Friday 26 May 2017 19:54, UK
Kumar Sangakkara's fifth successive first-class ton led Surrey's recovery against Specsavers County Championship Division One leaders Essex.
The Sri Lankan finished day one unbeaten on 177 as Surrey closed on 334-7, having been reduced to 31-5 before lunch.
Sangakkara's latest hundred added to his recent sequence of 136,105, 114 and 120 and took him past 1,000 runs in English cricket before the end of May across the Championship and Royal London Cup. He also took his red-ball average this summer to 109.86.
Sam Curran also chipped in with 90 in a 191-run sixth-wicket partnership with Sangakkara as Essex toiled in the field on a baking afternoon in Chelmsford.
Elsewhere, Jack Leach took six wickets to put Somerset in charge against Hampshire at Taunton.
Leach registered 6-78 and fellow spinner Dom Bess took 3-45 to skittle Hants for 162.
George Bailey and Kyle Abbott offered some resistance but both fell infuriatingly one run short of half-centuries.
Dean Elgar then hit 60 as Somerset ended day one on 157-5, trailing by just five runs with five wickets remaining.
