Cricket: Leicestershire rocked by Kerr

JASON KERR tore through the Leicestershire batting on the second day of the County Championship match at Taunton yesterday to force the champions to follow on.

After three wickets fell - two to Andy Caddick and one to Matt Bulbeck - the Somerset seamer wiped out the rest of the innings to finish with 7 for 23 off his 10.5 overs. Only Iain Sutcliffe (40) and Chris Lewis (46 not out) made a real impression as the visitors slumped to 173 all out in 49.3 overs in response to Somerset's total of 453.

When Leicestershire batted again, they reached 50 for 0 at the close of play with Darren Maddy 22 and Sutcliffe 26.

Dominic Cork struck two early blows to put the pressure on Northamptonshire at Derby after the Australian Test opener, Michael Slater and Stephen Titchard took the visitors' bowling apart. Cork had Rob Bailey and Mal Loye both lbw as the Northamptonshire's second innings got off to a shaky start in their attempt to pull back a deficit of 195.

Earlier Slater and Titchard shared in a 296-run partnership. Slater was Devon Malcolm's third victim for 171, and Titchard (136) was bowled by Matthew Hayden as Derbyshire reached 465 all out.

At Chelmsford, Yorkshire paid dearly for dropping Stuart Law early in his innings. The Australian went on to reach a magnificent 159 as Essex finished 335 all out for a first innings lead of 24. Law's innings took 219 balls and included a six and 19 fours.

Jason Gallian, the Nottinghamshire captain, enjoyed his return to Old Trafford and ground out a patient 120 not out to put Lancashire in danger of their third defeat in five games. In a low-scoring game Gallian's effort looks likely to be a match-winner.