Collingwood warms up for Black Caps

Paul Collingwood's five wickets ensured victory

England one-day captain Paul Collingwood warmed up for Friday’s Twenty20 international against New Zealand with a career-best best 5-14 in Durham’s Twenty20 Cup victory over Derbyshire.

The all-rounder helped restrict the the visitors to 114 for nine at Chester-le-Street with his best bowling figures in the 20-over format.

In a rain-affected North Division match, Collingwood scored seven with the bat as Durham reached a revised target of 48 from seven overs with one ball to spare.

Collingwood was upstaged slightly by Nayan Doshi, who took a hat-trick for Derbyshire but to no avail.

Lancashire launched their campaign with a crushing victory over two-time winners Leicestershire at Grace Road.

The Foxes, chasing a target of 158, lost their last five wickets for three runs in 16 balls and were bowled out for 105, giving Lancashire victory by 52 runs with 10 balls to spare.

All-rounder Steven Croft did the damage, claiming 3-6 in 2.2 overs after Lancashire posted 157 for seven.

In the South Division, Kent began their defence of the trophy with a thrilling six-wicket victory over county champions Sussex at Canterbury.

A half-century from opener Joe Denly helped the home side surpass their target of 138 with one ball to spare.

After winning the toss, Kent put Sussex in to bat and managed to restrict their opponents to 137 for nine off 19.5 overs.

Chris Adams top-scored for Sussex with 57 off 37 balls

Captain Chris Adams top-scored with 57 off 37 balls, including three sixes, while Yasir Arafat did the damage with the ball, taking 4-17.

Elsewhere in the South Division, Essex romped to a seven-wicket victory over Surrey at the Brit Oval with five overs to spare.

Eagles opener Mark Pettini lashed 66 off 35 balls as the visitors comfortably chased down their opponents’ 126 for nine.

Spinner Danish Kaneria starred with the ball in Surrey’s innings, taking 3-22.

Kevin Pietersen smashed 43 off 29 balls but he was upstaged by Owais Shah as Middlesex beat Hampshire by 33 runs.

The England batsman, who also took three wickets in a rare outing with the ball, top-scored in the home side’s 157 for eight after the Hawks won the toss and batted second, but it was not enough to overhaul their opponents’ earlier 190 for seven, in which Shah top-scored with 48.

In the Mid/West/Wales Division, David Sales blasted an unbeaten 71 as Northamptonshire saw off Somerset by 25 runs at Taunton.

Sales helped the visitors rack up 201 for four, while their hosts could only manage 176 for seven in reply.

Glamorgan's clash with Warwickshire at Cardiff was abandoned after 19 overs of the visitors' innings due to rain.

However, Ian Bell was given enough of a chance to bat himself into form ahead of the NatWest Series against New Zealand as he hit 42 off 35 balls in Warwickshire's total of 140 for seven.