Cricket: Warner is thwarted

ALLAN WARNER, Derbyshire's veteran fast bowler, was stranded five runs short of a maiden century as Kent duly completed a 23- point, nine-wicket victory in 29 minutes at Canterbury yesterday.

Warner, 36, who hit a career- best 94 in a lost cause on Friday, added only a single off his 104th delivery before the last man, Ole Mortensen, touched the 10th ball of the day from Martin McCague to the wicketkeeper, Steve Marsh. Derbyshire were all out for 229, leaving Kent the formality of making 24 to record their third victory in four matches.

Jason Gallian, the Oxford University captain, hit a fine 81 to help his side avoid the follow-on against Worcestershire at New Road. When he was sixth out at 152, Oxford still faced an uphill battle to reach their target of 202, but the seventh-wicket pair of Robert Yeabsley and Chinmay Gupte added 71 in 27 overs. They declared 122 in arrears at 229 for 8.