Shoaib routs Gloucestershire

The West Indies batsman scored 53 from 69 balls as the home side easily reached their victory target of 106, although Vikram Solanki was dismissed first ball for a duck.

Shoaib Akhtar had earlier set up the victory by ripping through the Gloucestershire line-up with 6 for 16 in seven devastating overs in the totesport First Division game, including Stephen Snell, Alex Gidman and Mark Hardinges - all without scoring.

Ramnaresh Sarwan was the only batsman to offer any real resistance before he was run out for 31. The visitors only managed 105.

An excellent batting performance from Northamptonshire came to nothing when the rain came in Cardiff with Glamorgan 22-1 in 5.3 overs needing 283 to win. David Sales (77), Usman Afzaal (64) and Riki Wessels (43 not out) all plundered runs before the weather saved Glamorgan.

Derbyshire's promotion hopes were dented after they were thrashed by eight wickets by Surrey at the County Ground.

The Phantoms were routed for 88 by Tim Murtagh, who took a one-day best 4 for 14, before a 38-ball half-century from James Benning took the Lions home, plundering some mediocre bowling to smash 12 fours in his 53 as Surrey wrapped up victory by 4pm.

The England all-rounder Paul Collingwood celebrated being called up to the Test squad by hitting the winning runs against Kent as Durham maintained their push for promotion with an eight-wicket win.

After getting bowled out for 140, with 63 from Michael Carberry, Kent struggled in the field as the Durham opener Jimmy Maher made 70. Gavin Hamilton's 43 offered support but Collingwood was there as the hosts reached their target in the 28th over.