Cricket Round-Up: McCague attracts TCCB

KENT, who are poised to secure their fifth Championship win of the season after Martin McCague's stunning spell of 5 for 1 in just 17 balls against Somerset, will today have their St Lawrence Ground at Canterbury investigated by the Test and County Cricket Board.

Nineteen wickets fell yesterday for 342 runs and Daryl Foster, the Kent coach, confirming the planned visit by a TCCB official, said: 'It's a little bit disappointing because it's the first time our groundsman here has had a problem like this with any of the pitches.'

Somerset certainly had their problems. Replying to Kent's 275, McCaugue's spell of fast bowling skittled them out for just 133, then with Richard Snell, their South African Test bowler, unable to field because of flu, Kent extended their lead to 271.

However, Somerset did give Kent cause for some concern, with Andrew Caddick taking 4 for 36 as they closed on 129 for 6.

Although a declaration is unlikely on the final day at Canterbury today, elsewhere captains will be keeping calculators at hand.

Only two wickets fell at Derby yesterday on a lifeless pitch. There were also two declarations and two centuries; Chris Adams (112 not out) scored a century before lunch as Derbyshire declared on 334 for 3 and Mike Roseberry (100 not out) added his seventh first-class century of the season as Middlesex made 216 for 2 declared. Derbyshire extended their lead, without loss, to 124 by the close.

A similar story unfolded at The Oval. Five wickets, two declarations, two nineties (Paul Atkins 99, Monte Lynch 97 not out) as Surrey made 333 for 4 declared, one century (Paul Johnson 107 not out) as Nottinghamhire replied with 201 for 2 declared. Surrey, 60 for 0 at the close, lead by 192.