Nottinghamshire 328 Surrey 252-6 (Match drawn)

Jonny Bairstow still cannot find the restorative runs for Yorkshire that would soothe being dropped from England's Test side. After scoring 25 in total in five Twenty20 knocks and then copping a first-ball dismissal in his only first-class innings since the final Test against West Indies, Bairstow at least made a start against Derbyshire in the top-of-the-table Division Two clash at Chesterfield, but was out for 27 when he dragged a ball from Tony Palladino on to his stumps.

Two prisoners who disembowelled a fellow inmate were told by a judge yesterday that they are likely to spend the rest of their lives in jail.

Andrew Strauss would normally be happy scoring a half-century on his return to county colours, but seen as his Middlesex side were skittled for just 98, the England captain's joy was probably less than unconfined.

Danish Kaneria has been found guilty of "cajoling and pressurising" Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield to become involved in spot-fixing.

Booker Prize-winning author Barry Unsworth has died at the age of 81, his publishers said today.

Warwickshire will hope to find a way through the filthy weather to reassert themselves at the top of the County Championship after reducing Durham from 28 for two overnight to 147 for 7 in their second innings at Chester-le-Street.

In the Yorkshire Wolds, Jonathan Brown finds little enthusiasm for wind power

True to their declared policy, England yesterday rotated a fast bowler. With the team already 2-0 up in the series of three Tests against West Indies, Jimmy Anderson had to turn on his heel and away from the England dressing room.

Ben Stokes registered his first century in more than a year to give Durham an outside chance of arresting a miserable start to the season by beating Lancashire at Chester-le-Street.

A new anti-corruption team has been set up to monitor domestic limited-overs matches in England and Wales. Members of the seven-strong unit, who have investigative experience, will attend games from the middle of this month until August, covering the Twenty20 and the last rounds in the group stages of the 40-over competition.

Nick Compton's attempt to become only the third batsman since the war to complete 1,000 first-class runs before the end of May is in danger of ending in frustration after Worcestershire's batsmen dominated the opening day of the match with Somerset at New Road yesterday.

Thirty local transport schemes worth a total of £113 million were given the go-ahead by the Government today.