Cricket Round-up: Speight provides spur for Sussex challenge

SUSSEX maintained their challenge in the AXA Equity and Law League with a 94-run victory yesterday over Nottinghamshire, who were bowled out for 168 at Eastbourne chasing 263 for victory.

The visiting captain, Tim Robinson, offered the only real defiance, with 51 off 90 balls. Earlier, Martin Speight, with 57, saw the Sussex innings off to a cracking start with 12 boundaries off 42 balls. Sussex are in third place, six points behind the leaders, Glamorgan.

Surrey's title hopes were dented by Worcestershire, who won by 37 runs at New Road. Graeme Hick hit a bold 64 off 85 balls for the home team but Surrey, chasing 195 to win, never recovered from a disastrous 76 for 6 and were finally dismissed for 157.

A stand of 132 in 12 overs between Richie Richardson and Richard Blakey set up Yorkshire's win over the champions, Middlesex, at Scarborough. In a game reduced to 37 overs per side by rain, Yorkshire reached 245 for 2 with Blakey hitting six sixes in an unbeaten 69 and Richardson four sixes in his 88 not out. Yorkshire's total always looked out of range after Middlesex lost four wickets in the first 20 overs.

Phil DeFreitas claimed his Sunday best of 5 for 26 as Lancashire saw off Hampshire by six wickets at Southampton. Hampshire, reduced to 39 for 6, recovered with a stand of 83 for the seventh wicket between Mark Nicholas, with an unbeaten 64, and Shaun Udal, who hit a competition-best 44. However, solid batting by Mike Atherton (51) and Wasim Akram's 17 runs from 13 balls took Lancashire home with 14 balls to spare.