County Championship Division One roundup: Runs continue to flow but Somerset rue collapse

The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day one of round two of the Vitality County Championship in 2024

Chelmsford (day one of four): Essex 421-6, Kent

Dean Elgar produced a masterclass of calm assurance in compiling a first century for Essex while helping to steer his new employers to a dominant position in their Vitality County Championship match against Kent.

The former South Africa captain, who has replaced the retired Sir Alastair Cook at the top of the batting order, hit the 49th three-figure score of his first-class career and ensured Kent had a day of toil under bright April skies. His consummate 120 from 175 balls included 18 boundaries.

And on a run-fest in front of a bumper crowd of 2,226, surpassing anything recorded in the Championship at Chelmsford last season, Matt Critchley chipped in with the eighth century of his career, holding together the middle-order in an unbroken vigil that has already reached 57 overs.

Elgar shared a second century partnership of this embryonic season with fellow newcomer Jordan Cox – this one worth 159 in 35 overs. He then put on 89 for the fourth wicket with Critchley, who in turn shared stands of 58 with Paul Walter and 80 with Michael Pepper.

When Elgar was finally out after almost four hours at the crease, chipping Matt Parkinson tamely to short square leg, he dropped his bat and kicked the ground in frustration. However, by the close, Essex had built on the foundations he had laid to reach 421 for 6 with Critchley still there on 103 from 173 balls.

Nathan Lyon picked up his first wickets for Lancashire [Mike Hewitt/Getty Images]

Southampton (day one of four): Hampshire 305-6, Lancashire

Tom Prest suggested 2024 will be his breakthrough season by scoring an impeccable 85 as Hampshire edged day one of their County Championship clash with Lancashire.

Former England Under-19 captain Prest hinted at his first-class talents with his maiden ton towards the end of last season and opened his account this year with a high-quality knock.

He was one of four half-century makers for the hosts – with Nick Gubbins, James Vince and Liam Dawson also reaching the milestone as Hampshire totted up 305 for 6 in front of their highest first-day-of-the-season crowd from over a decade.

Nathan Lyon picked up his first two wickets for Lancashire during a mammoth 32-over day which yielded 2 for 97.

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Trent Bridge (day one of four): Nottinghamshire 305-6, Worcestershire

Choosing to start a second game on the same pitch they used for their opening match at Trent Bridge last week, Nottinghamshire included two spinners in their line-up and unsurprisingly batted when winning the toss on the first day of their Vitality County Championship meeting with Worcestershire.

With Joe Clarke going towards a second hundred in three innings, an increasingly rampant third-wicket stand of 133 included an onslaught of 41 from the first six overs after lunch that seized the afternoon initiative.

Ben Slater, however, fell for 70 before Clarke, one of three home players appearing against his old club, advanced to 105.

He was caught behind 25 minutes after tea but Worcestershire could not quite regain the balance by a close with Nottinghamshire at 305 for 6.

Related - James Coyne: Joe Clarke impresses on day of Kookaburra cricket at Trent Bridge

Matt Renshaw's run out changed the game at The Oval in Surrey's favour [Ben Hoskins/Getty Images]

The Oval (day one of four): Somerset 285, Surrey 42-0 - Surrey trail by 243 runs with 10 first-innings wickets in hand

The unfortunate run out of Matt Renshaw for 87 in mid-afternoon sparked a headlong Somerset collapse from 196 for 1 to an eventual 285 all out against champions Surrey at the Kia Oval.

Renshaw responded to Tom Lammonby's call for a very sharp single, when he was on 99, after Jordan Clark initially fumbled at mid-on. But Clark quickly pounced on the loose ball and, from behind the bowler's stumps, scored a direct hit at the keeper's end to beat Renshaw's desperate dive for safety.

Until then, the first ball of the 45th over, the opening day of this County Championship Division One contest had belonged to Somerset as Lammonby and Renshaw built an impressive 178-run stand for the second wicket. Some of Lammonby's strokeplay, in particular, was of high class and there were 10 fours in his 61-ball fifty before lunch, which Somerset took at 131 for 1.

But Renshaw's run out was the catalyst for a remarkable turnaround in fortunes as Somerset lost seven wickets for 20 runs in 13.1 overs. In the end, it took a pugnacious 50 from skipper Lewis Gregory, last out for 50 from 79 balls and supported by Shoaib Bashir's 10 not out in a tenth-wicket partnership of 49, to haul up Somerset to a respectable first innings total.

Surrey, who replied with 42 without loss in 15 overs before the close, are seeking a third successive Championship title and certainly deserve credit for seizing their opportunity with some excellent bowling but, sadly, Somerset were also guilty of some loose cricket during the late afternoon drama.

Related - Huw Turbervill: Somerset pay the price for giving Surrey a glimmer of opportunity

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Edgbaston (day one of four): Warwickshire 490-1, Durham

Durham endured a day of torment on their return to Division One of the County Championship as Warwickshire piled up 490 for 1 on the opening day at Edgbaston.

The visitors chose to bowl but were pummelled by openers Rob Yates (191, 205 balls) and Alex Davies (226 not out, 274 balls) who added 343, the second-highest Championship opening stand for Warwickshire.

Their season-opener at home to Hampshire having been washed out last week, Durham must have wished the rain had stayed around as they toiled on a flat pitch with the Kookaburra ball.

Yates took advantage with a stylish innings which included 25 fours and five sixes, while captain Davies posted an iron-willed maiden double-century with 25 fours and three sixes. In first-class cricket, Durham have conceded only five partnerships of 300-plus – three of them by Warwickshire.

This latest instalment of woe arrived despite the presence in the bowling attack of three debutants - Scott Boland, Callum Parkinson and Colin Ackermann. They ended the day with a combined 1 for 220.

Related - George Dobell: Rob Yates and Alex Davies steal the show at Edgbaston in front of England scout

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