The Cricketer sums up the action from across the County Championship on the first day of the current round of matches...
Jonny Tattersall’s maiden first-class 50 in his second game led an evening fightback for Yorkshire against Division One leaders Surrey at Scarborough.
Surrey claimed four wickets during the opening afternoon to leave Yorkshire at 166 for six after electing to bat on a pacy North Marine Road pitch.
But they only struck twice more as the hosts reached close at 299 for eight from 96 overs as this Specsavers County Championship match made a fascinating start in front of a 4,384 crowd.
Alastair Cook rediscovered the sort of imperious form that had eluded him this season, but fell four runs short of the 63rd first-class century of his career on the first day of the day-night match at Chelmsford.
The former England captain, on 96, looked to be attempting to reach three-figures for the first time in the Specsavers County Championship for a year with one shot. He went to whip Dom Bess through midwicket off the 165th ball he had faced, missed and was trapped lbw.
The indefatigable Bess bowled unchanged from the River End at The Cloudfm County Ground from the 20th over to the 88th, and finished the first day with figures of 35-7-74-2. Essex ended a swelteringly hot day on 298 for four from 98 overs.
Chris Nash registered his first century for Nottinghamshire on the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Worcestershire at Trent Bridge.
Nash, skippering the side with Steven Mullaney away on England Lions duty, made 139 as the home side reached stumps on 336 for five.
The 35-year old scored his runs from 225 balls, with 21 fours.
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Jonathan Trott scored an unbeaten century to put Warwickshire in a strong position on 297 for five after the opening day of their day/night Specsavers County Championship Division Two match against Durham.
The 37-year-old displayed patience at the crease to score his second hundred of the season at Emirates Riverside after previously reaching three figures in Warwickshire's Royal London One-Day Cup victory in the north east.
Matt Salisbury led the way for Durham with the ball, taking three wickets. However, it was a frustrating day in the field for the home side, who have plenty of work ahead of them to get back into the match.
Wayne Madsen reached a batting milestone for Derbyshire but it was Leicestershire who took the honours on the opening day of the floodlight Division Two match at Derby.
Madsen completed 14,000 runs in all cricket for the county during his 80 but the home side were bowled out for 245 with former Derbyshire spinner Callum Parkinson taking 3-50.
Leicestershire opener Harry Dearden was forced to retire hurt on eight under the new protocol regarding suspected concussion after he was struck on the helmet but skipper Paul Horton made an unbeaten 48 out of 82 without loss.
All-rounder Grant Stewart scored a useful 38 and recorded career-best bowling figures of 5-21 as Kent dominated the opening day of their ‘pink ball’ Specsavers County Championship clash with Middlesex in Canterbury.
The visitors, who started their reply to Kent’s 241 all out at 8pm, limped in at stumps at 9.50pm on 54 for nine and having found no answer to Stewart’s right-armed swing on a day when 19 wickets fell.
Reports courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network
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