The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day one of the final round of the Vitality County Championship in 2024
Chester-le-Street (day one of four): Durham, Kent - no play due to rain
The start of Durham and Kent's final County Championship game of the season has been delayed after play was abandoned on day one due to heavy rain.
The heavens opened overnight and by the time play was due to start there were several puddles on the outfield at the Seat Unique Riverside.
Both sides will return on day two and will hope that the season's climax will begin on Friday morning.
There isn't too much at stake for both sides in this clash, with Durham safe in mid-table having secured their Division One status last time out, while Kent have been relegated and will finish the season bottom of the pile.
Related: Rain halts Surrey's underwhelming title party
Kyle Abbott took four wickets as Somerset rolled over in fewer than 54 completed overs (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Chelmsford (day one of four): Essex 116-1, Surrey -
An unbeaten century second-wicket stand between Dean Elgar and Tom Westley before the rains came brought champions Surrey back down to earth after their week-long celebrations.
Surrey completed their third successive Vitality County Championship win in their last game against Durham but were on the back foot during the 28-and-a-half overs possible until persistent heavy rain drove the players off the pitch nine minutes before lunch.
By that time, Essex, who won the toss, had reached 116 for 1 with Elgar and Westley hitting an under-strength Surrey attack to all corners of Chelmsford in a stand worth 112 in 26 overs.
Westley had started circumspectly but accelerated the more the partnership became entrenched. He had 11 boundaries in his 52 from 78 balls. Elgar, who passed 1,000 runs for the season during his 54 from 88 balls, had started brightly before handing the initiative to his captain.
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Trent Bridge (day one of four): Nottinghamshire 33-2, Warwickshire
The first day of a Vitality County Championship meeting at Trent Bridge between two sides still stalked by relegation was played by both with one ear cocked for developments 85 miles west, beside the Severn. Over in Worcester, Lancashire will escape if they can take 15 more points than Nottinghamshire can muster in this match or 20 more than Warwickshire.
With only 15.2 overs possible in all, Warwickshire made the better of what progress there was by the Trent, after a 1.10pm start and a long frustrating wait without cricket shortly after. At the close Nottinghamshire, put in, were 33 for 2.
In difficult conditions throughout, the damage might even have been worse and they will have greeted the premature close with much relief. Warwickshire's two new-ball bowlers, Olly Hannon-Dalby and Ed Barnard shared the spoils, such as they were, on a day tasting truly of autumn.
Related: Anthony McGrath set to re-join Yorkshire as head coach
It was a grim day across the country in Division One (Harry Trump/Getty Images)
Taunton (day one of four): Somerset 136, Hampshire 62-5 - Hampshire are 74 runs behind with five first-innings wickets remaining
Kyle Abbott and Liam Dawson claimed four wickets each as Hampshire boosted their bid for the runners-up spot in the County Championship by skittling nearest rivals Somerset for 136 on the opening day of the final Division One match at Taunton.
Seamer Abbott returned 4 for 37 and left-arm spinner Dawson 4 for 28. Only Tom Kohler-Cadmore, with 63, offered much resistance after the hosts had won the toss and elected to bat first on a dry surface, expected to take spin.
By the close of a rain-interrupted day, Hampshire had struggled to 62 for 5 in reply, Toby Albert unbeaten on 38 and Jack Leach taking 3 for 9. But, having failed to claim any batting points, Somerset now have to win the game to overtake their opponents and finish second behind champions Surrey.
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New Road (day one of four): Worcestershire 119-7, Lancashire
Lancashire made up for lost time and maintained their Vitality County Championship Division One survival hopes after Tom Bailey and Anderson Phillip impressed with the new ball against Worcestershire at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
Bailey and Phillip fully justified Lancashire skipper Keaton Jennings decision to put the home side into bat in reducing them to 22 for 5 and then 56 for 7 in seamer-friendly conditions when play got underway after lunch.
The duo both picked up three wickets to give Lancashire an ideal start to a game they have to win to keep alive their chances of remaining in the top flight for another season.
Lancashire began the game 15 points adrift of third from bottom Nottinghamshire but last week's win over Somerset at Emirates Old Trafford had kept them in contention.
Bailey bowled eight overs on the trot and returned excellent figures of 3 for 9 while Phillip had 3 for 44 from seven overs.
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