The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action on day one of the third round of LV= Insurance County Championship matches in 2023
Lord's (first day of four): Nottinghamshire 252-5 v Middlesex
Ben Duckett maintained his early-season form with an undefeated century at Lord's as Nottinghamshire reached 252 for 5 on the opening day of their LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Middlesex.
The England opener, who recorded scores of 51 and 75 in the first two matches of the summer, topped those performances with a diligent 119 not out before bad light brought play to a premature close.
Having survived an edge off Ethan Bamber when he had yet to score, Duckett capitalised by sharing an opening stand of 117 with Haseeb Hameed, who missed out on the chance of a third consecutive Championship ton at Lord's.
Bamber, who eventually claimed the scalp of Hameed for 55, was the pick of the Middlesex bowlers with figures of 2 for 62.
Ben Duckett maintained his fine start to the county summer (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Taunton (first day of four): Somerset 311-4 v Lancashire
Unbeaten centuries from Tom Abell and James Rew helped Somerset fight back from a perilous 80 for 4 to dominate the first day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match with Lancashire at Taunton.
By the close, the hosts had posted 311 for 4 after losing the toss, Abell contributing 119, off 242 balls, with 13 fours and a six, and 19-year-old Rew 114, from 240 deliveries, including 16 fours and a six, to an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 231.
It was Abell's 14th first-class century and Rew's second. They came together before lunch and batted for the rest of the day, barely playing a false stroke.
James Anderson was the most successful Lancashire bowler with two for 56 from 19 overs, but it proved a frustrating day for the visitors after a promising start.
Northampton (first day of four): Hampshire 287-4 v Northamptonshire
Nick Gubbins and James Vince shared a record third wicket partnership for Hampshire against Northamptonshire as they made the hosts pay for a series of dropped catches on the opening day of this LV= Insurance County Championship clash at Wantage Road.
The pair put on 198 runs with Gubbins, out shortly before the close, making an excellent 125 off 249 deliveries with 15 boundaries, while Vince finished the day unbeaten on 104, Hampshire closing on 287 for 4.
In the process, they broke the previous Hampshire record set by Phil Mead and Jack Newman at Southampton in 1927.
Essex captain Tom Westley leading from the front (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Canterbury (first day of four): Essex 164-1 v Kent
Essex dominated a truncated first day against Kent in the LV= Insurance County Championship at Canterbury, posting 164 for 1.
Tom Westley was unbeaten on 71 and Nick Browne made 54 before the rain intervened.
Kent debutant Wes Agar took the only wicket to fall when he had Alastair Cook caught behind, leaving him with figures of 39 for one.
The players initially came off for bad light during the afternoon session and heavy rain subsequently saw play officially abandoned at 5 pm.
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