It's all change in NUL after thrilling round of games

Warwickshire Bears went top of the Norwich Union League Division One with victory over Kent Spitfires at Edgbaston. Their nearest rivals, Worcestershire Royals, went down to bottom club Durham Dynamos, while elsewhere there were exciting wins for Glamorgan Dragons and Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

Spitfires compiled a decent total of 266-9 in their 45 overs in Birmingham. But, with the weather closing in, the Bears made sure they were ahead of the rate at all times when they made their reply, with Dominic Ostler, Ian Bell and captain Mike Powell all making telling contributions.

Worcestershire Royals were top of the table this morning. But the glorious uncertainty of cricket was perfectly illustrated when they met Durham Dynamos at New Road.

Royals were soon in desperate trouble, with Singh, Solanki and Hick all back in the pavilion with only 15 on the board. Ben Smith hit a defiant 54 and added 84 with David Leatherdale, but the home team would have been disappointed with their 144 all out. Repeated rain interruptions ensured the use of the Duckworth/Lewis formula, and by the time the rain finally forced the teams off with the Dynamos placed at 65-1, they were deemed to be victors by nine wickets.

Elsewhere in the top division Somerset Sabres entertained Glamorgan Dragons with both teams keen to make ground on the leaders. An injury-ravaged Sabres side were soon 16-3 and in deep trouble, but sensible batting from captain, Mike Burns, and Matt Wood with good support from Turner and Rose saw Somerset to respectability.

The Dragons' fire was further doused as Steffan Jones - who played with most of the Glamorgan team for Wales against England last week - showed his worth with two early wickets. But a middle order recovery - led by Adrian Dale, Matthew Maynard and Michael Powell - and the imposition of a six-run penalty on the home team for its slow over rate combined to hand the visitors a thrilling one wicket win. Michael Kasprowicz's last-over boundary also helped, leaving Glamorgan unbeaten in its four appearances this season.

The remaining game in Division One featured Nottinghamshire Outlaws and Leicestershire Foxes. Half-centuries from Darren Stevens and Vince Wells saw the Foxes to a highly competitive 259-7 in their 45 overs. Nicky Boje pegged back the scoring in the middle of the innings, conceding just 25 in his nine overs, but Phil DeFreitas' 10-ball 26 not out saw that the visitors would not squander their decent start.

The Outlaws were soon 11-3 in reply as the golden-oldie attack of Malcolm and DeFreitas (combined age of 75) struck. But a brave stand of 190 between Boje (86) and Gallian (91) renewed the hopes of home supporters, before Kevin Pietersen and Chris Read bludgeoned the remaining runs to pull off an incredible victory that sees the sides go level on six points.

Meanwhile in Division Two the club who started the day top, Gloucestershire Gladiators, hosted Essex Eagles in Gloucester. The Eagles innings was built around a partnership of 116 between the vastly experienced Andy Flower (80) and 18-year-old Mark Pettini (75), before rain once again saw the use of the Duckworth/Lewis system.

In reply the Gladiators fell just short, despite a captain's innings of 76 (from 60 balls) from Mark Alleyne. Andrew Clarke was the hero for the visitors, with a career-best 5-40, including the key wicket of Alleyne.

Pride was at stake as Sussex Sharks played Middlesex Crusaders at Arundel with both teams searching for the win to kick-start their faltering campaigns. But the Sharks were all at sea when they batted, being dismissed with overs to spare for just 125. The run out of Ambrose sparked a collapse as they sank from 60-2 to 63-6, with Pakistan's Abdur Razzaq (3-19) snatching three quick wickets.

Sven Koenig (43*) and Owais Shah (41*) led the reply in an unhurried stand of 84 as the Crusaders won in the 39th over. They leapfrog Sussex Sharks, who find themselves on the bottom on the second division.

The match between Lancashire Lightning and Surrey Lions at Manchester was ruined by rain. Ally Brown continued his fine form with a brisk 56 (42 balls, 1x6 7x4) and Mark Ramprakash was unbeaten on 39 when play was halted. Both sides take two points.