Mushtaq turns screw to skittle Middlesex

Sussex increased their lead in the First Division of the County Championship as they romped to a 224-run win over Middlesex at Horsham. The Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, who last played Test cricket in 2003, was the pick of the bowlers, with 6 for 110 as the visitors were bowled out for 256.

At Headingley, cricket for once overshadowed the sub-plot of Michael Vaughan's rehabilitation, with Hampshire chasing down 404, their third-highest winning score, with five wickets and 10 balls to spare. James Adams scored 168 not out, leaving Yorkshire still searching for their first win of the season.

At Tunbridge Wells, Kent cruised to a nine-wicket victory against Warwickshire after being set a target of 196. England's forgotten batsman Robert Key finished on 98 not out.

In Division Two, Surrey beat Essex by six wickets at Whitgift School in Croydon courtesy of a swashbuckling 63 not out from James Benning off 43 balls, 58 of them coming in boundaries.

The hosts were 87 for 3, chasing 177, when Benning came to the crease, and he was ably supported by Mark Ramprakash, who made a more sedate 48.

Northamptonshire declared on 334 for 9 at Oakham School, setting their hosts 372 to win but the game meandered to a draw. John Maunders (80) helped Leicestershire finish on 244 for 2.

At Bristol, it was a day for career bests as Vikram Solanki hit 222 and Steven Davies 192, Worcestershire declaring on 587 for 8 against Gloucestershire. The hosts reached 290 for 2 at the end of day two, with centuries for the New Zealand pair of Craig Spearman (160no) and Hamish Marshall (102) on a flat track.