Cricket: 2011 English County Championship, Division Two, Round 11

Middlesex and Surrey boosted their chances of promotion with wins while Northamptonshire's position at the top is looking less secure as they failed to win for the third successive game.

Northamptonshire are top after 11 games on 164 points after their draw with Glamorgan in Swansea.

Glamorgan made 252 first time around as Stewart Walters made 81 not out. James Middlebrook took 4-63 and Chaminda Vaas 3-50.

Stephen Peters hit 222 in Northamptonshire's reply of 552-9 declared. Dean Cosker's 3-99 the pick of the bowling attack.

The home side responded with 448 second time around. Walters made 102 while Alviro Petersen (75), William Bragg (69), Mike Powell (55) and Mark Wallace (54) all helped boost the total.

Middlebrook took 5-127 to leave the away side needing 149 for victory.

Northamptonshire finished agonisingly short on 140-6 at 6.08 runs per over as the match ended in a draw.

Glamorgan are seventh on 113 points after 11 games.

Middlesex are second on 159 points having played 10 games after a seven-wicket victory against Derbyshire at Lord's.

Derbyshire recovered from 14-3 to post 252 first time around as Wes Durston made 61, Greg Smith 57 and Ross Whiteley 56.

Tim Murtagh took 4-45, Tom Smith 3-38 and Steven Finn 3-51.

Middlesex replied with 405 as Dawid Malan hit 143 and Sam Robson 94. Of the eight bowlers used, Jonathan Clare took 4-69 and Greg Smith 3-76.

Derbyshire managed 243 in their second innings as Smith hit 45, Whiteley 44 and Chesney Hughes 44. Jamie Dalrymple took 3-21, Finn 3-59 and Murtagh 3-58.

Chasing 91 to win, Middlesex stumbled to 25-3 but Chris Rogers's 46 not out saw them home to win by seven wickets.

Derbyshire are sixth on 122 points after 11 games.

Surrey are fourth on 135 points after 11 games as they beat third placed Gloucestershire by two wickets in Cheltenham.

Will Gidman's 85 lifted the home side to 286, while Yasir Arafat took 5-86 and Tim Linley 4-59.

Mark Ramprakash's 141 helped Surrey to 423 in their first innings. Jon Lewis was pick of the bowlers with 4-95.

Opener Chris Dent's 100 helped Gloucestershire post 320, as Linley took 3-77 and Jade Dernbach 2-51.

Chasing 184, Surrey reached their target with only two wickets to spare on 186-8. Jason Roy hit 45 while Jon Lewis took 3-61.

Mark Ramprakash made 35 before he was giving out "obstructing the field" in Surrey's second innings. 

The veteran batsman was adjudged to have obstructed Ian Saxelby as he went to gather Kane Williamson's throw at the bowler's end as Jason Roy went for a risky second run.

Gloucestershire stay third on 139 points after 11 games.

Essex are in fifth on 128 points after 11 games following a 280-run victory against Leicestershire in Southend-on-Sea.

The home side could only post 144, as Ravi Bopara top-scored with 37. Claude Henderson took 4-37, Nathan Buck 2-16 and Wayne White 2-26.

Leicestershire replied with 202 with Will Jefferson hitting 39 as Tom Craddock claimed 4-59.

Bopara's 178 pushed Essex to 372 second time around as Billy Godleman also made 77. Nadeem Malik picked up 4-62 and Henderson 3-85.

Chasing a tricky 314 only Joshua Cobb (13) made double figures as Leicestershire were blown out for just 34. Their lowest score since 1965 and the lowest score of any county this season.

David Masters claimed a remarkable first-class best of 8-10, including being on a hat-trick twice, to give Essex victory by 280 runs.

Leicestershire are bottom of Division Two on just 66 points after 10 games with only one win this season.

The next round of fixtures from August 2 sees bottom side Leicestershire host next to bottom side Kent and seventh placed Glamorgan take on fifth placed Essex.