County Championship Division One roundup: Bright starts for title hopefuls Surrey and Essex

The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day one of the 15th round of LV= Insurance County Championship matches in 2023

The Oval (day one of four): Northamptonshire 171-6, Surrey

A burst of three wickets in 25 balls gave leaders Surrey the impetus after they had initially been made to work hard by Northamptonshire on a rain-affected first day at the Kia Oval.

The visitors – without a win at the Oval since 1994 – need a miracle to avoid relegation in the LV= Insurance County Championship and had grafted to 106 for 2 before Surrey, who started the penultimate round of matches with an 18 point lead over Essex, took four wickets when play resumed after a two-hour rain delay.

At stumps Northants had reached 171 for 6 from 63.4 overs, with Indian batter Karun Nair undefeated on 51.

Tom Lammonby repaid Somerset's faith after a lean Championship season [Harry Trump/Getty Images]

Lord's (day one of four): Middlesex 121, Warwickshire 72-4 - Warwickshire trail by 49 runs with six second-innings wickets in hand

Olly Hannon-Dalby starred with a five-wicket haul as Warwickshire's seamers took advantage of bowler-friendly conditions at Lord's to dismiss relegation-threatened Middlesex for 121.

Hannon-Dalby finished with 5 for 29 under overcast skies to move within one wicket of 50 in this year's County Championship, while Chris Rushworth and Ed Barnard collected two apiece as the hosts were bowled out in 39.5 overs.

But the spotlight then shifted to Middlesex stalwart Tim Murtagh, who is playing at Lord's for the last time prior to retirement and pulled his side back into contention with a quick burst of wickets.

The 42-year-old removed three of Warwickshire's top four before skipper Will Rhodes' undefeated 36 steered them to 72 for 4 at stumps, a deficit of 49.

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Old Trafford (day one of four): Lancashire, Nottinghamshire

The opening day of the County Championship match between Lancashire and Nottinghamshire was abandoned after heavy and prolonged rain at Emirates Old Trafford.

Umpires Ian Blackwell and Hassan Adnan had little option but to call play off at 12.50pm with the ground saturated and pools of water forming on the outfield.

Fifth-placed Lancashire and seventh-placed Nottinghamshire, who were 29 points ahead of Kent in ninth going into this round of fixtures, will hope for better conditions tomorrow.

Adam Rossington scored a welcome century for Essex [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]

Chelmsford (day one of four): Essex 310-6, Hampshire

Adam Rossington scored a century as Essex commanded day one of their County Championship clash with Hampshire and boosted their title bid.

Wicketkeeper Rossington came into the match having only scored 188 runs in a season hampered by injury and poor form but pushed through the gears to reach 104 – his best for Essex.

Matt Critchley added a ninth Championship fifty to his impressive season after Tom Westley reached 1,000 runs for the campaign on his way to his own half-century.

Essex ended the day on 310 for 6, Critchley still going strong on 83 after his 177-run stand with Rossington.

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Taunton (day one of four): Somerset 214-2, Kent

Tom Lammonby repaid Somerset's faith with his first century of the season as the hosts ran up 214 for 2 after losing the toss on a rain-shortened opening day of their County Championship match with relegation-threatened Kent at Taunton.

Having played in all 12 previous games without reaching three figures, the 23-year-old opener got the monkey off his back in style by hitting a brilliant 109 off 151 balls, with 16 fours. Lewis Goldsworthy marked his first Championship appearance of the season by making 70 not out and contributing to a second-wicket stand of 132.

Kent's woes were compounded by an injury to Michael Hogan, the 42-year-old seamer limping off disconsolately with what looked like a hamstring or thigh problem having bowled 11.2 overs for 30 runs.