With a full compliment of fixtures in both Division One and Division Two of the Specsavers County Championship, here’s a summary of the action as players took to the field on a sweltering day around the country yesterday.
DIVISION ONE
Hampshire v Lancashire – Lancashire – having been tipped to be relegated by many at the start of the season – have started the season in terrific fashion with a win and a draw in their first two matches. And with James Anderson, Kyle Jarvis and Neil Wagner running through the Hampshire batting lineup to restrict the hosts to 107 all out, it was another perfect day for the Red Rose. Their batsmen then finished the day on 161/1 with Karl Brown the only man out for 40.
Somerset v Warwickshire – A total of 12 wickets fell on the first day of this match at Edgbaston, as Somerset were bowled all out for 295. Jonathan Trott’s medium pace snared two Somerset wickets and Chris Woakes took 3/65. Warwickshire then lost two early wickets of their own, as Ian Westwood and nightwatchman Boyd Rankin were dismissed in the early evening.
Middlesex v Nottinghamshire – Notts got themselves in the box seat after Day One of this top of the table encounter. Alex Hales boosted his hopes of retaining a spot in England’s Test side with a measured 73 and Michael Lumb made 78, before Samit Patel stroked a classy 86. Notts are currently 351/9 this morning.
Yorkshire v Surrey – Steven Davies gave everyone a reminder of his talents with a stunning century to guide Surrey to 330 all out at Headingley. Davies struck 117 off 163 balls before falling to Steven Patterson, while Kumar Sangakkara hit 73. David Willey took 3/55, while Jack Brooks finished with 3/73 as Yorkshire’s pace attack blew away the Surrey tail.
DIVISION TWO
Derbyshire v Sussex – Sussex bowler Lewis Hatchett grabbed the headlines at Derby after taking 5/58 to reduce the home side to 191 all out. Hatchett got the prize scalps of in-form batsmen Chesney Hughes and Wayne Madsen, also getting rid of Wes Durston, Tony Palladino and Luke Fletcher for his second career five-for. Sussex then consolidated their strong position by finishing the day with just one wicket down and a little more than a hundred behind.
Kent v Gloucestershire – The visitors fourth back from 14/4 to 293/8 at Canterbury thanks to the experience of New Zealander Hamish Marshall. The batsman struck 112 after Gloucestershire’s top four had bene blown away by Kent opening bowlers Mitchell Claydon and Darren Stevens. Gloucestershire will hope to post a total of 300 to 350 this morning.
Leicestershire v Northamptonshire – Contributions from Angus Robson (56), Neil Dexter (98) and Mark Cosgrove (47) guided Leicestershire to a strong position after Day One at Grace Road. The home side are 323/8 this morning and their improved form in this season’s Specsavers County Championship continues.