After a break due to the visit of Sri Lanka, the Irish stars were back in action in the latest round of the County Championship.

Pride of place this week goes to Tim Murtagh who took 6 for 60 to help Middlesex defeat Lancashire by ten wickets at Lord's.

Murtagh's haul included the prize wickets of Ashwell Prince (86) and Jos Buttler (50), both of whom looked liked derailing Middlesex's charge to third place in the table.

The game also featured a wonderful 103 by Dubliner Eoin Morgan, who did his chances of a Test recall no harm at all with the timely hundred ahead of the Sri Lankan series.

Ed Joyce scored 21 as Sussex drew with Durham at Hove. Luke Wright (189) and Ben Brown (163) shared a fifth wicket stand of 335 as Sussex scored 505 for 9.

Kumar Sangakkara responded with a brilliant 159 as the game petered out into a draw with Durham on 451 for 7.

William Portefield didn't have the best of games as Warwickshire fell to a crushing innings and 155 runs loss to Yorkshire.

Porterfield scored just 11 and 6 in the disappointing loss. Liam Plunkett, who has been talked about being a possible Irish player in the future, enjoyed better success, scoring 86 and taking four wickets.

In the second division, Gary Wilson and Graeme McCarter were on opposing sides as Surrey overcame Gloucestershire by four wickets.

Wilson claimed three catches in a rare outing behind the sticks, and scored 16 in both innings.

McCarter scored a single and 20, while claiming 2 for 21 and 1 for 59.

The match winning performance came from former South African skipper Graeme Smith, whose brilliant hundred set up the successful run chase.