They dismantled a sturdy platform to their innings after being put in and their bowling was badly awry. There were too many wides, the length was not much better.They still appear to have the widest of outside chances of figuring in the arithmetical maze where the B&H groups usually finish, but that depends on their winning the final match tomorrow. Were the opposition anybody but Middlesex you would not give much for their chances on this form.When Hussain and Stuart Law were adding 109 for the Essex second wicket in 24 overs of the morning it seemed that a close, high-scoring match was in prospect. It was a good pitch for batting, remarkable indeed considering the soakings it has had, and it had some pace. Hussain was as fluent as he has been for a long time, Law did pretty much as he liked, which has, of course, usually been the case.The partnership was broken when the Australian launched everything he had at a Salisbury long-hop outside off stump. Alistair Brown took an acrobatic catch at short mid-wicket and might also have clung on to the kitchen sink which accompanied the ball.Hussain, attempting a leg glance, was caught well to his left by Stewart, who was making his first appearance of the season and showed no signs of ring rustiness Between the 25th and 40 overs Essex added 53 runs. They never got after Salisbury or Hollioake, although one over from the latter cost 15 runs, including four byes.Their total looked to be some 30 or 40 short.

Surrey set off at a gallop, with Ian Ward making 18 in 12 balls Ramprakash and Stewart then put on 151 in 35 overs. It was a delight thanks to Ramprakash.Stewart, his form intact, holed out to mid-wicket. If there was a mild concern that Surrey had cut things too fine, Brown made the suggestion look foolish with a brutal 26 in 19 balls. Ramprakash finished as he had batted throughout, his sixth four off his 117th ball splitting the field..

When Marcus Trescothick is hot he is molten, as Northamptonshire discovered yesterday when they became reluctant sightseers as the Somerset opener erupted for the second time in four Benson & Hedges Cup innings to score a chanceless, unbeaten hundred and take his side to within an ace of the quarter-finals. When Marcus Trescothick is hot he is molten, as Northamptonshire discovered yesterday when they became reluctant sightseers as the Somerset opener erupted for the second time in four Benson & Hedges Cup innings to score a chanceless, unbeaten hundred and take his side to within an ace of the quarter-finals.
It was murder, sheer murder ­ and a delight to watch. Trescothick is in the middle of a fabulous streak in the build-up to the First Test against Pakistan in 11 days’ time. This was his third century in five innings ­ he scored one against Glamorgan in the Championship match, before repeating the feat against the same side in the opening B&H match.Northamptonshire, who had needed to win their remaining two zonal games to stand any chance of reaching the knock-out stages, were handicapped from the start.

They lacked bite in their batting, as the flabby performance of their top order revealed, since they were unable to take advantage of a Somerset attack that was weakened when Richard Johnson left the arena with a side strain after half a dozen oversIf the batting was unsatisfactory Northamptonshire appear to have a real problem in attack. Devon Malcolm, Richard Logan and Michael Davies departed in the winter and yesterday there was no John Blain or Paul Taylor, both omitted through lack of form, while Matthew Cassar is still recovering from a groin operation. To make matters worse, Graeme Swann injured a shoulder while swinging his bat on the way out to the middle. He lasted one delivery before returning dejectedly for treatment. He was given an injection in the offending joint but could take no further part.So there was no way Northamptonshire’s threadbare bowling was going to contain the rampant Trescothick or his second-wicket partner Jamie Cox. The pair dictated events in a trouble-free 25 overs during which they compiled 145 runs. Cox then fell caught behind for 72, attempting to pull a long-hop Trescothick did not flinch from his task.

He carried on responsibly, punching punishingly through the covers, driving peerlessly both sides of the wicket and pulling sweetly when he had to. His 109 was scored at a fraction less than a run a ball and the winning hit, through extra cover, crossed the ropes for the 15th time in his 117-ball innings.It all made Northamptonshire’s innings look feeble. Had it not been for Alec Swann, Graeme’s older brother, and Tony Penberthy, the match might have been over long before it was. Swann has to take advantage of the enforced absence of David Sales this season and he followed up his unbeaten 83 with 54 not out.Mind you he might not have endeared himself to Bob Carter, the Northamptonshire director of cricket, because while adding 85 with Penberthy (58) he helped break the county’s record for the sixth wicket in the B&H Cup, the previous mark having been set by Carter and Allan Lamb against Nottinghamshire back in 1982 It really was not Carter’s day.. If, as Duncan Fletcher has stated, England are serious about reorganising the country’s attitude towards one-day cricket, then he should insist that the selectors concentrate on choosing 10 players to join Nick Knight.