Cricket: Watkinson stays on the boil

MIKE WATKINSON is in the hottest of hot spells. He followed last week's 8 for 30 and 117 with a career-best 155 to rescue Lancashire against Glamorgan. His century came courtesy of his second six off Robert Croft. In all he hit six sixes, all donated by Croft, and 19 fours. All this after his side were 65 for 5.

Darren Gough returned to first-class cricket and took three Hampshire wickets for 51 from 24 overs but Yorkshire were barred greater success by Paul Terry's unbeaten 125. Hampshire were 91 for 0 before Paul Grayson and Gough reduced them to 96 for 5. Then Terry and Adrian Aymes put on 92 and when Aymes fell to Richard Stemp, the opener, along with Shaun Udal, guided his side to 274 for 6.

As usual Franklyn Stephenson took the aggressive route out of trouble against Worcestershire. With Sussex 131 for 5 he hit four sixes and 10 fours in his 95.

Giles White scored his maiden century in only his second first-class innings. His 104 at Fenner's took more than five hours as the Combined Universities gained a useful first-innings lead of 64 against New Zealand.