COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE ROUNDUP: Charlie Allison struck another Championship century for Essex against Hampshire, while Surrey enjoyed a fruitful day at New Road
Chester-le-Street (day one of four): Sussex 322-9, Durham
A resilient unbeaten century from Sussex’s James Coles defied an excellent bowling performance from Durham’s Bas de Leede on day one of their Rothesay County Championship clash, as Jofra Archer was made to wait for his opportunity with the ball.
Ben Raine struck early to give Durham a dream start, but they were pegged back by half-centurion Daniel Hughes; however, he was dismissed after lunch.
Coles remained calm and composed to steady the ship in the afternoon, and he, along with captain John Simpson, put pressure on the Durham bowlers. However, the hosts bounced back after tea thanks to de Leede (4 for 83), who bowled well on his first appearance of the season.
Coles remained at the crease and continued to frustrate the hosts and reached his hundred just before close, with Sussex finishing the day on 322 for 9.
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Chelmsford (day one of four): Essex 292-8, Hampshire
Charlie Allison made it back-to-back centuries as he steered Essex into a commanding position on the first day of the County Championship match against Hampshire at Chelmsford.
Before his 140 against Surrey last month, Allison’s highest first-class score was 28. But the 20-year-old right-hander followed up his Oval heroics with 101 when the Championship resumed after its break for the T20 Blast.
He was the senior partner in a 107-run seventh-wicket stand with Simon Harmer, 16 years older, that carried Essex towards 292 for 8 at the close after they chose to bat. He also put on 66 for the fifth wicket with Matt Critchley, whose 71 came from 104 balls and included nine fours and a six.
Kyle Abbott took his season’s tally to 35 wickets with three Essex scalps, but Hampshire let slip their morning advantage as a blustery, overcast day gave way to bright evening sunshine
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Charlie Allison picked up from where he left off in the County Championship (Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Surrey CCC)
Trent Bridge (day one of four): Nottinghamshire 298-6, Yorkshire
Ben Slater made 96, captain Haseeb Hameed 52 and new signing Ishan Kishan is 44 not out but struggling Yorkshire had a case for claiming honours even against the County Championship leaders, who finished day one at Trent Bridge on 298 for 6.
Yorkshire, for whom seamer George Hill and spinner Dan Moriarty took two wickets each, are next to bottom of Division One with only one win from seven matches so far.
They had the disappointment, too, of being unable to field Pakistan batter Abdullah Shafique after a visa delay prevented his debut.
Ishan, the India wicketkeeper-batter, had no such problem as he starts a two-match stint as cover for South African Kyle Verreynne, and Nottinghamshire will hope he can yet extend his innings significantly after a number of their batters made starts but failed to build on them.
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James Coles celebrates his century on day one at Chester-le-Street (Ian Horrocks/Getty Images)
Edgbaston (day one of four): Somerset 327-3, Warwickshire
Tom Kohler-Cadmore struck his 12th first-class century as Somerset laid the platform for an imposing total against Warwickshire in the County Championship at Edgbaston.
Somerset chose to bat on a pitch offering bowlers no help and closed the opening day on 327 for three. Opening pair Kohler-Cadmore, 104 from 138 balls, and Josh Davey, 64 from 121, added 186, and Tom Lammonby followed them with an unbeaten 75 (129).
It was a gruelling day in the field for a Warwickshire side without Chris Rushworth due to a tweaked hamstring, and including Australian spinner Cory Rocchiccioli, on his debut at the start of a short-term contract.
New Road (day one of four): Worcestershire 209, Surrey 47-0 - Surrey are 162 runs behind with 10 first-innings wickets remaining
Surrey's bowlers dominated day one of the County Championship clash against Worcestershire, as Matt Fisher's 3 for 34 helped bundle the hosts out for 209.
A middle-order collapse saw the bottom side in Division One slip to 87 for 5, after both Jake Libby (28) and Henry Nicholls (31) made starts at New Road.
Jordan Clark impressed with three wickets of his own, as Matthew Waite dug in for a resilient 68 in an otherwise underwhelming batting display from the hosts.
Dom Sibley and Ryan Patel batted through the remaining 15 overs of the day, as Surrey closed the day 47 for 0 and took charge of the contest.
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