Cricket: Whitaker's brave fightback

ROUND-UP

Leicestershire needed a courageous half-century from their captain, James Whitaker, and an unbeaten 71 from wicketkeeper Paul Nixon against Sussex at Grace Road to keep their Championship challenge on the road yesterday.

Sussex had the home side struggling at 177 for 7, with Whitaker seemingly out of the match having retired hurt with a torn calf muscle after scoring 30. But Nixon led a brave tail-end recovery and then Whitaker hobbled out to bat again as the last man and was still there at the close on 53 not out with Leicestershire having recovered to reach 258 for 9.

At Cheltenham, the young opener Matt Windows weighed in with the first Championship century of his career as Gloucestershire closed on 331 for 3 against Warwickshire.

The 23-year-old hit an unbeaten 162 that included 29 boundaries. Windows teamed up with Tim Hancock (57) in a second-wicket stand of 142 and then with Monte Lynch (69) with a 140-run stand for the third wicket.

Robin Smith was one of three Hampshire batsmen to hit half-centuries in a first-day total of 332 for 7 against Surrey at Southampton. He made a brisk 54 from 74 balls while his captain John Stephenson hit 61 and Paul Terry 57.

Worcestershire's captain, Tom Moody, made his fifth Championship century of the season to help his side to 313 for 4 in reply to Northamptonshire's first-innings 328, in which wicketkeeper David Ripley made 88.

Durham were thankful for the contribution of Neil Killeen's fine bowling display on his first Championship appearance of the season. The 20-year- old seamer took 4 for 57 as Essex were bowled out for 334. Paul Grayson (74), Stuart Law (73) and Ronnie Irani (56) all featured with the bat for the visitors, before Durham closed the day on eight for no wicket.

Lancashire struggled while Matthew Maynard made an unbeaten 147 as Glamorgan reached 359 for 3 off 109 overs at Cardiff. His fifth first-class century of the season - and third in his last four innings - came off 159 balls in 184 minutes and included two sixes and 15 fours.