Cricket: 2011 English County Championship Division 2, Round 13

It was a busy weekend of cricket in England.

Northamptonshire won for the first time in five games, enough to take the top spot in Division Two.

Glamorgan notched an important victory that may yet keep their faint promotion hopes alive, while Middlesex and Derbyshire lost, dealing a blow to their chase to be in Division One cricket next season.

Northamptonshire have 195 points after 13 games after defeating Derbyshire by 165 runs in Chesterfield. Batting first, the Northampton-based club made 267 thanks to Alex Wakely's 88 and Andrew Hall's 45. Mark Footitt claimed 5-53 and Tim Groenewald 3-63.  

The home side replied with 190, as overseas opener Martin Guptill top-scored with 55. Chaminda Vaas picked up 5-65 and Lee Daggett 3-64.

Northamptonshire reached 416-9, declared in their second innings, James Middlebrook finished on 101 not out, while Wakely made 83. Four bowlers claimed two wickets each with Chesney Hughes's 2-17 the pick.

Chasing an unlikely 494, the home side made a fight of it before eventually falling short on 328. Dan Redfern made 58 and Jonathan Clare 50 not out. David Lucas bagged 4-75 and Middlebrook 3-78 to give Northamtonshire victory by 165 runs.

Derbyshire are fourth after 13 games on 149 points.

Middlesex are second on 173 points but have a game in hand on the other promotion-chasing sides. However, they lost their latest game against Kent by 69 runs in Canterbury.

Kent made 242 first time around with Joe Denly making 55 and Matt Coles 41. Corey Collymore's 4-69 the pick of the away side's bowlers.

Middlesex slumped from 204-2 to 303 all out as Sam Robson made 95 and Dawid Malan 68. Wahab Riaz claimed 3-33 and Coles 3-62.

The home side posted 332 thanks to Azhar Mahmood's 92 not out and Martin van Jaarsveld hitting 66. Steven Finn picked up 5-113 and Tim Murtagh 3-61.

Chasing 272, Middlesex lost four batsman to ducks and only Jamie Dalrymple (108 not out) made more than 26 as they could only make 202 to lose by 69 runs. Darren Stevens's 4-52 the pick of the home side's bowlers.

Kent stay eighth on 126 points after 13 games but record their second straight win.

Gloucestershire are third on 151 points after a draw with Essex with did neither side many favours as they chase an elusive promotion place.

Essex slumped to 55-5 before Adam Wheater (135) and Ryan ten Doeschate (124 not out) helped them to 363. Jon Lewis picked up 4-46 for the away side.

Kane Williamson's 83 guided Gloucestershire to 264, while David Masters claimed 6-75.

Essex reached 288-5 in their second innings before declaring as Jaik Mickleburgh made 84.

Chasing 388 for victory, Gloucestershire fell to 98-5 before an unbroken partnership between Chris Taylor (103 not out) and Will Gidman (57 not out) guided them to 231-5 and the match was ended as a draw.   

Essex are fifth after 13 games on 146 points.

Glamorgan are sixth on 144 points and kept their slim hopes of promotion alive as they beat Leicestershire by 108 runs in Colwyn Bay.

Contributions all the way down the order led Glamorgan to 392, with Gareth Rees top-scoring with 71. Wayne White picked up 3-97 but went at 4.85 runs per over.

Leicestershire reached 309-7 before declaring as James Taylor hit 127 not out. James Harris claimed 5-45 for the home side.

William Bragg's 110 guided Glamorgan to 216-7 before they declared. Jigar Naik's 4-79 restricting the hosts.

Chasing 300 for victory, Leicestershire lost regular wickets, including their last three on 191 to lose by 108 runs. Jim Allenby claimed 3-39 and Will Owen 3-61.

Leicestershire are bottom on 77 points after just one win this season but have only played 12 games

The next round of fixtures, starting Aug. 23, sees Essex face Derbyshire, Leicestershire play Surrey and Northamptonshire host Middlesex.