COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE ROUNDUP: Varma is 98 not out overnight on his Hampshire debut, and there have been plenty of runs across the board in the first of four Kookaburra rounds
Chelmsford (day two of four): Essex 292-8, Hampshire 293-4 - Hampshire lead by one run with six wickets remaining
Tilak Varma demonstrated on Hampshire debut that he is not just a big-hitting white-ball tyro by constructing a patient, unbeaten 98 in the Rothesay County Championship at windswept Chelmsford.
The 22-year-old Indian left-hander, starting a four-game stint on the south coast, was playing only his 19th first-class game, compared to 119 in T20 competitions, including 25 for his country. But he showed remarkable restraint with a 234-ball vigil to help Hampshire build a measured response to Essex's first-innings 296. At close of play they were three runs short of parity on 293 for 4.
Tilak was the safe pair of hands in half-century stands with Fletcha Middleton, who hit 61, and Ben Brown (42) and one of three figures with Liam Dawson (79 not out). But he did revert to the type of pyrotechnics that have made him a hit in the IPL with two sixes off Matt Critchley, one lost over long leg and the other a vicious reverse-sweep, and a third also to long leg off Shane Snater.
Earlier, Kyle Abbott completed his third five-wicket haul of the season, winkling out the last two Essex wickets in short order to finish with 5 for 26 from 19 overs. The effort kept him top of the Championship wicket-taking charts with 37.
Related: Batters lick their lips as Championship returns to the Kookaburra
Jofra Archer was back with the ball for Sussex (Ian Horrocks/Getty Images)
Trent Bridge (day two of four): Nottinghamshire 487, Yorkshire 154-3 - Yorkshire trail by 333 runs with seven wickets remaining
Half centuries from Ishan Kishan, Liam Patterson-White and Dillon Pennington put Division One leaders Nottinghamshire in control as they totalled 487 on day two of their Rothesay County Championship match against Yorkshire.
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Kishan's 87 came in his debut innings for the county, Patterson-White posting the same score and fast-bowler Pennington entertaining the Trent Bridge crowd with a career-best 61.
Left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty took 4 for 91 – but a poor innings in the field for the visitors was at least followed by a better performance with the bat, Yorkshire recovering from the loss of a wicket first ball to close on 154 for 3, with Finlay Bean 86 not out, albeit losing the experience of Dawid Malan in the penultimate over.
Related: So many Championship treats, and still Cheltenham to come
Warwickshire and Somerset are sharing a run-fest (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Edgbaston (day two of four): Somerset 498, Warwickshire 157-1 - Warwickshire trail by 341 runs with nine wickets remaining
Careless batting and missed opportunities in the field cost Somerset a position of dominance against Warwickshire on the second day of their Rothesay County Championship clash at Edgbaston.
On a pitch which is excellent for batting, Somerset were 407 for 3 but collapsed to 498 all out – a total that insures against defeat but does not apply the major scoreboard pressure that beckoned.
Warwickshire closed the second day on 157 for 1 with Alex Davies (63 not out) and Tom Latham (65 not out) having added 125 in 43 overs. Both were reprieved as Davies, on 36, survived a high chance to Archie Vaughan at point and Latham, on 28 escaped a missed stumping by James Rew off Jack Leach.
New Road (day two of four): Worcestershire 209 & 69-4, Surrey 291 - Worcestershire trail by eight runs with six wickets remaining
Four late wickets for Surrey saw them take control of the Rothesay County Championship clash at Visit Worcestershire New Road, as Worcestershire ended Day Two 69 for 4, trailing by eight-runs.
Ben Allison led the way for the hosts, with his 5 for 44 helping restrict Surrey to 291 all out, were Dom Sibley top-scored with a measured 73.
With a lead of 77, Surrey's seam-bowling attack ensured the day belonged to them with another potent bowling display.
Nathan Smith and Matt Fisher collected two wickets apiece, as Worcestershire's top four were ripped apart in a devastating evening session that put the visitors well in control.
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