Cricket Round-Up: Parker proves positive

THE weather thwarted all contrivances at Weston-super-Mare and at Swansea, but Paul Parker, at least, achieved a little satisfaction with some breathtaking hitting to deny Worcestershire the slim chance of defeating Durham yesterday, writes Mark Burton.

Tim Curtis declared Worcestershire's innings at 294 for 6, just 95 ahead, sacrificing a bonus point in favour of putting pressure on Durham, but between the showers at Worcester, Parker scored a rapid 94, including 20 boundaries, which broke the back of Durham's search for security.

The former Sussex captain added 75 from 59 balls in an hour after lunch, hitting the left-armer Richard Stemp for four boundaries in an over before falling lbw sweeping the off-spinner Damian D'Oliveira. By that stage he had put on 145 with Phil Bainbridge, who finished unbeaten on 58, as Durham reached 199 for 2.

At Weston, Hampshire delared at 47 for 1 after being donated runs, Somerset forfeited their second innings and left the visitors to chase 324 in 97 overs. Only 19 had been bowled before the weather closed in with Hampshire on 62 for 1.

The loss of all but two overs on Saturday meant a draw was inevitable at St Helen's but the home captain, Matthew Maynard, and Gloucestershire's Tony Wright tried to revive the game with declarations which left Glamorgan to score 301 off 90 overs. Eight overs in the rain came and the only player with anything to show for their efforts was Hugh Morris, who probably could have managed without the pain in his left thumb caused by a blow from a Ricky Williams lifter.