Championship Digest: Sunday, September 5, 2021

Find out what happened across the LV= Insurance County Championship on day one of the second round of divisional fixtures

Division One

Nottinghamshire v Lancashire

Trent Bridge (first day of four): Nottinghamshire 272, Lancashire 28-2 - Lancashire trail by 244 runs with eight first-innings wickets remaining

Scorecard

Seamers Tom Bailey and Danny Lamb claimed four wickets each as Nottinghamshire were dismissed for 272 on the opening of what may be a crucial match in the race for the LV=Insurance County Championship.

There were half-centuries for Ben Duckett, on-loan Sam Northeast and Joe Clarke for Nottinghamshire but Lancashire fought back as the home side lost five wickets for 19 runs either side of tea before Luke Fletcher led a one-man rally, helping the last two wickets add 42.

Lancashire will have work to do on the second day, however, after closing on 28 for two, having lost Alex Davies, who was caught behind without scoring, and Luke Wells, well held at short leg, both off the bowling of Brett Hutton.

Worryingly for Lancashire and England, pace bowler Saqib Mahmood had to leave the field soon after tea, pulling up midway through the second over of his fourth spell of the day with an apparent side strain.

Warwickshire v Hampshire

Edgbaston (first day of four): Hampshire 89 & 41-0, Warwickshire 116 - Hampshire lead by 14 runs with 10 second-innings wickets remaining

Scorecard

The seamers of Warwickshire and Hampshire made hay as 20 wickets fell on an extraordinary opening day of their LV=Insurance County Championship game at Edgbaston. 

After the start was delayed by an hour while the ECB decided it was safe for the match to be played in light of a positive Covid test in the Hampshire camp, the bowlers soon prospered. 

Hampshire, put in, were all out for 89 before lunch, losing their last nine wickets for 45 runs as Will Rhodes took 5 for 23, Liam Norwell 2 for 13 and Craig Miles 2 for 25.  

But they struck back to bowl top-of-the-table Warwickshire out for 116 (Mohammad Abbas 5 for 29, Keith Barker 5 for 43). Sam Hain (41, 102 balls) was the only batsman to pass 30 all day. 

Hampshire reached 41 without loss - 24 in front - in their second innings at the close of a day which warranted a visit not from a pitch inspector but a batting inspector. 

Yorkshire v Somerset

Scarborough (first day of four): Somerset 134, Yorkshire 159-5 - Yorkshire lead by 25 runs with five first-innings wickets remaining

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Matthew Fisher claimed career-best figures before Harry Brook’s unbeaten 79 put Yorkshire in control on day one of their LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Somerset in Scarborough.

Fisher cleaned up Somerset’s lower order to claim 5 for 41 as the visitors were dismissed for just 134 on an opening day where 15 wickets fell.

Josh Davey helped Somerset fight back with the ball, but Brook guided Yorkshire into a 25-run lead at 159 for 6.

Division Two

Durham v Glamorgan

Chester-le-Street (first day of four): Glamorgan 97, Durham 223-3 - Durham lead by 126 runs with seven first-innings wickets remaining

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Durham enjoyed an outstanding first day of their LV= Insurance County Championship clash against Glamorgan, bowling the visitors out for 97 before ending the evening session with a lead of 126 at Emirates Riverside.

The two sides locked horns once again three weeks removed from their Royal London Cup final clash where the Welsh outfit defeated Durham.

However, the North East side earned a semblance of revenge by skittling Glamorgan for 97 as Paul Coughlin tore through their line-up with four wickets. 

Michael Jones led Durham past the visitors' total with ease by scoring 81 alongside Alex Lees also notched a half-century, posting an opening stand of 119. The hosts were in a position of strength at 223 for 3 at the close, 126 runs in front heading into day two.

^{Nathan Gilchrist finished with career-best figures}

Essex v Gloucestershire

Chelmsford (first day of four): Gloucestershire 76, Essex 150-5 - Essex lead by 74 runs with five first-innings wickets remaining

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Paul Walter hit his fourth LV= Insurance Championship half-century of the season as Essex eked out a painstaking 74-run lead on a sun-baked Chelmsford day when 15 wickets fell.

The tall left-hander was the only batsman to get to grips with a worn pitch on which Gloucestershire were bowled out for a paltry 76 in 28 overs before lunch.

Gloucestershire were undone in double-quick time as seamer Jamie Porter marked his 100th first-class appearance with 4 for 32, supported in a blistering opening spell by Sam Cook (3-27). 

Division Two leaders Essex started in similar downbeat mode until Walter stepped in. By the close of the first day, he had reached 71 not out from 189 balls.

Northamptonshire v Surrey

Northampton (first day of four): Surrey 252, Northamptonshire 7-0 - Northamptonshire trail by 245 runs with 10 first-innings wickets remaining

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Jamie Smith’s stunning century rescued Surrey from a perilous position on day one of their LV=Insurance County Championship clash with Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

The 21-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman reached 123 with a six and 17 fours -  the third first-class hundred of his career - to drag the visitors from 15 for 3 to 252 all out. 

Another home-grown talent Will Jacks provided great support, making 60 as they added 145 for the fifth wicket.

However, Tom Taylor’s first five-wicket haul of the season kept the hosts, who were 7 for 0 in reply at the close, right in the game after a topsy-turvy day.

^{Lewis Hill will resume with a century in mind}

Division Three

Derbyshire v Leicestershire

Derby (first day of four): Leicestershire 282-3 v Derbyshire

Scorecard

A disciplined batting performance gave Leicestershire the upper hand on the first day of the LV=Insurance County Championship match against Derbyshire at Derby.

Sam Evans faced 292 balls for 88 while Lewis Hill and George Rhodes also made half-centuries as the visitors took advantage of a flat pitch.

Hill was unbeaten on 86 from 124 balls and Rhodes scored 54 from 84 balls to take Leicestershire to 282 for 3 at the close.

Kent v Worcestershire

Canterbury (first day of four): Worcestershire 133, Kent 184-4 - Kent lead by 51 runs with six first-innings wickets remaining

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Kent lead Worcestershire by 51 runs in their LV= Insurance County Championship match at Canterbury, reaching 184 for four at stumps on day one. 

Nathan Gilchrist took a career-best 5 for 39 and Matt Milnes 4 for 35 as Worcestershire were all out for 133, Ben Cox their top scorer with 41 not out. 

Darren Stevens and Jack Leaning were unbeaten on 56 and 52 respectively at the close after Ollie Robinson hit 50. 

Dillon Pennington took 3 for 39, but after reducing Kent to 22 for 3, Worcestershire’s bowlers toiled.