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Bopara ton seals Essex success

Cricinfo staff

May 13, 2007

South Conference

In the only match to escape the weather, Ravi Bopara hit run-a-ball 101 as Essex completed a comfortable eight-wicket win over Ireland with more than eight overs to spare in Dublin. Bopara added 180 with Ronnie Irani after Dave Langford-Smith boosted Ireland with two wickets. But Essex suffered no further alarms. William Porterfield's 88 off 134 balls had been the anchor in Ireland's 227 for 5. The total was lifted by the efforts of Peter Gillespie and Andrew White who added 53 but it was nowhere near enough to test a well-drilled Essex side.

England captain Andrew Strauss was denied a final hit-out before the first Test as rain prevented any action in the local derby between Surrey and Middlesex at The Oval.

Gloucestershire v Hampshire - Match abandoned without a ball bowled

North Conference

Graeme Hick rescued Worcestershire at Headingley, but rain washed away any prospect of seeing if his unbeaten 86 would have made Yorkshire's chase a tough one. Tim Bresnan continued his impressive form with three wickets, including Vikram Solanki for 46, as the visitors struggled to break free from some tight bowling. However, an eighth-wicket stand of 46 between Hick and Kabir Ali lifted the total over 200 before Yorkshire's chase was halted after 10 balls.

Warwickshire maintained their position at the top of the north conference after taking a point from their washout against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Kumar Sangakkara was denied his first outing in Warwickshire colours after arriving from Sri Lanka last week.

Derbyshire v Northamptonshire - Match abandoned without a ball bowled

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Players/Umpires

Ravi Bopara

Graeme Hick

Ronnie Irani

William Porterfield

Series/Tournaments

Friends Provident Trophy

Teams

Derbyshire

England

Essex

Gloucestershire

Hampshire

Ireland

Middlesex

Northamptonshire

Surrey

Worcestershire

Yorkshire