Cricket: Alleyne takes the lead

Mark Alleyne, the Gloucestershire captain, bowled his side to a three- day victory over Surrey to extend their lead at the top of the Britannic Assurance County Championship table.

Alleyne took a career-best 6 for 64 as Surrey were bowled out in their second innings for 269, leaving Gloucestershire to score only 14 to win - a task they accomplished for the loss of Nick Trainor.

Victory was thoroughly deserved for Gloucestershire, who dominated the match at The Oval despite Alleyne losing the toss on Wednesday morning.

Surrey began yesterday on 59 for 3, needing 197 to avoid an innings defeat, but only Graham Thorpe and Jason Ratcliffe threatened to delay Gloucestershire's victory. Thorpe withstood the pace of David Lawrence and the swing of Alleyne and Mike Smith for four-and-three-quarter hours, scoring only seven boundaries in his 81. Ratcliffe, given a rare chance in the Surrey line-up, scored 45 from 87 balls but charged at the off-spinner Martyn Ball and was comfortably stumped by Jack Russell. Surrey's last hope went when Thorpe was eighth out, clipping Alleyne low to midwicket.

At Taunton, Bill Athey, once of England, produced a typically gritty innings to defy Somerset's victory bid. The 39-year-old Sussex batsman ended a rain interrupted third day on 70 not out, having passed 25,000 first-class runs in the process.

Athey reached the landmark with a cover drive for four off Keith Parsons, which also brought up his half-century off 129 balls, with five fours. "It was nice to hear the announcement. I don't take much notice of statistics and had no idea I was approaching the 25,000 mark," he said. Athey's efforts helped Sussex from an overnight 6 for 0 to 142 for 3, 26 short of making Somerset bat again.

Stuart Law confirmed his liking for Durham's attack as he helped put Essex into a strong position at Chelmsford. The Australian followed his first innings 63 with an unbeaten 81 as Essex reached the close on 309 for 5 in their second innings for a lead of 255.

Law, who scored 73 and 172 against Durham at Hartlepool last summer, drove with ferocious power both sides of the wicket against an attack weakened by the absence of Simon Brown, who was able to bowl only nine overs because of a strained side.

David Milns completed an innings of 114 not out to help Leicestershire to 349 and a first-innings lead of 64 over Hampshire at Southampton, and then helped himself to three wickets as the county champions headed for their first win of the season.