Wednesday 29 August 2018 21:57, UK
Mark Stoneman put a largely forgettable season behind him to lead Surrey's first-day resistance with a superb 99 not out against Nottinghamshire.
At stumps, left-hander Stoneman had faced 191 balls as Division One leaders Surrey reached 256-6 having been asked to bat in the Specsavers County Championship.
Ben Foakes and Will Jacks, who both made 48, helped the former England Test opener to fashion an impressive recovery from an initial slump to 36-3. SCORECARD
Fifteen wickets fell on day one as Worcestershire seized control of their Specsavers County Championship clash against Lancashire at Southport.
Lancashire's batting left them in a hole after their bowlers delivered again, with Tom Bailey starring by taking 4-41 as Worcestershire were bowled out for what appeared a below-par 222.
But by the close, that total was looking much healthier as Josh Tongue claimed three wickets and instigated a run out and Worcestershire had the hosts 96-5. SCORECARD
Sixth-wicket pair Lewis Gregory and Steve Davies batted Somerset into a strong position on day one of their clash against Yorkshire at Emerald Headingley.
They were two of four half-centurions at the start of a crucial fixture.
Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali top-scored with a patient 89 as the visitors closed on 374-8 from 96 overs, while James Hildreth added 81 and went beyond 16,000 career runs. SCORECARD
Essex and Hampshire will try again on day two at Chelmsford after rain and a wet outfield saw the first day's play abandoned without a ball being bowled.
A century from Joe Denly after Zak Crawley had narrowly missed out on a hundred put promotion-chasing Kent in a strong position at the end of the opening day of the Division Two match against Derbyshire at Derby.
Denly made 106, Crawley 96 and Heino Kuhn 51 as Kent passed 241 in the first innings of a county championship match for only the second time this season to close on 365-6. SCORECARD
Middlesex fought back after being dismissed for 169 by promotion-chasing Sussex on the first day of their contest at Lord's.
Only Max Holden, with a determined 50 not out, offered any significant ballast to a Middlesex innings which included England's limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan limping to six from 78 balls.
Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer took three wickets apiece but Sussex's top order were unable to capitalise on the good work of their seamers, closing on 120-6. SCORECARD
Division Two leaders Warwickshire enjoyed the better of the action on the opening day against bottom club Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay.
The visitors trailed by 87 runs at stumps after reaching 116-3, with Ian Bell unbeaten on 43.
Their accurate attack dismissed the home team for 203 in 59.4 overs, with only all-rounder Craig Meschede - finishing with 53 not out - able to cope with the visiting bowlers.
Olly Stone led the way with figures of 4-28, which included a second spell of 3-19 from his eight overs. SCORECARD
Mohammad Abbas claimed five wickets as Leicestershire bowled out Gloucestershire for 202 on the opening day at Bristol.
The Pakistan seamer took his wicket tally to 35 in only his seventh championship game with 5-30 from 20.3 overs on a slow pitch. Ben Raine chipped in with 3-44 against a brittle home batting line-up.
By the close Leicestershire had replied with 11-1, Harry Dearden caught at second slip off David Payne for four. SCORECARD
Northamptonshire edged day one of their contest against Durham, taking a 60-run lead into day two at Emirates Riverside.
Luke Procter starred with the ball for the visitors, claiming figures of 5-33 to put his side in command, with Ben Sanderson (3-46) and Brett Hutton (2-11) also chipping in to dismiss the hosts for 129.
The wickets continued to tumble in the afternoon, but despite losing six of their own on a day in which 16 wickets fell, Northants ended the happier of the two sides after Alex Wakely (60) - who was dropped twice in as many balls - and Adam Rossington (47no) saw them to 189-6. SCORECARD
