Wharf's hat-trick lifts Glamorgan to the top

Alex Wharf took a hat-trick yesterday to propel Glamorgan to the top of the National League First Division. The Welsh county beat Warwickshire by 13 runs at Edgbaston after the paceman dismissed Graham Wagg, Nick Knight and Dewald Pretorius to round off the home side's innings.

Alex Wharf took a hat-trick yesterday to propel Glamorgan to the top of the National League First Division. The Welsh county beat Warwickshire by 13 runs at Edgbaston after the paceman dismissed Graham Wagg, Nick Knight and Dewald Pretorius to round off the home side's innings.

Knight, the Warwickshire captain playing in his benefit match, seemed to be guiding his side to victory. He scored 111 off 118 balls - his first century since taking charge - as his side were dismissed for 230 with an over to spare, Wharf taking 4 for 35.

Glamorgan had been given a flying start, reaching 101 for 1 in the 15th over thanks to Michael Powell (73) and their captain, Robert Croft (54). They went on to score 243 for 9, Mark Wagh's off-spin also returning 4 for 35.

In the other First Division match, Kent were limited to 169 for 9 by Hampshire at the Rose Bowl before rained stopped play.

The Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar returned from a rib injury to take 4 for 15 and skittle Derbyshire for 82 in the Second Division at Chester-le-Street, Durham cruising to victory by seven wickets.

The visitors had been 19 for 6 as Shoaib's new-ball partner, Neil Killeen, took 2 for 5 in 8.3 overs. Luke Sutton avoided complete humiliation with 43 in a last-wicket stand of 41 with the Jamaican paceman Daren Powell that doubled their score.

An unbeaten 119 by Paul Weekes lifted Middlesex into second place with a six-wicket win over Somerset at Lord's. And Nottinghamshire's Kevin Pietersen also remained undefeated with 80 as he led his side to a seven-wicket victory against Sussex at Trent Bridge, Greg Smith having earlier captured 4 for 28. Scotland, meanwhile, are still without a win this season after losing to Yorkshire by 59 runs in Edinburgh, off-spinner Richard Dawson taking 4 for 20.