County Championship round-up: Thin pickings for patchy Finn

Ashes watch Steven Finn had his last bowl before the first Test against New Zealand as Warwickshire's rain-affected match with Middlesex ended in a somewhat inevitable draw. Finn was not originally scheduled to appear at Edgbaston but his early-season form has been patchy and it was hoped that an extra run-out might help him step up his performance level, which was why, Lions captain Joe Root apart, the 6ft 8in fast bowler was the only member of the 12 selected for Lord's who was required to play yesterday. Unfortunately for Finn, he seldom looked in rhythm during 22 wicketless overs in which he conceded 90 runs and, despite a modified run-up, still managed on two occasions to kick the stumps at the non-striker's end as he was in his delivery stride. He was outbowled by Tim Murtagh, who took 5 for 85, and his place in the Test XI on Thursday looks at risk.

Cidermen wreak havoc in Leeds

Performance of the day Somerset may have made a poor start in the County Championship but their opening two matches in the Yorkshire Bank 40 competition could not have produced a more explosive statement of their intention to dominate one-day cricket. Having blown away the Unicorns last week, when Marcus Trescothick hit eight sixes in a 49-ball 87 and Peter Trego blasted 75 off just 38 deliveries, the Cidermen yesterday smashed 338 in their 40 overs against Yorkshire at Headingley, where James Hildreth's unbeaten 96 off 84 balls was a relatively sedate affair next to Trego's 58 from 33 balls and 89 off 51 by Jos Buttler, which was notable not only for ramp shots but reverse ramps.

New Road, new hope for the spinners

Extras The heavy roller may be flattening the life out of some pitches around the country but Worcester's New Road may suddenly have become a haven for spinners. Only 16 wickets fell in Worcestershire's drawn match with Leicestershire, but 12 of them went to the slow bowlers Jigar Naik, Moeen Ali and Shaaiq Choudhry.