Cricket: Murali weaves farewell victory

MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN continued on his merry way through English batting yesterday as he took 7 for 39 in Derbyshire's second innings to return match figures of 11 for 61 at Derby. That gave Lancashire victory by 192 runs. It was the Sri Lankan off-spinner's his last Championship match of the season as he is going home to prepare for the triangular one-day series against Australia and India.

Matthew Bulbeck helped Somerset complete a three-day victory over Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. The young medium-pace bowler took 5 for 63 as the home side were dismissed for 226, losing by an innings and 85 runs. The 19- year-old returned match figures of 10 for 108.

Yorkshire beat Worcestershire by nine wickets at Headingley, also in three days. The visitors, who were shot out for 90 in just 26 overs on the first morning, put up stern resistance second time around.

Vikram Solanki scored 70 from 91 balls with 12 fours before he edged a Gavin Hamilton delivery on to his stumps, Stuart Lampitt offered brave resistance with 66 not out - his best score of the season - and Tom Moody hit eight fours in his fluent 56 from 89 deliveries, but the visitors were all out for 287. The Tykes lost Matthew Wood in making the required four runs in their second innings.

Nottinghamshire completed only their fourth win of the season after dismissing Middlesex for just 120 in their second innings at Southgate. Vasbert Drakes took 5 for 49 to complete a match return of 11 for 113. Nottinghamshire lost two wickets in attaining the 106 needed for victory.

A stand of 101 between Jimmy Daley and David Boon gave Durham an outside chance of victory against Sussex at Chester-le-Street. The target of 283 looked beyond them at 51 for 3, but Daley made an unbeaten 49.

Durham finished on 153 for 4, needing a further 130 for their first Championship win in eight attempts against Sussex.