Ali Brown struck a sensational 176 from just 97 balls as Surrey smashed a record 496 for four in a 257-run victory against Gloucestershire in the Friends Provident Trophy today.

Brown - already with two one-day double centuries to his name, including a record 268 - hit 20 fours and eight sixes as Surrey ran up the highest score in a 'list A' limited-overs match.

James Benning, who put on 296 for the first wicket with Brown, hit an equally impressive 152 as Surrey comfortably overtook Sri Lanka's 443 for nine against Holland last year.

Rikki Clarke added a rapid 82 from 28 balls, including six sixes.

Mark Hardinges (57) and Stephen Adshead (54) battled in the middle order for the visitors, but a victory was never on the cards and they were eventually bowled out for 239.

Ravi Bopara and Graham Napier took three wickets each as Essex cruised to a 135-run win over Hampshire.

Bopara was run out for just 10 on his first appearance since the World Cup as Essex recorded 210 for seven at Chelmsford.

Hampshire crumbled in their innings and were dismissed for a paltry 75, with Jimmy Adams top-scoring on 23.

Richard Montgomerie hit a magnificent 125 as Sussex overcame Somerset by 38 runs at Taunton.

Montgomerie's knock came off 161 balls while Murray Goodwin offered able assistance with 88.

Marcus Trescothick (58) and Cameron White (51) batted well for the hosts as they chased Sussex's total of 287, but Robin Martin-Jenkins extinguished their hopes by taking four wickets.

Ed Joyce could only manage 16 on his World Cup return as Middlesex edged past Glamorgan by six runs at Lord's.

Owais Shah steadied the ship with an impressive 56 and Jamie Dalrymple hit an unbeaten 68 to leave the visitors with a difficult target.

But they came agonisingly close to reaching it as Matthew Elliott hit an impressive 87 and Ben Wright chipped in with 61, as Tim Murtagh took three wickets for the hosts.

Joe Denly hit an unbeaten 102 as Kent beat Ireland by 58 runs in Belfast in the hosts' first game since their World Cup heroics. Simon Cook and Robbie Joseph both took three wickets as Ireland tried in vain to chase down Kent's total of 231.

Tim Ambrose's unbeaten 55 steered Warwickshire to victory over Lancashire by two wickets at Old Trafford.

Heath Streak, who resigned as captain after the recent Championship match between the two teams, took four wickets as the visitors bowled Lancashire out for just 183.

England captain Michael Vaughan scored 31 as Yorkshire beat Scotland by 42 runs in Edinburgh.

It was Vaughan's first game since England's disappointing exit from the World Cup, while Anthony McGrath added 66 for the visitors.

Tom Lungley and Graham Wagg took three wickets each as Derbyshire beat Durham by four wickets at the Riverside.

Ottis Gibson (41) top-scored after Michael di Venuto (32) and Phil Mustard (37) had got the hosts off to a steady start but they finished with 212 for nine.

Former Hampshire star Simon Katich's knock of 81 set the visitors up for the victory, which came with just 1.4 overs to spare.

Bilal Shafayat hit a century as Nottinghamshire beat Northamptonshire by 122 runs at Wantage Road. Shafayat hit 104 from 115 balls after putting on 154 for the first wicket with Jason Gallian, who struck 68 from 79. Mark Wagh added an impressive 66 from 71 balls.

David Sales struck 116 in response for Northamptonshire as they were bowled out for 206.

Meanwhile, Leicestershire beat Worcestershire by 42 runs thanks to John Sadler's unbeaten 48.