The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day one of round eight of the Vitality County Championship in 2024
Bristol (day one of four): Derbyshire 434-5, Gloucestershire
Matt Lamb's career-best 186 not out and 95 from Brooke Guest put Derbyshire in a strong position on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship Second Division match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.
The visitors ran up 434 for 5 after opting to bat first on an overcast morning, Lamb making his runs, off 228 balls, with 28 fours and a six, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 227 in 52.4 overs with Guest to help their team recover from 69 for 3.
Aneurin Donald then contributed 67 to a century partnership with Lamb on a day when Derbyshire exploited some wayward bowling and a short boundary on all sides of the ground to plunder 59 fours and three sixes.
Overseas signing Beau Webster was the pick of a Gloucestershire attack not helped by several mistakes in the field, the Aussie returning three for 82 from 19 overs on his first appearance at the Seat Unique Stadium.
Adam Lyth made a hundred for Yorkshire (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Grace Road (day one of four): Glamorgan 352-8, Leicestershire
Glamorgan benefited from some inconsistent Leicestershire bowling as they finished on 352 for 8 on day one of their Vitality County Championship match at Leicester after being put in on a pitch as green as the unprepared strips next to it.
With leading run-scorer Colin Ingram rested, Eddie Byrom (86) and Kiran Carlson (80) were the chief beneficiaries as Leicestershire conceded cheap runs in the first half of the day.
The Welsh county slipped from 190 for 2 to 277 for 8 as the home attack fought back before tea, but Sam Northeast, whose name is indelibly linked with this ground after his unbeaten 410 on a record-breaking day here two years ago, anchored some solid resistance in the final session and will resume on 61 not out.
Scott Currie, who is at the Uptonsteel County Ground on a season-long loan from Hampshire, finished with 4 for 53, which as it stands are career-best figures for the 23-year-old seamer.
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Lord's (day one of four): Sussex 295-4, Middlesex
Cheteshwar Pujara plundered runs against Middlesex's bowling attack yet again as Sussex posted 295 for 4 after being inserted in the battle between the top two sides in Vitality County Championship Division Two.
The India Test veteran, who scored 231 on Sussex’s last visit to Lord's in 2022 – along with a century against Middlesex at Hove earlier that year – ended the opening day unbeaten on 91.
Pujara's patient knock formed part of an unbroken stand of 131 with his captain and ex-Middlesex wicketkeeper John Simpson, who struck 71 not out on his return to the county where he spent 15 seasons.
Ethan Bamber claimed two wickets for the home side, with Ryan Higgins and Henry Brookes taking one apiece.
Sam Northeast was unbeaten at the close (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
Related: Reunion starts well for John Simpson, Sussex's novice captain making the most of his fresh start
Wantage Road (day one of four): Yorkshire 312-7, Northamptonshire
Adam Lyth celebrated his 200th Championship match for Yorkshire by scoring his third century of the season on day one of this Vitality County Championship game against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.
In-form Lyth, who made his White Rose debut against Durham in 2008, looked in command throughout his innings of 109 (205 balls), playing his trademark cover drive and tucking the ball sweetly off his legs. His 35th first-class century follows scores of 101 and 113 against Leicestershire and Gloucestershire this spring, and a 97 against Derbyshire.
While he was again unable to press home the advantage and post a big more emphatic total, his partnership of 116 in 33.4 overs with Shan Masood (60) provided Yorkshire with a solid platform.
Northamptonshire failed to capitalise in the afternoon session despite winning the toss and sticking Yorkshire in on green top under lights. But the tide turned after tea as the hosts fought back, skipper Luke Procter (3 for 63) and former Indian international Siddharth Kaul (2 for 81) sharing the spoils as Yorkshire lost five wickets for 52, before rallying to finish on 312 for 7.
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