Cricket Round-up Paul Weaver

Michael Di Venuto's nickname is Diva and at Chester-le-Street yesterday he performed one of his most memorable arias.

The Tasmanian, who is not among the more fashionable overseas players, scored 150 of Derbyshire 's 244 and was within a whisker of carrying his bat. He was last out after rescuing his side from the perils of 131 for six and 182 for eight in reply to Durham 's 317.

Play was abridged at Grace Road but it still does not make easy reading for Leicestershire supporters. Their side face the prospect of a considerable first-innings deficit even though they dismissed Middlesex for 201.

Half the day was lost because of rain and bad light but there was still plenty of time for Leicestershire to dig themselves into a hole. Simon Cook (four for 33) put an end to their most promising stands. Darren Stevens drove at a wide ball after putting on 48 with Brad Hodge. Then after Phil DeFreitas and Jeremy Snape raised three figures, Cook had the Leicestershire captain lbw and David Masters caught in the slips with successive deliveries.

It was also damp at nearby Edgbaston, where Warwickshire took their score to 280 for nine against Kent with the help of a vigorous 46 from Melvyn Betts.

There was action at the Rose Bowl but Hampshire must have mixed feelings about that. Jamie Cox made an unbeaten 127 for Somerset , then Nixon McLean took three wickets in his first three overs, including John Crawley and Robin Smith for ducks, as his old side stumbled to 123 for seven.

There was no play at all between Yorkshire and Glamorgan at Headingley but both sides had positive news. Darren Gough and Craig White will be fit enough to play at the weekend - Gough for Yorkshire, White for Scarborough. And Paul Russell has taken over as Glamorgan chairman. The London-based businessman is co-owner of Ebbw Vale rugby club with his brother Marcus, better known as the manager of Oasis.