Derbyshire's return to Leek after a gap of 18 years ended in defeat when the fastest century of the season from Ryan ten Doeschate carried Essex to a five-wicket victory. Although the Falcons rattled up 299 for seven - their highest total in a 40 over match - ten Doeschate tore the game from their grasp after the Eagles had slipped to 64 for 4, chasing a revised target of 247 from 30 overs.
Somerset won their second successive Clydesdale Bank 40 match against Lancashire at Old Trafford by 42 runs thanks to an impressive display in the field today. Defending 236, Marcus Trescothick's men were boosted by four wickets for 34 in seven overs from Alfonso Thomas. The experienced South African put the skids under the Lightning with two wickets in the 35th over of their chase - the first of the batting powerplay - to reduce them to 174 for 6. They were just two of five wickets lost by the hosts for 12 runs in 13 balls as they fell from 173 for 4 to 185 for 9, and subsided to 193 all out in the 38th.
Steve Davies came back to haunt Worcestershire yet again as Surrey chalked up their second Clydesdale Bank 40 victory of the season by 30 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method at New Road. The 23-year-old wicketkeeper led a successful run chase when adding a fluent 81 from 55 balls to the 206 he scored in two innings in the Championship meeting with his former county at Whitgift School last month.
James Kirtley took four wickets in eight balls to help end a brave challenge by the Unicorns and give Sussex their second Group A win in the Clydesdale Bank 40 at Hove. The 35-year-old fast bowler did the damage in the 37th over as the Unicorns' bid to reach a target of 256 ran out of steam. Josh Knappett hit the first ball of the over to long off, Wes Durston was caught behind off the fourth delivery, after making 51 off 53 balls, and Glenn Querl was yorked off the final ball of the over.
Injury-hit Durham Dynamos claimed top spot in Group C with a convincing win over Leicestershire Foxes in their Clydesdale Bank 40 clash at Grace Road. Chasing a revised target of 176 in 26 overs, the Foxes could only manage 154 for eight as they lost by 26 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis system.