CHAMPIONSHIP DIGEST: Summaries of all Wednesday's action from around the counties

The Cricketer rounds up the action from the first day of the latest set of matches in the County Championship...

^{Joe Denly hit a century for Kent against Derbyshire}

Division One

Surrey vs Nottinghamshire

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Mark Stoneman put a largely forgettable season behind him to lead Surrey’s first-day resistance with a superb 99 not out after they had been asked to bat by Nottinghamshire at the Kia Oval.

At stumps left-hander Stoneman had faced 191 balls, with 12 fours, as Surrey reached 256 for six, with Ben Foakes and Will Jacks, who both made 48, helping the former England Test opener to fashion an impressive recovery from an initial slump to 36 for three.

And Stoneman was only denied a day-one century by an early finish for bad light – and a bizarre 15-minute hold up after Tom Curran was hit on the helmet, underwent concussion protocols and then waited until another helmet, with all the proper protection, could be found to act as a replacement. Curran is on 12 not out in his first Championship appearance of the season.

Lancashire vs Worcestershire

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Fifteen wickets fell on day one as Worcestershire seized control of their 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 95 for five at the close of play.

Essex vs Hampshire

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Concern over a damp spot on the bowler’s run-up at the River End caused the abandonment of the first day of the Specsavers County Championship match at Chelmsford..

Umpires Rob Bailey and Michael Burns inspected the pitch and surrounding area four times during the day – either side of lunch, then at 2.30pm and finally 3.30pm – before announcing that no play was possible.

^{Mark Stoneman made runs for Surrey against Nottinghamshire}

Division Two

Middlesex vs Sussex

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Middlesex fought back after being dismissed for 169 by promotion-chasing Sussex on the first day of their contest at Lord’s.

At stumps Sussex were 120 for six in reply and had largely squandered the good work of their bowlers in the opening two sessions.

There was heavy cloud cover for much of the day and the floodlights were on and off. Both attacks exploited the conditions well, although batsmen on both sides were guilty of some loose shots as well.

Only Middlesex’s Max Holden made a half-century, which he reached the ball before Middlesex were bowled out just before tea.

Sussex began their reply positively and openers Luke Wells and Phil Salt had 45 on the board in 7.5 overs. But when Wells (24) drove Ethan Barber uppishly to mid-off it sparked a collapse which saw four wickets fall for 47 runs.

Durham vs Northamptonshire

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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. Ben Sanderson and Brett Hutton were also on point to bowl Durham out for 129.

In response Northants battled their way beyond the home side's first-innings total. Captain Alex Wakely was dropped twice early in his knock and he made the north-east outfit pay, scoring a brisk half-century, while Adam Rossington notched 47 to leave them on top after the first day.

Derbyshire vs Kent

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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 for six.

Derbyshire struggled on a flat track after losing the toss but plugged away and took four wickets after tea as Hardus Viljoen and Tony Palladino both ended with two wickets.

Gloucestershire vs Leicestershire

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Mohammad Abbas claimed five wickets as Leicestershire bowled out Gloucestershire for 202 on the opening day at Bristol.

The Pakistan Test 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.

The only half-century came from 21-year-old James Bracey, who enhanced his growing reputation with a battling 76, occupying just over four hours. Gareth Roderick contributed 41 to a fourth-wicket stand of 100.

Gloucestershire lost three wickets with their total on 50 following a decent start and their last six for the addition of only 11 runs. By the close Leicestershire had replied with 11 for one, Harry Dearden caught at second slip off David Payne for four.

Reports courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network