• Petersen ton lifts Lancs

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    Alviro Petersen hit his first hundred of the county cricket summer to put Lancashire in a strong position against Surrey at Old Trafford.

    His team are now on course to lead Division One with three wins out of five, thanks to Petersen’s quickfire 105 off 108 balls, which included 17 fours and a six. It was his 40th first class hundred and it pushed him through 14,000 first-class runs in a career going back 16 years .

    Petersen also had to rebuild after Lancashire fell to 115-3, losing those wickets for 16 runs after an impressive opening stand of 99. But he and Tom Croft (42) put on 148 within 30 overs to get Lancs back on safe ground.

    Petersen has had a solid start to the season, registering four fifty-plus scores in his last five innings, carrying on where he left off last season. He has shouldered the responsibility previously shared by Ashwell Prince, when the two Saffas formed the formidable AP coalition last year. Petersen scored 861 in 14 matches, including 286 in a stand of 501 with Prince (261) against Glamorgan.

    Lancashire ended the day on 342-9, a lead of 151.

    Northants, who struggled to 176, with Richard Levi contributing 23, have their backs to the wall against Gloucestershire. Gareth Roderick‘s side were on 240-4 at the close of the second day, with Roderick’s 40 being a major part of the 76-run opening stand.

    There was a swift return to earth for Graeme van Buuren, the former Titans all-rounder who was signed in April on a two-year deal. He  made his first-team debut last week, scoring 55 in his two innings against Glamorgan and, more importantly, taking 3-15 with his left-arm spin to help set up a victory.

    Van Buuren, who is 25, is another lost cause for South Africa. The former SA Under-19 player qualifies as English through his wife, Hannah, a British passport -holder and he has already declared his intention to advance his career to national level… with the Three Lions.

    Elsewhere, Ryan McLaren stepped up to put Hampshire in a strong position against Nottinghamshire. He took three for 17 off 10 overs to leave the visitors reeling at 99-5 in reply to Hampshire’s 270. Among his victims were Michael Lumb (32) and former Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor (28). At the crease, fighting for survival, was Riki Wessels, on 22.

    Jacques Rudolph‘s Glamorgan are on the edge against Essex, who now lead by 40 runs with one wicket remaining. Glamorgan owe their total of 260 primarily to Chris Cooke (63), while Rudolph contributed 27. It has been a difficult start to the season for Rudolph.

    Derbyshire can be satisfied with their 449 offering to Kent, to which Wayne Madsen contributed 103. Now it’s up to the bowlers as Kent resume overnight at 79-1.

    Compiled by Mark Salter

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    SA CRICKET