The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day one of round eight of the Vitality County Championship in 2024
Chester-le-Street (day one of four): Somerset 171, Durham 177-6 - Durham lead by six runs with four wickets remaining
A late fightback from Somerset left their Vitality County Championship game with Durham finely poised, despite starring roles from Ben Stokes and David Bedingham.
Stokes took four wickets to restrict Somerset to 171 in their first innings, while Bedingham led Durham's reply with an unbeaten century on day one at an overcast Seat Unique Riverside.
Having been put in on a grassy pitch, Somerset had their backs to the wall for most of the day, but Migael Pretorius, who was later replaced by Jake Ball due to concussion, reached his second fifty of the season and Craig Overton had the hosts in a spot of bother at 19 for 3.
Ball took three late wickets including that of Stokes – without scoring – and Ollie Robinson, but Bedingham reached his century just before close to leave Durham 177 for 6, six runs ahead with four wickets intact.
David Beedingham has been the standout batter at Chester-le-Street (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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Utilita Bowl (day one of four): Surrey 127, Hampshire 102-1 - Hampshire trail by 25 runs with nine wickets remaining
Kyle Abbott became Utilita Bowl's greatest-ever wicket-taker as Hampshire showed a chink in champions Surrey’s quest for a third straight Vitality County Championship crown.
Fast bowler Abbott overtook Dimi Mascarenhas' 186 scalps at the ground as his predatory post-lunch spell of 5 for 25 put him on 188 home wickets since initially arriving in 2014.
The South African was supplemented by Liam Dawson's 3 for 21 as Surrey were rolled for 127 – although with the warning that they have recovered from 15 for four to beat Worcestershire last week.
To add to Surrey, and potentially England's, woes, wicket-keeper Ben Foakes didn't keep wicket due to a back spasm, as Hampshire ground out a glacial 102 for 1.
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Canterbury (day one of four): Essex 287-4, Kent
Essex recovered from an early evening wobble to reach 287 for 4 at stumps on day one of their Vitality County Championship derby with Kent at Canterbury.
Openers Dean Elgar and Nick Browne scored 77 and 65 respectively, putting on 146 for the first wicket.
Joey Evison took 2 for 38 for a Kent attack weakened by injuries, but after reducing Essex to 224 for 4, they were unable to shift either Jordan Cox or Michael Pepper, who were unbeaten on 51 and 35 at the close.
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It was a familiar story for Worcestershure on their return to New Road (Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
Old Trafford (day one of four): Warwickshire 89-3, Lancashire
Three wickets from Lancashire's Tom Bailey put the hosts in charge against Warwickshire after a truncated day at Emirates Old Trafford ended with the visitors 89 for 3 from 39 overs at the close of day one of this Vitality County Championship Division One clash.
Bailey, who has struggled for consistency so far this campaign, showed what the Red Rose had been missing, as he dismissed Rob Yates, Will Rhodes and Ed Barnard either side of tea to finish the day with 3 for 25 after the game had finally got underway at 2.10pm following overnight rain.
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New Road (day one of four): Worcestershire, Nottinghamshire - no play
Worcestershire's return to playing cricket at Visit Worcestershire New Road ended in a frustrating first-day blank in the County Championship encounter with Nottinghamshire.
There was an eager sense of anticipation amongst members and supporters with Worcestershire back at their headquarters after being forced to switch their opening two home games with Durham and Somerset to Kidderminster
Eight floods had engulfed the ground during the winter but hopes of play on being back to their headquarters were dashed by a damp patch on the bowlers' run-up at the New Road End.
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