Cricket Round-up: Revived Harmison Downs Surrey

Surrey begin today needing 107 runs with seven wickets remaining to see off Durham, who were indebted to a spell from Steve Harmison which saw the quick bowler take three for 15 off seven overs as the home side limped to 46 for three when bad light curtailed play on day two of their First Division match.

Earlier Surrey had taken their overnight 198 for six to 243 all out and then dismissed Durham for 204 in 57.1 overs, Matt Nicholson being the pick of the bowlers with four for 44. Seventeen wickets fell in all and Mark Butcher, 13 not out, is Surrey's main hope of victory.

There was no play for a second successive day in the Roses match at Old Trafford, depriving Yorkshire's Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard of valuable match time. And the same applied at Worcester, where it was revealed that the ECB has rejected a request for the match with Kent to be rescheduled later in the season. Worcestershire declined the chance to take the game to Kidderminster after being flooded out two weeks ago. "We were led to believe it would be playable here," said the visiting captain, Rob Key, "but when we turned up on Saturday we felt we wouldn't be playing for four days." Only a miracle will prevent him from being proved correct.

A James Foster double century at Chelmsford helped move Essex into a strong position after day two of their Second Division game against Nottinghamshire. They declared on 700 for nine, with Foster (204), Andy Bichel (148) and Graham Napier (125) all making major contributions. Notts were 191 for two at stumps with Mark Wagh 81 not out and Samit Patel an unbeaten 58.