COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE ROUNDUP: Ethan Bamber claimed his first five-wicket haul for Warwickshire, while Somerset bowled out Essex on a green-looking pitch at Taunton
Southampton (day one of four): Durham 330-5, Hampshire
Graham Clark celebrated his fifth Rothesay County Championship century with a pristine innings to put Durham in charge against Hampshire.
Batter Clark led Durham's run surge, having been 82 for 4, with partnerships of 124 with Ollie Robinson, who scored 76, and 124 unbroken with George Drissell, who reached close on 58 not out.
Clark – who hadn't reached three figures since 2023 – ended the day unbeaten on 110, with Durham following up their victory over Worcestershire by totting up 330 for 5 under the sun at Utilita Bowl.
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Jack Leach claimed three wickets for Somerset on the opening day (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Taunton (day one of four): Essex 206, Somerset 9-1 - Somerset trail by 197 runs with nine wickets remaining
Jack Leach took centre stage in a dramatic Essex batting collapse on the opening day of the Rothesay County Championship First Division match with Somerset at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.
The visitors looked to be coping well with a green pitch when progressing to 115 for 2 early in the afternoon session, having lost what looked likely to prove an important toss.
But England left-arm spinner Leach found plenty of turn from the River End and claimed three wickets in quick succession to help reduce Essex to 155 for 7 at tea.
They were eventually bowled out for 206, Noah Thain top-scoring with 41. Leach finished with 3 for 35 from 30 accurate overs, while seamer Migael Pretorius returned 3 for 24. By the close, Somerset had replied with 9 for 1, losing Archie Vaughan for a duck.
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Graham Clark made a hundred for Hampshire (Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Headingley (day one of four): Yorkshire 205, Warwickshire 161-6 - Warwickshire trail by 44 runs with four wickets remaining
New-ball seamer Ethan Bamber claimed his first five-wicket haul in a Warwickshire shirt as they and star-studded Yorkshire traded blows during a 16-wicket opening day of their Rothesay County Championship fixture at Headingley.
Bamber moved from Middlesex over the winter and is playing his fourth match for the Bears, who won the toss on a green pitch and bowled their hosts out for 205 to signal an early tea.
His 5 for 47 from 15.2 overs included the scalp of England's new limited-over captain Harry Brook for a frantic 33, while impressive three-wicket allrounder Ed Barnard got Joe Root for one and Jonny Bairstow for 47.
Warwickshire, for whom wicketkeeper Kai Smith claimed five catches, closed on 161 for 6 from 43 overs in reply, trailing by 44. Barnard added 41.
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