Head blow ends Morris' career best for Morris ends in pain

The former Glamorgan captain Hugh Morris hit a career-best 233 against Warwickshire at Cardiff yesterday but was then taken to hospital after being struck by an Allan Donald bouncer.

Morris ducked into a ball from the South African and immediately fell to the ground, but he was able to remove his helmet unaided before help arrived in the shape of the Glamorgan physiotherapist, Dean Conway, and his Warwickshire counterpart, Stewart Nottingham. Morris was carried from the field on a stretcher and he later described himself as being "just a bit dazed" but was taken to hospital for a precautionary X-ray.

Thanks largely to Morris, however, Glamorgan declared at 551 for 3, their highest score against Warwickshire, with a lead of 400 and with Warwickshire failing to claim a single bonus point in a properly contested first-innings sequence since the system was introduced in 1968.

Morris's 200 came in 529 minutes off 419 deliveries and included a six and 28 fours. He put on 242 for the third wicket with Adrian Dale, who made 106. Warwickshire finished the day on 15 for 1 needing a further 385 to avoid an innings defeat.

Neil Taylor marked his Sussex debut with a century as the hosts established the upper hand over Northamptonshire at Hove. Taylor's 127 helped Sussex, replying to Northamtonshire's 315, reach 344 for 6 and Keith Newell also played a major role compiling an undefeated 91.

Taylor's hundred made the 37-year-old former Kent captain the first Sussex player to score a century on his debut for 50 years: Hugh Bartlett achieved the feat against Cambridge University at Worthing. Earlier, Mark Robinson finished with 6 for 78 against his former club as Northamtonshire, resuming on 288 for 9, reached 315 to claim a third batting point.

At Old Trafford David Boon provided Durham's solitary resistance to frustrate Lancashire's attempt to enforce the follow-on. The Australian finished unbeaten on 85 to steer his side to 201 for 6 at the close, still seeking a further 156 to avoid the follow-on after ending Lancashire's innings on 506 earlier in the day.

Mark Bowen produced a devastating morning burst to spark off a determined Nottingham- shire fightback against Worcestershire at Trent Bridge. The seamer claimed 4 for 17 in the space of 41 deliveries, including the vital wickets of Tim Curtis and Tom Moody, when Worcestershire seemed well placed to pile up a total in excess of 500.

The Nottinghamshire openers, Paul Pollard and Tim Robinson, continued the good work by laying the platform for a solid reply with a stand of 173, but the hosts finished the day on 196 for 3.

Yorkshire's batsmen again enjoyed themselves at The Parks on the second day of the match with Oxford University. After dismissing the Dark Blues for 114 to lead by 221, David Byas did not enforce the follow-on. His decision was vindicated by Michael Vaughan and Bradley Parker who put on 230 for the second wicket, each making centuries.