Ian Bell hits an unbeaten century as Warwickshire close in on Division Two title
Saturday 29 September 2018 11:29, UK
Hampshire just shaded a bowler-friendly opening day against Yorkshire as 15 wickets fell at the start of their Specsavers County Championship clash at Headingley.
Morning rain prevented any play until 12.40pm, with Hampshire opting for an uncontested toss before bowling Yorkshire out for 184.
Medium pacers Gareth Berg and Ian Holland struck twice apiece before tea as Yorkshire slipped to 110-6, but Fidel Edwards was their standout overall with 4-83 from 16 overs.
The visitors later replied with 79-5 from 23 overs, including two wickets each for Jack Brooks and Tim Bresnan.
Jamie Porter celebrated career-best bowling figures as Essex sent Worcestershire crashing back down to earth after their Vitality Blast triumph. SCORECARD
Porter claimed a scintillating 7-41 as Worcestershire were bowled out for 94 in the morning session.
Murali Vijay pushed home Essex's advantage by passing 50 for the third time in as many innings for the county, with Tom Westley also reaching the milestone - the hosts closing the day on 252-5 with a lead of 158.
Mark Stoneman led another impressive Surrey batting display as the newly crowned title-winners ran up 368-4 against Somerset at Taunton. SCORECARD
It was the visitors' day from the moment Rory Burns won the toss and elected to take first use of a pitch that had no suggestion of the excessive turn which had led to Somerset's previous home game against Lancashire ending inside two days.
Few balls beat the bat all day as Stoneman top-scored with 85, supported by solid contributions from Burns (78), Jason Roy (63) Dean Elgar (72 not out) and Ollie Pope (44).
Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott enjoyed another profitable day against Sussex to put Division Two leaders Warwickshire in a strong position at Hove. SCORECARD
Bell scored his fifth Championship hundred against the county and Trott is in sight of his sixth against Sussex in his final away game before retirement.
Together they helped Warwickshire reach 308-2 at stumps. Bell (108 not out) and Trott (86 not out) shared a 206-run third-wicket partnership in 68 overs.
A draw would seal an immediate return to the top flight with a game to spare for Warwickshire and Bell and Trott made sure they did not waste the advantage of winning the toss and batting first on a slow pitch which is expected to turn later on.
Brett Hutton played a starring role as Northamptonshire dominated Gloucestershire on the opening day of their Division Two match at Bristol. SCORECARD
The former Nottinghamshire seamer claimed 4-65 as the hosts were shot out for 125 inside 55 overs on a day in which 35 overs were lost to bad light or rain.
Zak Crawley hit a fluent unbeaten 56 to help Kent move into a position of strength against Glamorgan in Canterbury. SCORECARD
Chasing their fifth successive red-ball win and their 10th of the Championship summer, Kent reached stumps on 93 for two with Crawley and nightwatchman Harry Podmore (0no) at the crease after the visitors were bowled out for 186.
Sam Robson's century saw Middlesex get the better of the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match with Derbyshire at Lord's. SCORECARD
Tony Palladino (4-66) bowled the visitors back into contention with a spell of four for three in 15 balls.
But Max Holden (96 not out) was closing in on a first century in Middlesex colours as the hosts finished an enthralling day at 350-8, only the second time this season they have earned a fourth batting point.
Dropped catches proved expensive for Durham after the visitors chose to bowl first against Leicestershire at Grace Road. SCORECARD
The visitors would come to rue those missed opportunities as the Foxes battled their way to 316-8 at the close of play - securing themselves three batting points.
