Cricket: 2011 English County Championship Division 2, Round 14

Middlesex climbed to the top of the Division Two table after winning in this round, while Surrey and Gloucestershire kept up their promotion hopes, and Northamptonshire's chances suffered a blow.

Middlesex are first after 14 games on 207 points after a 10-wicket demolition of newly-crowned Twenty20 champions Leicestershire at Lord's.

The home side amassed 496-2 declared in their first innings as Andrew Strauss smashed 241 not out and Sam Robson 101 before retiring.

In response, Leicestershire crumbled to 193 with Matthew Boyce's 46, the highest score. Steven Crook claimed 4-45 and Tim Murtagh 3-41.

Following on, the away side batted better the second time around as they posted 338. James Taylor made 85 and Greg Smith 84, but wickets from Toby Roland-Jones (4-64), Murtagh (3-61) and Corey Collymore (2-41) ensured Middlesex needed just 36 for victory.

The home knocked off the runs required to win by 10 wickets. Leicestershire gained no points from the match, and remain at the bottom of the table with 80 points from 14 matches with just one win.

Northamptonshire are second after 15 games on 204 points, but their defeat to Surrey leaves the promotion race wide open.

Surrey posted 269 in their first innings as Steve Davies made 81 and Zander de Bruyn 58. Chaminda Vaas was the pick of the home side's bowlers with 4-57.

Northamptonshire were bowled out for just 194, albeit with opener Stephen Peters missing due to a back injury. Rob Newton top-scored with 80, as Stuart Meaker took 5-37.

Surrey piled on 410-6 declared as Davies (156) and de Bruyn (108 not out) were in the runs again. Andrew Hall took 2-34 and Vaas 2-71 for the home side.

Chasing an unlikely 486 to win, Northamptonshire fell away to just 152 with opener Kyle Coetzer making 54. Pragyan Ojha took 6-8 in 16.3 overs with 10 maidens to lead Surrey to a 333-run victory.

Surrey are third on 181 points, 23 behind Northamptonshire, but have a game in hand as they chase one of two promotion spots.

Gloucestershire are fourth on 172 points from 14 games, and kept up their faint promotion hopes with a five-wicket victory against Glamorgan in Bristol.

Glamorgan made 378 first time around as Jim Allenby hit 78, Graham Wagg 70 not out and William Bragg 63. David Payne was the pick of the home side's bowling attack with 4-79.

Gloucestershire collapsed from 289-2 to 341, but Kane Williamson made 87 and Chris Dent 81. Allenby's 3-42 and Wagg's 3-92 led the away side's fightback.

Glamorgan slid to 16-4 before recovering to post 148 as Mark Wallace made 40. Jon Lewis claimed 4-43 and Will Gidman 3-31 as wicketkeeper Richard Coughtrie took six catches.

Chasing 186 for victory, the home side wobbled to 64-3, but held their nerve to win by five wickets thanks to nightwatchman David Payne's highest first-class score of 62.

Jim Allenby (3-44) and Robert Croft's (2-18) efforts proved in vain for Glamorgan, who are seventh on 151 points after 14 games.

Essex are fifth after 15 games on 156 points despite a six-wicket defeat to a Kent side who have won their last three games.

Batting first in Canterbury Essex could only make 144 as David Balcombe (6-51) ripped through the lineup.

Kent replied with 260 as Joe Denly made 55 and Geraint Jones 54. David Masters was the pick of the away side's bowlers with 6-78.

Essex made 185 second time around, with James Foster's 49 not out the top score. Balcombe (4-51), James Tredwell (3-48) and Matt Coles (3-36) were among the wickets.

Chasing 70 to win on Day Three, Kent slipped to 35-4, but reached their target to win by six wickets as Geraint Jones blasted 28 from 14 balls. After the match, the home side was docked eight points after the Canterbury pitch was rated "poor".

Kent remain eighth after 14 games on 139 points.

The penultimate round of fixtures, starting on September 7, sees Glamorgan play Middlesex, Essex against Surrey, Derbyshire versus Kent and Gloucestershire hosting Leicestershire.

Middlesex could secure promotion with victory while Surrey and Gloucestershire will both be looking for wins to keep alive their promotion hopes.