Cricket: Schofield shines to bolster claims

CHRIS SCHOFIELD pressed his claim for a place on the England A tour of Bangladesh and New Zealand with his first five-wicket haul for Lancashire.

The 20-year-old leg spinner claimed career-best figures of 5 for 66 from 26.3 overs as Durham collapsed from 193 for 2 to 226 all out on the opening day of the County Championship match at Old Trafford.

The Lancashire openers Mike Atherton and Mark Chilton then reached 26 without being separated.

Will Kendall's outstanding sportsmanship cost him a second successive three-figure score as Hampshire surrendered the initiative against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. The 25-year-old former Oxford Blue followed his 201 off the Sussex attack last week with a solid 98, passing 1,000 championship runs for the season, but the visitors declined from 214 for 2 to 301 for 8 at the close.

Kendall looked set for a century until he shaped to turn a ball from David Sales down the leg side and wicketkeeper David Ripley, standing up to the stumps, appealed for a catch.

The umpire Graham Burgess did not raise a finger but Kendall walked and was applauded back to the pavilion by the crowd and the other official, David Shepherd. Kendall and Smith posted 145 for the third wicket after the loss of the openers Jason Laney and Derek Kenway in the morning session, with Smith being bowled by Devon Malcolm for 94.