Monday 28 July 2014 00:27, UK
Unbeaten centuries from James Hildreth and Lewis Gregory made sure Somerset began their Royal London One-Day Cup campaign with a five-wicket victory over Durham at Taunton.
In a high-scoring Group B game, the hosts looked to be struggling in reply to Durham's 311-7 when they slipped to 106-5 before Hildreth was joined by Gregory in an exhilarating unbroken stand of 209.
Hildreth faced 134 balls as he made 146 not out to see Somerset to victory with 20 balls to spare, while Gregory's career-best score of 105 came off 71 deliveries, with 13 fours and one six.
Their efforts overshadowed a century for Durham skipper Paul Collingwood, the former England international making 113 to help his side recover from 37-3 after the powerplay overs.
Alex Hales also reached three figures for Nottinghamshire, helping his county open their account in Group B with a 29-run victory over Sussex at Horsham.
The opening batsman hit 116 from 115 balls, including putting on 139 for the first wicket with Michael Lumb (77), as the Outlaws made 312-8.
That proved more than enough, with a Sussex team missing the in-form Luke Wright through injury only able to muster 283-8 in response despite an unbeaten 63 from Steffan Piolet.
Middlesex suffered back-to-back defeats over the weekend; after losing their opening game to Glamorgan at Cardiff on Saturday they went down by four runs to Warwickshire at Lord's 24 hours later.
Jonathan Trott underpinned the Bears' innings of 240-7 with 78 from 108 balls that featured seven fours, including sharing in a second-wicket stand of 89 with Varun Chopra (46).
The home team looked to be on course for victory when Chris Rogers was at the crease, the Australian opener hitting 96 before falling with still 59 runs required for victory. It came down to 11 needed off the last over, with Oliver Hannon-Dalby holding his nerve to clinch victory for a depleted Warwickshire line-up.
Having won their opener against Middlesex, Glamorgan made it two-from-two by chasing down a target of 308 to defeat Surrey at Guildford.
Opener Will Bragg led the way with 88 while Murray Goodwin made 74 from 64 deliveries as the Welsh county cruised home with nine balls remaining.
Graeme Wagg made 37 not out in the successful run chase having earlier picked up 2-65 with the ball, Rory Burns the second of his victims when he was bowled for a top score of 87. Steve Davies (50) and Azhar Mahmood (57) also hit half-centuries for Surrey, though their score of 307-8 proved not to be enough in the final reckoning.
