Cricket: Tufnell spins wondrous web: Round-up

PHIL TUFNELL held Lord's - and particularly his Gloucestershire opposition - in awe yesterday with a stunning spell of spin. Five wickets fell to him for just 10 runs in 11.5 overs and saw Middlesex to an innings victory with a day to spare.

The visitors started the day needing 252 runs to avoid an innings defeat with three second-innings wickets already gone. They soon lost a fourth when the nightwatchman, Vyvian Pike, was bowled by Neil Williams for 13. Tony Wright and Robert Dawson then embarked on a promising fifth-wicket partnership which, assisted by a three-and-a-half hour stoppage for rain, looked to be taking the game into a fourth day.

However, after John Emburey had forced Dawson to hole out to long-on, Tufnell took centre-stage and finished the game with his season's best figures of six for 35.

The see-saw at Scarborough swung back in Surrey's favour yesterday when Martin Bicknell managed to match the wicket-taking feats that Darren Gough had previously performed for Yorkshire.

Surrey seamer Bicknell claimed five for 44 to check Yorkshire's progress. Yorkshire had already dismissed Surrey for 307 after Gough, the England paceman, grabbed six for 66 - his best figures of the summer - to give his side a first innings lead of 72.

Bicknell struck early as Surrey made their reply in the field, but after he had seen off Martyn Moxon and David Byas, Yorkshire were saved by a 113- run third wicket partnership between Simon Kellett and Paul Grayson. Grayson became the fifth Yorkshire batsman to complete 1,000 runs for the season on his way to reaching 75 from 135 balls before being caught off James Boiling.

Bicknell continued to put the batsmen under pressure as Richard Blakey battled to hold the innings together, leaving Yorkshire on 219 for eight with a 291-run lead.

A record-breaking century by Neil Taylor helped to put Kent in a winning position against Somerset at Canterbury yesterday. Taylor's century was his 13th at the ground, edging him one clear of Colin Cowdrey and Frank Woolley. Kent, with a first innings lead of 284, had Somerset struggling on 111 for four at the close.

Taylor, whose first Canterbury century was on his debut in 1979 against Sri Lanka, batted for 248 minutes hitting his 120 off 221 balls with 18 fours.

Following the early departure of Carl Hooper for 127, only Taylor offered real resistance as Somerset claimed seven wickets for 99 in 30 overs. Jeremy Hallett was Somerset's most effective weapon, returning career-best figures of four for 59.

Somerset then returned to the crease with most resistance coming from Mark Lathwell who struck 52 off 101 balls.

Hampshire opener Paul Whitaker fell six runs short of a maiden century on his debut against Leicestershire at Grace Road. Whitaker, 21, was caught at slip off Phil Simmons - who also cut short Robin Smith's stay at the crease - as Hampshire reached 152 for five at the close with a slender lead of 24.