Cork stops Gloucestershire fizzing

The former England bowler Dominic Cork took 4 for 14 yesterday as Lancashire dismissed Gloucestershire for a paltry 86 on the way to a six-wicket victory in the national league First Division match at Bristol.

The Gloucestershire captain Mark Alleyne's decision to bat first backfired as the Lancashire seamers swung the ball at will. Only two Gloucestershire players made double figures - Alleyne, with 24 not out, and Chris Taylor, with 10. It was the home side's lowest total against Lancashire in the one-day league.

Lancashire's batsmen also had problems as Jon Lewis returned 3 for 40 but Stuart Law's classy 26 from 23 balls, with six fours, ended as top score in the match and proved to be the match-winner.

Cork bowled his nine overs straight through from the Pavilion End and had a hand in the first five wickets to fall. He took a catch at third slip to dismiss Craig Spearman off James Anderson in the third over. Then he had Steve Adshead caught at point by Mark Chilton, Philip Weston taken at first slip by Law, won an lbw verdict against Taylor and bowled Alex Gidman.

Mark Hardinges was the next to go when he edged a sharply rising delivery from Sajid Mahmood to wicketkeeper Warren Hegg, and Upul Chandana was leg-before to Glen Chapple as he pushed forward.

The innings ended four overs later when Muttiah Muralitharan, having switched to the Jessop Stand End, had James Averis lbw as he padded up to a googly.

Lancashire's reply got off to a sticky start as Mal Loye and Brad Hodge were caught behind by Adshead off Averis and Lewis respectively to make it 16 for two in the third over.

Law looked in imperious form as he drove six boundaries straight or through the covers but he then clipped a delivery from Lewis off his legs and Weston took a diving catch.

Lewis struck again when he had Andrew Crook lbw for 10 but Chilton and Chapple saw Lancashire through. Chilton ended the match, when he straight-drove Martyn Ball for six in the 22nd over, finishing with 22 with Chapple remaining unbeaten on 13.

f l James Benning and Rikki Clarke scored half-centuries for Surrey against Durham at The Oval yesterday. The hosts scored 219 from their 38 overs, with Gareth Breese accounting for the dismissal of both batsmen. Durham's Liam Plunkett and Neil Killeen also took two wickets each.