July 21, 2002	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 10,1423

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LONDON, July 20: Middlesex spinner Phil Tufnell, who already has three suspended points on his “cricket licence”, and Ronnie Irani, never one to take a backward step, were involved in a verbal exchange in an unsavoury afternoon session that threatened to overshadow another fine innings by Essex captain.

Both coaches and captains were summoned to meet the umpires, Mark Benson and John Holder, after the close of play at Southgate to discuss behaviour of the teams, and the two arbiters were due to report their findings to Lord’s forthwith.

Tufnell, who had sent down four no-balls in the first over of a disappointing bowling performance, and Irani were by no means the only parties involved, though at one stage Middlesex captain Andy Strauss was asked by Holder to have a calming word with Tufnell.

The ill feeling continued as the teams walked off for tea, with Irani furiously waving a finger at Middlesex wicketkeeper David Nash.

ENGLISH CRICKET SCORES

County Championship (first day of four)

First Division

At Canterbury

Kent 374 (A Symonds 118, D Fulton 62, R Key 57, Saqlain Mushtaq 5-122, I Salisbury 4-59) v Surrey 20-1

At Taunton

Somerset 270 (M Bulbeck 53 no) v Sussex 164-2 (A Cottey 52 no)

At Headingley

Yorkshire 163-2 (D Lehmann 68 no, A McGrath 55 no) v Lancashire

County Championship

Second Division

At Derby

Derbyshire 324-7 (M Di Venuto 91, C Bassano 83, A Gait 76, N Boje 4-45) v Nottinghamshire

At Cheltenham

Gloucestershire 363-5 (C Taylor 126, R Russell 75 no) v Glamorgan

At New Road

Northamptonshire 339-7 (M Hussey 163 no, M Cassar 55) v Worcestershire

At Southgate (sceond day of four)

Middlesex 538 (S Koenig 113, D Nash 81 no, P Weekes 71, B Hutton 65, O Shah 60, T Phillips 4-102) v Essex 239-4 (R Irani 109no, D Robinson 73).—PPI/AFP