Cricket: Seamers carry Kent into third place

Kent's seam attack got the better of Durham's at Darlington to put their team in contention at the top of the Axa Life League.

Kent's 16-run win helped them to third spot, with leaders Essex inactive and second-placed Lancashire rained off against Glamorgan at Old Trafford.

Durham's Alan Walker and John Wood picked up four wickets each as Kent were bowled out for 142 in 39.5 overs despite a battling 46 from Graham Cowdrey. But then Dean Headley, Matthew Fleming and Martin McCague shared eight wickets to scupper Durham, even though John Morris (47) hit the top score of the match.

Yorkshire old boy Ashley Metcalfe hit an unbeaten 70 against his former team-mates to lead Nottinghamshire towards victory at Trent Bridge. Metcalfe boosted his team's 30-over total to 169 for 4, coming to the crease after Chris Silverwood had reduced Notts to 30 for 3. He went on to share an unbroken stand of 84 with Graeme Archer (33no). But the Duckworth-Lewis system of deciding rain-affected matches had the last say as Notts were declared the winners by 13 runs despite Yorkshire's hectic progress to 78 for 5 in only 15 overs before the threat of rain became reality.

All-rounder Gavin Haynes carried the day for Worcestershire in their seven-wicket win over Surrey at New Road. He made his first impact with the ball, taking 4 for 13 in eight overs to help reduce the visitors to 36 for 7.

Martin Bicknell (57no) came to Surrey's rescue, sharing stands with Ben Hollioake (20) and then Saqlain Mushtaq (29) on the way to 149 all out in 37 overs. But it was all in vain as Haynes (47no) went on to post an unbroken 97 stand for the fourth wicket with Reuben Spiring (43no) to see Worcestershire home.