curtly Ambrose, who finished with figures of 3 for 44 as Hampshire took a first-innings lead of 65. Northamptonshire lost their first three batsmen before overhauling Hampshire's lead, but had reached 130 for 3 by the close.

At Cheltenham, Kent's Martin McCague, whose season is only just starting after a shoulder injury, took five Gloucestershire wickets for 89. However, Mark Alleyne hit 96 and Courtney Walsh picked up three wickets to put the home side back into the match. Kent were 117 for 6 - an overall lead of 206 - at the close.

Glamorgan raced to 222 for 4 off 57 overs by the close at Swansea after Somerset had plodded to 372 all out from 986 deliveries. The Somerset captain, Andy Hayhurst, had occupied the crease for 379 minutes in scoring 121 and his main partner, Robert Turner, took 224 deliveries to make an unbeaten 64.

During the marathon session, Glamorgan broke several records with Steve Barwick overhauling

J C Clay's 60-year-old record of 27 maidens in an innings and Robert Croft's record of 62 overs in an innings.