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I am playing well, but it is important that I don't get too excited to be at the event, because I think it can work against you. I think it is important to keep level-headed going into a Grand Slam, and not be overly confident.". BRIAN LARA'S Warwickshire are on course for a County Championship win after forcing Worcestershire to follow-on 308 runs behind and then reducing their second innings to 29 for 5 at New Road yesterday. Ed Giddins (2 for 14) and Tim Munton (2 for 15) did the damage after Giddins and Dougie Brown had each claimed three victims in Worcestershire's first total of 236, in reply to Warwickshire's 544. Lara had added three runs to his overnight 141 before his dismissal sparked a Warwickshire collapse from 476 for 5.Yorkshire's Australian batsman, Darren Lehmann, scored a memorable 99 before lunch only for Essex to hit back and dismiss their hosts for 314 on day two at Scarborough.Michael Vaughan (71) and Richard Blakey (51) also made useful contributions as fifth-placed Yorkshire gained a first-innings lead of 114. The Tykes had Essex 97 for 3 at the close.The Hampshire opener John Stephenson held his side together with a knock of 84 before they were all out for 224 to take a first-innings lead of 37 against sixth-placed Sussex at Hove.Sussex then slumped to 87 for 4 before a stand of 103 between Michael Bevan (42) and Rajesh Rao (40) boosted their second innings to 200 for 6 and a 163-run advantage by stumps.Northamptonshire's openers, Rob Bailey and Alec Swann, put on an unbeaten 153 to leave their side 65 runs behind Kent..
Nottinghamshire 61 Leicestershire 457-5 LEICESTERSHIRE, WHO need to win this match to retain a realistic chance of catching Surrey in the race for the Britannic Assurance title, continued their pummelling of Nottinghamshire despite ructions off the field. A splendid record-breaking 322-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Phil Simmons (194) and Ben Smith (158 not out) put Leicestershire in a commanding position. "MY LIFE could be a novel, but I can't write it," says Huseyin Kaya He is 38, with a weathered face, dark hair and a moustache. He is one of countless Kurdish refugees living in the gecekondus, the shanty towns of Istanbul. Ayazma, the shanty town where he lives, looks more like a Third World village than part of Turkey's richest city Chickens roam freely. The Vatican missionary service said the attackers apparently suspected local people of supporting pro-government forces..
The Angolan Interior Minister, Santana Pitra, yesterday said his country would use all means at its disposal to keep Mr Kabila in power. Namibia has confirmed it has sent troops to back the Angolan effort.Meanwhile, the Vatican's missionary service said the death-toll in a weekend massacre near the eastern town of Uvira had risen to 207 and could go higher.The attackers were identified as ethnic Tutsis. Angola's involvement was sparked by fears over the security of its border with Congo and the shelter Unita rebels found there. The two countries still deny they are involved but say they may intervene to safeguard their security interests. Uganda is believed to have sent troops and tanks to support the insurgents, while Rwanda, considered the main military and political sponsor of the insurgents, has repeatedly threatened to intervene if Zimbabwe and Angola do not withdraw their soldiers.The threat of Congo becoming a battleground for a number of African armies continues to grow. In an editorial entitled "A journey without maps", it accused him of sacrificing Zimbabwe's long-term interests in the region by backing Mr Kabila. In another article, the political scientist Masipula Sithole said: "Must we die to save this buffoon?"Mr Mugabe's military drive has angered the South African President, Nelson Mandela, chairman of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community economic club, who has led a regional diplomatic offensive to resolve the crisis.In a thinly veiled attack on the man who has overshadowed him as a voice for Africa since Mr Mandela's release from prison and assumption of power in South Africa, Mr Mugabe said "hypocrites" were leading the diplomatic option and proposed that it be spearheaded by the Organisation of African Unity.Zimbabwe's state media have stepped up attacks on Rwanda and Uganda, blaming them for the conflict.