County Championship

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How four minutes of madness almost changed everything

OSCAR RESS AT DERBY: The visitors survived a major self-inflicted scare on the final day as they handed Derbyshire two wickets in as many balls in the final over of the morning session before holding on for a draw

"It's really good for the game": Leicestershire director of cricket lauds loan system

NICK FRIEND: Leicestershire, with Claude Henderson at the helm, have used the domestic loan market more creatively than most in the last couple of years

"It would normally end up with one of us storming off" - Ben and Charlie Allison on opposite sides once again

MELINDA FARRELL - INTERVIEW: With older brother Ben having swapped Chelmsford for Worcestershire on a permanent basis, and Charlie opening for Essex, a sibling rivalry made in the back garden has resumed

A big decision is facing Ricardo Vasconcelos, Northants' man of steel

JAMES COYNE: It's not been plain sailing since being handed the captaincy three years ago, but Vasconcelos has warmed to Darren Lehmann's "fresh energy" and "calmness"

Derbyshire out to show that early-season optimism can sustain beyond unbeaten April

NICK FRIEND AT DERBY: Few would have bet on Leicestershire and Derbyshire occupying the top spots in Division Two at the end of April, but both are unbeaten and displaying tangible signs of progress after years of red-ball struggle

Ben Foakes excellence helps to expose Somerset's soft underbelly

GEORGE DOBELL AT THE KIA OVAL: This is a fine Surrey attack, and there was just enough life in the surface to keep batters honest, but this was an oddly soft performance from a Somerset lineup who came into this season with genuine title hopes

A bizarre day made for the storytelling of a Worcestershire great

PAUL EDWARDS AT NEW ROAD: As Durham stormed to an opening Championship win of the season, it was a day to pay tribute to the late John Curtis, who loved occasions like this

Surrey's chalk and cheese openers remind England of the alternatives

GEORGE DOBELL AT THE KIA OVAL: Dom Sibley and Rory Burns compiled vastly different half-centuries against a Somerset side whose attack is lacking in decisive quality

Adapt or die: Durham's newcomers put Worcestershire through their paces

MELINDA FARRELL AT NEW ROAD: Jake Ball, Jack Blatherwick and Codi Yusuf, as well as the hosts' new signing Henry Nicholls, had quite the introduction during a nip and tuck day

Underwhelming bowling and a touch of class define intriguing opening chapter

GEORGE DOBELL AT THE KIA OVAL: Surrey and Somerset both enjoyed encouraging and forgettable moments on day one of this County Championship clash - but one suspects the hosts will be happier

Derby-Middle

DAVID SHARMAN AT DERBY:

David Lloyd's redemption milestone fails to floor defiant Middlesex

DAVID SHARMAN AT DERBY: It wasn't quite the feel-good hit of the summer it could have been for the former Derbyshire captain, but he still stamped his mark on a game whose path is not yet defined

Early frontrunners Leicestershire show mettle to back up impressive first weeks

NICK FRIEND AT BRISTOL: Top of Division Two after three rounds, with Rehan Ahmed and Josh Hull in their ranks, Leicestershire dominated the first half of the opening day at Gloucestershire, before their hosts fought back as the afternoon wore on

Nottinghamshire show there's more than one way to take wickets

OSCAR RESS AT TRENT BRIDGE: Josh Tongue may have headlined again with his second five-wicket haul of the season, but it would not have been possible without the contributions of his fellow seamers

England pair set for first County Championship games of season in week four

Week four will see the two more Test players enter the county season, and the first reduced round of fixtures, with five matches across the two divisions