Gladiators sink rivals

The home side stuttered to 22 for four batting first, as star batsmen Marcus Trescothick (seven), Cameron White (one) and Justin Langer (nine) all fell cheaply.

Gladiators pace bowler Carl Greenidge made the most of conditions with three wickets for 20 runs while Peter Trego's 28-ball 35 helped Somerset into three figures but Gloucestershire cantered to their target of 105 with Kadeer Ali (47 not out) and Chris Taylor sharing an 83-run stand.

In the South Division Middlesex and Kent both lost the chance to further their qualification hopes with a win after their match was washed out at the halfway stage.

Middlesex batted their 20 overs, with Ed Smith clubbing 66 off 50 deliveries and Simon Cook taking three for 28, but Kent did not get the chance to reply. Both sides now have four points from four games.

North Division leaders Nottinghamshire are sitting pretty after a crushing win over struggling Derbyshire while Lancashire stayed in the qualification hunt - after beating Roses rivals Yorkshire by 30 runs at Old Trafford.

Former England man Mal Loye's quickfire 38 got things rolling for the hosts but it was Brad Hodge (57) who played the key knock as Lancashire posted 143 for nine.

Yorkshire lost a steady stream of wickets as Tom Smith served the England selectors notice of his pace and control to take three for 11 with only Jacques Rudolph's unbeaten 48 from 38 balls held their innings of 113 all out in any kind of shape.

Durham wicketkeeper Phil Mustard cracked an unbeaten 52 off 29 balls to steer his side to an eight-wicket win against holders Leicestershire in the Twenty20 Cup tie at Chester-le-Street while Sussex beat Hampshire by nine wickets at The Rose Bowl.