Gallian Sails to 55 But Essex Are Held to Tie

The southern group will go down to the wire after Hampshire and Essex fought out a tie at the Rose Bowl last night, a probable place in the quarter-final to be decided tomorrow night when the sides meet again in Chelmsford. Both go above Kent, who lost to Surrey, edging Hampshire closer to a first quarter-final in four seasons.

Going into the final over Essex needed 11 to beat Hampshire's 164 for six and looked well on their way when David Masters reverse-swept Billy Taylor to the third-man boundary. However, he and Danish Kaneria could then manage nothing better than singles, leaving the Pakistani wrist-spinner to hit three off the last delivery. He heaved, the ball barely got off the square, but there was still time for a scampered two and a point apiece.

It was very much the reverse of Essex's win on Tuesday, when Graham Napier sent them on their way with 16 sixes and an undefeated 152 from 52 balls. Last night it was the less flamboyant arts of Jason Gallian plus a flurry of hitting from Ryan ten Doeschate which came close to seeing them through on yet another lively Rose Bowl wicket. Napier was confined to a 15-ball cameo, being caught on the square-leg boundary. That left the chase to Gallian, who made 55 before being one of three run-outs in the innings.

At Old Trafford, it took Andrew Flintoff only six balls before he was in the wickets again, bowling for Lancashire for the first time since May 9, as they charged to victory against Nottinghamshire for the second time in four days. Lancashire are now guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals whatever happens in Durham tomorrow.

A crowd of just under 6,500 watched Flintoff bowl fit and fast, getting more from the gentle pitch than any of the other bowlers. He had Will Jefferson playing and missing as well as dismissing Adam Voges lbw, and was full of spirit under the eye of the England selector James Whitaker.

His batting was not quite such a happy tale but he had time to lift Samit Patel for six over extra cover before he was caught from a leading edge for nine, to an audible sigh from the crowd. It did not matter to Lancashire - there had been fireworks from other sources. Lou Vincent made 56 off 36 balls, the first fifty coming from only 25. After he fell, lbw to Patel, they rather lost their way, Mark Ealham taking three for 21 on a windy but sunny evening.

The target of 155 looked within Nottinghamshire's grasp and Chris Cairns seemed in supreme control, flicking two sixes before he was run out with a deflection into the stumps, but it fell away from there. Flintoff had time to bowl a couple more overs, finishing with one for 27, before Darren Pattinson was stumped in the final over with the score on 132. Mike Averis and Tanya Aldred