Cricket: Pollard inspires the rout

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE skipped away to a 142-run victory over Derbyshire in the Sunday league at Trent Bridge yesterday. The openers Paul Pollard, with 91, and Paul Johnson, who made 75, were unforgiving, along with the captain, Tim Robinson, with 78, and Nottinghamshire sped to their highest total in one-day cricket - 329 for 6. When Derbyshire fell for 187, it gave Nottinghamshire victory by their biggest margin on a Sunday.

Essex and Middlesex fought out a tie at Colchester. Replying to 236 for 6, Essex reached the final two overs needing 10 with five wickets in hand. But they collapsed, losing four wickets, then David Boden was run out from the last ball attempting a third run.

Robin Smith, with 129, and Paul Terry, 124 not out, led Hampshire to an eight-wicket victory against Sussex at Portsmouth. Hampshire, set 312 in 50 overs, won with a ball to spare.