Sporting Digest: Cricket

OLE MORTENSEN, Derbyshire's Danish fast bowler, has retired from first- class cricket at the age of 36. Mortensen, who took 434 first-class wickets at an average of 23.88, is expected to become Denmark's director of cricket coaching.

RAPID CRICKETLINE CHAMPIONSHIP (Second day of three): Gloucester: Gloucestershire 322 (R M Wight 108, G D Hodgson 104; G P Butcher 5-86) and 49 for 1; Glamorgan 261 for 7 dec. Southampton: Hampshire 211 and 177 for 2 (G W White 65); Durham 194 (D A Blenkiron 72; M Jean-Jacques 5-54). Walmley: Yorkshire 388 (A McGrath 123; D R Brown 4- 134) and 139 for 4; Warwickshire 327 (C E Mulraine 54, D R Brown 75). Trent Bridge: Leicestershire 403 for 5 dec (G I MacMillan 115, B F Smith 100, P E Robinson 90) and 30 for 3; Nottinghamshire 307 for 7 dec (L N Walker 68no, W A Dessaur 56, M A Crawley 53; M T Brimson 5-123). Taunton: Essex 198 and 89 (P Bird 4-49, A Payne 5-39); Somerset 431 for 9 dec (K A Parsons 73, P C L Holloway 145, J I D Kerr 107no; D J P Bowden 4-91). Somerset won by innings and 144 runs. Hove: Sussex 361 for 8 dec (K Newell 150, C C Remy 72, M T E Peirce 54) and 100 for 0; Middlesex 289 (D C Nash 77, P Farbrace 70, R S Yeabsley 51no; J D Lewry 4- 53, V C Drakes 4-64). Worcester: Northamptonshire 353 and 149 for 3 (R J Warren 78no); Worcestershire 379 for 6 dec (C M Tolley 50, P C McKeown 80, S W K Ellis 58no).

MINOR COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP (first day of two): Wellington: Oxfordshire 201 for 6 dec (T A Lester 100no); Shropshire 206 for 6 dec (T Barton 82). Stone: Staffordshire 225 for 3 (P S Shaw 64no) and 25 for 2; Bedfordshire 211.