English Cricket: 2011 County Championship, Division 2 Update

Middlesex are the only team to remain unbeaten in the latest round of English cricket Division II fixtures.

After three games, they sit top—their latest victory by an inning and 42 runs against some people's title favourites Surrey at Lord's.

Batting first, Middlesex slumped to 88-4 before a mammoth partnership of 254 between Neil Dexter (145) and John Simpson (143) helped them to 445. Gareth Batty's 5-76 the pick of the away side's bowlers.

Surrey fell to 19-4 before recovering to make 203, thanks to Tom Maynard's 98 not out as Ollie Rayner (3-31) did the most damage. Steven Finn claimed 2-50.

Following on, Surrey did no better and were dismissed for just 200, with Steve Davies hitting 94, while Toby Roland-Jones's 4-38 and Finn's 2-52 helped Middlesex to the win against bottom side Surrey.

Gloucestershire are second after two wins and one defeat, following a 45 run over Kent in Canterbury.

The away side batted first making 292, thanks to Hamish Marshall's 72 and Chris Taylor's 71, while Azhar Mahmood (3-52) and Simon Cook (3-40) took three wickets each.

Despite opener Joe Denly retiring hurt and returning to bat for the final wicket, Kent posted 208 as Adam Ball hit 46 and James Tredwell, 44.

Gloucestershire could only post 206 the second time around, with a lot of batsmen getting starts but no score above 34. Azhar Mahmood's 4-56 kept the home side in the game.

Chasing 291 for victory, Kent were looking good at 116-2 but lost wickets at regular intervals to finish 45 runs short on 245, despite Mahmood's 70 as Denly batted at No. 11.

Wickets shared by Will Gidman (3-37), Marshall (2-18), David Payne (2-54), Ian Saxelby (2-74) and Jon Lewis (1-52) ensured Gloucestershire won, while Kent are eighth with one win from three matches.

Essex climbed above Glamorgan into fourth, as both sides have one win, one draw, and two defeats after a six-wicket win at Chelmsford.

Glamorgan posted 282, with half-centuries from William Bragg (55) and James Harris (53) helping them on their way. Maurice Chambers was the pick of the bowlers with 3-63, while Ravi Bopara claimed 2-77, Lonwabo Tsotsobe 2-71 and David Masters 2-56.

Essex replied with 258, thanks to Bopara's 61 and Mark Pettini's 53, but Dean Cosker's 4-35 and James Harris's 4-68 ensured Glamorgan had the lead at the half-way stage.

Glamorgan made 335 the second time around, Mark Wallace top-scoring with 82 and Gareth Rees hitting 54. David Masters (5-73) and Tim Phillips (4-97) kept Essex in the game and needing 360 for victory.

The home side got their total easily, despite losing opener Billy Godleman for a duck as they reached 360-4. Alastair Cook made 79 and Matt Walker 97, but Bopara hit 136 not out to guide his county home. Dean Cosker (2-108) was the pick of the Glamorgan bowlers, as they fell to a six-wicket defeat.

Sixth-placed Derbyshire drew with seventh-placed Leicestershire at Leicester, although Leicestershire have played a game less.

Derbyshire made a steady 305 batting first, as Dan Redfern made 71 from 191 balls, Wayne Madsen 58 from 156 balls and Luke Sutton 56 from 168 balls.

Matthew Hoggard (4-78) and Claude Hendersoon (4-88) did the damage for Leicestershire.

In reply, the home side piled on 507-5 declared, Will Jefferson top-scored with 133 but was supported by James Taylor's 92 and an unbroken 168-stand between Wayne White (83 not out) and Jigar Naik (77 not out).

Jonathan Clare (2-61) and Mark Turner (2-92) were the pick of a tired bowling attack.

Trailing by 202, Derbyshire were in trouble at 163-7, despite Greg Smith's 52. But they dug in, especially Azeem Rafiq (18 from 122 balls) and Tim Groenewald (9 not out from 87 balls) and a draw was eventually agreed with Derbyshire 236-9.

Henderson bowled 51 overs for his 3-84 and Naik 31 overs for his 3-68.

Round 4 starts May 4 and sees Gloucestershire host Middlesex, Kent face Northamptonshire, and Surrey play Leicestershire.