Surrey's 20-year-old talent Ollie Pope (131no) scores fine century
Sunday 13 May 2018 22:57, UK
Defending champions Essex were bowled out for 177 on day one against bottom-of-the-table Worcestershire on day one of their Specsavers County Championship clash at New Road.
Worcestershire's promising 20-year-old fast bowler Josh Tongue took 4-45 to run through the Essex batting line-up - England's Alastair Cook top-scoring with 37.
The Pears reached stumps on 47-0 in reply. SCORECARD
Nottinghamshire also struggled badly with the bat, being bowled out for 133 on day one of their Division One game against Lancashire at Trent Bridge.
Leader of the England bowling attack James Anderson bowled himself into some form ahead of the first Test against Pakistan on May 24, taking 2-27, while former international team-mate Graham Onions claimed 3-22 and in-form Tom Bailey 3-28.
There were mixed fortunes for some further England hopefuls, with Haseeb Hameed out for a duck and Keaton Jennings unbeaten on 52 at the close as Lancs closed on 157-4. SCORECARD
Ollie Pope (131no) struck a fine century for Surrey as they racked up 366-7 on day one against Yorkshire at The Oval.
Surrey had slipped to 69-4 earlier in the day before 61 from South African opener Dean Elgar, 71 from Rikki Clarke and 20-year-old talent Pope's super knock lifted them up past 300. SCORECARD
Finally in Division One, Hampshire were 198-8 against Somerset when play came to an early close in Taunton. SCORECARD
In Division Two, Nick Gubbins boosted his chances of an England call-up for the first Test against Pakistan as he hit 99 for Middlesex on day one of their game against Gloucestershire at Lord's.
Left-handed opener Gubbins followed up a century in Middlesex's last game by falling one shy this time out as the home side racked up 356-6 by stumps - England's Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan both scoring 76. SCORECARD
Sussex slipped to 21-4 before recovering slightly to close on 69-4 after having bowled Kent out for 215 on day one in Canterbury.
New Zealand paceman Matt Henry took 3-24, and Harry Podmore 1-15 did the damage for Kent, following on from David Wiese taking 4-54 for Sussex to skittle the home side. SCORECARD
It was a fairly similar story over at Edgbaston, as Warwickshire closed on 100-4 - Ian Bell 55 not out - after having earlier bowled Northamptonshire out for 256.
It could have been even better for the Bears, who earlier had Northants six down for 52, and 102-7, before Steven Crook smashed 92 and Doug Bracewell 81 in a 122-run stand for the eighth wicket. SCORECARD
Neil Dexter hit 87 on day one for Leicestershire, but the rest of their batsmen faltered as they were bowled out for 191 at home against Glamorgan.
In reply, the visitors reached 82-0 by stumps. SCORECARD
Derbyshire enjoyed a fine opening day with the bat at home against Durham, with Wayne Madsen top-scoring with 80 not out as they cruised to 301-4 by stumps. SCORECARD
