Taylor century puts pressure on Bopara

County round-up

Ravi Bopara's disappointment at contributing only seven to England's mammoth total at Edgbaston will not have been eased when he learned that England Lions captain James Taylor had made a century in a comfortable victory over Sri Lanka A at Worcester.

The Leicestershire batsman, who had been considered by the England selectors as a possible replacement for Jonathan Trott in the third Test against India before Bopara was given the nod, hit seven fours and a six in his 106 after the Lions were put in at New Road.

Yorkshire's Joe Root (62) and Jonathan Bairstow, who smashed 59 off just 26 balls with four sixes, helped the Lions reach 310 for 8 in their 50 overs before bowling out the tourists for 213 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

In the Championship, a delayed start and subsequent bad light brought more frustration for First Division leaders Durham at Chester-le-Street, where day three closed with only 83 overs bowled in the match so far, and Durham with only two bonus points after Neil McKenzie made a patient 90 before he was caught behind off seamer Chris Rushworth and Dimitri Mascarenhas a rapid 50.

Captain Phil Mustard has to decide whether to chase bonus points alone on the last day or seek a deal with opposite number Jimmy Adams in the hope of forcing a result against near-doomed Hampshire, whose hopes of signing James Foster from Essex for next season were thwarted after the former England wicketkeeper agreed a three-year deal to stay at Chelmsford.

In the Second Division, Surrey were bowled out for 104 in just 28.2 overs to lose by 265 runs inside three days against Kent at Canterbury, where Rob Key carried his bat for an accomplished 110 in Kent's 230 all out. Surrey had a nominal target of 370 but after Darren Stevens increased his match haul to a career-best 11 for 70, taking 10 wickets in a match for the first time, off-spinner James Tredwell took the last five.

Derbyshire need only 80 more runs today to go third in the table after bowling Gloucestershire out for 220 and then 302 following on. At Lord's Josh Simpson's half century helped Middlesex reach 317 but leaders Northants countered with an 158-run partnership from openers Stephen Peters and Mal Loye.