Farewell of Barnett is a cut above

Cricket

Cricket

RUPERT METCALF

After 13 seasons at the helm, Kim Barnett enjoyed his last day as a county captain yesterday, when he guided Derbyshire to victory over Lancashire by the commanding margin of 282 runs at Derby.

Barnett, who has led Derbyshire since replacing Barry Wood in 1983, was relieved to depart on a high note with a success, after four successive defeats. "I thought we would have to work a lot harder to win this one," said Barnett, who intends to carry on as a player next year. His successor as skipper has yet to be named.

Lancashire, who began the day on 19 for 0, slumped to 155 all out in just 100 minutes. The 38-year-old seam bowler Allan Warner took a career- best 6 for 21 in 7.5 overs. John Crawley, with 52, was the top scorer for Lancashire, whose captain, Mike Watkinson, said: "That was a last day of the season performance. There are no excuses - it was terrible."

Yorkshire fared no better at Chelmsford, where they went down by 89 runs to Essex, who secured their fifth successive win.

Essex, who started the day 92 runs ahead with five second-innings wickets standing, looked unlikely winners until Paul Prichard and Robert Rollins put on 157 in 25 overs for the sixth wicket. Prichard reached 104 from 113 balls before his side were bowled out for 270. Yorkshire never threatened to reach their target of 275 and were dismissed for 185 as Peter Such claimed 5 for 89.

The rain denied Surrey at The Oval, where they declared their first innings 114 runs behind Hampshire and bowled out their visitors for 152. Chasing 267 to win off a minimum of 59 overs, Darren Bicknell and Nadeem Shahid put on 135 for the second wicket, but the elements halted their victory quest with 24 overs remaining and 92 runs required.

Northamptonshire's hopes of snatching a win - and second place from Middlesex - were washed away at Hove, where no play was possible against Sussex. Allan Lamb's men had to settle for third place and prize-money of pounds 15,000.

Kent's Aravinda de Silva completed his eighth Test century as Sri Lanka set Pakistan a victory target of 252 in the second Test in Faisalabad.