CHAMPIONSHIP DIGEST: Catch up with all of Monday's action

The Cricketer rounds up the opening day of the last round of games in Division One and Division Two

DIVISION ONE

Canterbury (first day of four): Kent 147, Hampshire 80-3

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Hampshire’s chances of finishing third in this season’s Specsavers County Championship first division improved greatly after they bossed first-day proceedings against Kent in Canterbury.

When bad light stopped play at 5pm, Hampshire had reached 80 for three after 21 overs having already dismissed the hosts – their closest rivals to collect the £88,000 cheque for finishing third – for only 147 runs inside 44 overs.

Darren Stevens, the evergreen Kent all-rounder picked up two of the wickets to fall, while Harry Podmore had Ian Holland caught in the cordon without scoring, but when bad light intervened the visitors had reduced the first-innings deficit to 67 runs.       

Taunton (first day of four): Somerset 75-4, Essex

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Sam Cook and Simon Harmer struck double blows for Essex before rain washed out play with only 27.5 overs bowled on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship title decider against Somerset at Taunton.

The home side, needing to win to overtake their opponents and claim the pennant for the first time, had progressed to 75 for 4 after winning the toss on a worn pitch, James Hildreth making 32 and skipper Tom Abell 24 not out.

Seamer Cook had figures of two for five from 8.5 overs, reward for two probing spells from the Somerset Pavilion End, while off-spinner Harmer bowled ten overs from the River End, turning the ball from the start and taking 2-24.

The Oval (first day of four): Surrey 246-2 v Nottinghamshire

^{It was a frustrating day at Taunton as the rain tumbled}

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Scott Borthwick’s second hundred of the Specsavers County Championship campaign, plus an unbeaten 78 from Ollie Pope, took Surrey to 246 for 2 against Nottinghamshire on a weather-shortened day at the Kia Oval.

Borthwick was 109 not out when play was abandoned at 4.45pm because of rain after the players had twice earlier left the field for bad light – once just after 3pm, and before an early tea was taken, and then again at 4pm.

Edgbaston (first day of four): Yorkshire 261-2 v Warwickshire

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Tom Kohler-Cadmore celebrated his 100th first-class innings with his ninth first-class century as Yorkshire plundered a depleted Warwickshire attack on a truncated opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match at Edgbaston.

In two sessions before rain wiped out play after tea, Kohler-Cadmore struck an unbeaten 165 (175 balls, 26 fours, one six) out of his side's excellent foundation of 261 for 2.

He added 184 for the second wicket with debutant Tom Loten, a 20-year-old from York, who showed an excellent temperament in making 58 (155 balls, eight fours) for a maiden half-century in his first first-class innings.

DIVISION TWO

Chester-le-Street (first day of four): Durham 197-6 v Glamorgan

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BJ Watling scored an unbeaten innings of 83 on his home debut to guide Durham to a total of 197 for 6 on day one of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash against Glamorgan at Emirates Riverside.

Watling was composed throughout the day, displaying a solid technique at the crease. He made his half-century in 90 deliveries, while others in the ranks struggled around him, with Alex Lees providing the next highest score of 45.

Michael Hogan was on point with the ball for the visitors, providing a constant threat. The 38-year-old claimed impressive figures of 4-31, but Watling's stand made it honours even on day one as bad light brought play to a close.

^{Tom Kohler-Cadmore will hope his half-century can galvanise a run at an England place}

Bristol (first day of four): Gloucestershire 80-6 v Northamptonshire

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Northamptonshire's prospects of playing in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship next season are greatly-enhanced following a productive first day against Second Division promotion rivals Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Steady afternoon rain caused 66.4 overs to be lost, yet there was still time for second-placed Northants to reduce their hosts to 80 for 6 and seize control of the match, Ben Sanderson taking 2-19 to advance his personal tally for the season to 60 wickets.

Ben Charlesworth did his best to keep Gloucestershire's first innings afloat, the teenage all-rounder contributing a defiant 35 not out on a day when conditions militated against batting fluency.

A draw will, in all likelihood, be enough to see both sides promoted ahead of Glamorgan, who must achieve a convincing win at Durham if they are to supplant either in the top three. That being the case, third-placed Gloucestershire will not be entirely unhappy with a weather forecast which raises serious doubt over prospects for play from here-on in.

Grace Road (first day of four): Leicestershire 155, Lancashire 2-1

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Seamer Richard Gleeson, arguably one of Lancashire's unsung heroes this season, picked up first-class best figures of 6-43 as the Division Two champions bowled Leicestershire out for just 155 on the first day of their Specsavers county championship match at the Fischer County Ground.

The return means Gleeson now has 44 championship wickets in nine matches played, at an average of less than 22. Only Graham Onions rested for this game, has more, with 45 in ten matches played.

There were also two wickets for Matt Parkinson, including that of his twin brother Callum, to mark his call-up to England's squads for the Test and T20 series in New Zealand this winter.

^{Richard Gleeson signed the season off in style}

Lord's (first day of four): Middlesex 176-3 v Derbyshire

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Sam Robson and Dawid Malan hit half-centuries as Middlesex built a solid platform on a truncated first day against Derbyshire at Lord’s.

Robson batted fluently for his knock of 93 from 163 balls, sharing a 90-run third-wicket partnership with Malan, who remained undefeated on 51 when bad weather brought proceedings to a premature close.

Hove (first day of four): Sussex 150-5 v Worcestershire

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Half-centuries by Stiaan van Zyl and Delray Rawlins helped Sussex recover to 150 for 5 on a rain-shortened first day of their County Championship match against Worcestershire at Hove. 

Sussex had been 32 for 3 following an uncontested toss with openers Luke Wells and Tom Haines both dismissed for ducks.

But van Zyl (56) and Rawlins (58) led the recovery before both departed in an afternoon session cut short by bad light.

Courtesy of the ECB reporters network