Cricket: Munton's hat-trick heaven

WARWICKSHIRE'S Tim Munton took his first-ever hat-trick as 20 wickets fell on an eventful first day of their County Championship match at Maidstone.

Kent finished on 34 for 0 in their second innings for an overall lead of 82 - despite Munton's 6 for 44 return which restricted the home side to 164 in their first innings after being put in to bat.

Umpires David Constant and Neil Mallender will make their obligatory report to Lord's but The Mote pitch seemed to hold no terrors early on. Kent reached 49 for 0 before Munton struck, sending back Robin Key, David Fulton and Trevor Ward with the second, third and fourth deliveries of his third over of the day. When Warwickshire batted they were dismissed for 116.

Muttiah Muralitharan took seven more wickets for Lancashire at Old Trafford. The little Sri Lankan off-spinner, who claimed 24 wickets as Lancashire lost their last two games to Warwickshire and Surrey, continued his amazing form against Essex. The visitors were all out for 207 and by the close of the second day Lancashire had added 81 to their first- innings lead of 91 for the loss of only Mark Chilton.

Jamie Cox and Piran Holloway hit contrasting centuries to put Somerset on 320 for 3 after the opening day of their match against Sussex at Taunton.

Captain Cox stroked 23 boundaries in an elegant 111, while Holloway ground out an unbeaten 101 off 277 balls.