COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE ROUNDUP: Meanwhile, Tom Clark and John Simpson were in the runs for Division Two champions Sussex, and Essex punished Surrey at Chelmsford
Chelmsford (day one of four): Essex 356-4, Surrey
Jordan Cox made sure his name remained on the England selectors' radar with the ninth first-class century of his career, and fifth inside a year since joining Essex, as reigning champions Surrey toiled under bright Chelmsford skies.
The 24-year-old Cox was on the cusp of an England debut in New Zealand last autumn before suffering another injury setback. But a swashbuckling 117 from 148 balls in the opening County Championship match of the season can only have helped his cause ahead of a year in which England face first Zimbabwe and then India and Australia.
His powerful innings overshadowed an otherwise excellent 95 from makeshift opener Paul Walter. The 30-year-old left-hander, better known for his big-hitting exploits in T20 cricket, fell just short of what would have been only his third red-ball century.
Walter's stands of 78 with rookie opener Charlie Allison and 100 with Cox, along with Cox's 92 with Matt Critchley, underpinned an Essex total of 356 for 4 on the first day against a Surrey pace attack devoid of the likes of Gus Atkinson, Dan Worrall and Tom Lawes. Kemar Roach added some respite with 2 for 54 from 18 overs.
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Colin Ackermann on his way to scoring the first century of the new county season (Mark Dunn)
Southampton (day one of four): Yorkshire 121, Hampshire 164-5 - Hampshire lead by 43 runs with five first-innings wickets remaining
Kyle Abbott and Liam Dawson made sure Jonny Bairstow had a roller-coaster of a first day as Yorkshire captain, as Hampshire edged the opening day of their County Championship fixture.
The Bairstow era started strongly after winning the toss, but quickly fell apart as Yorkshire crumpled to 121 all out, with the last five wickets collapsing in four overs.
Abbott and Dawson both shared three wickets apiece, while Brad Wheal and debutants Brett Hampton and Sonny Baker also picked up one each.
But late wickets in the day - including two for Jack White and George Hill - left Hampshire five down at close with a 43-run first innings lead - to bookend the day with smiles for Bairstow.
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Taunton (day one of four): Worcestershire 154, Somerset 187-4 - Somerset lead by 33 runs with six first-innings wickets remaining
Somerset all-rounder Kasey Aldridge claimed five wickets in a dramatic Worcestershire batting collapse on the opening day of the County Championship First Division match at Taunton.
From an encouraging 102 for 1, the visitors were skittled for just 154 after losing the toss, tall seamer Aldridge taking 5 for 36 from eight overs and Craig Overton finishing with 3 for 24. Gareth Roderick top-scored with 58, while fellow opener Jake Libby made 30 and Matthew Waite 32 not out.
In reply, Somerset stumbled to 39 for 3 before closing on 187 for 4, Tom Banton and Tom Abell having shared a century fourth-wicket stand. Abell contributed 52 and Banton an unbeaten 84, off 103 balls, with 17 fours.
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Hampshire bowler Kyle Abbott celebrates dismissing George Hill (Dave Vokes/Hampshire Cricket)
Edgbaston (day one of four): Sussex 386-5, Warwickshire
Centuries by Tom Clark and John Simpson ensured that Sussex returned to the County Championship Division One with a strong day's work against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Clark struck an accomplished 140 (279 balls) and Simpson an assertive unbeaten 116 (142) in a partnership of 200 in 44 overs as Sussex recovered from 40 for 3 to close on 386 for five.
Three early wickets for debutant Ethan Bamber appeared to vindicate Warwickshire's decision to bowl first, but thereafter it was a struggle for an attack missing injured first-choice opening bowlers Olly Hannon-Dalby and Chris Rushworth.
Clark and Simpson took full advantage to post their fourth and 16th first-class centuries respectively.
Trent Bridge (day one of four): Durham 370-9, Nottinghamshire
Colin Ackermann posted the first century of the County Championship season as Durham recovered to 370 for nine on the opening day against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
Australian pace bowler Fergus O'Neill took 4 for 74 on his debut for the home side, but it was Ackermann - celebrating his 34th birthday - who delivered the outstanding performance in the Nottingham sunshine as the visitors battled back from 171 for 5 after being asked to bat first.
On what looked a good pitch, the South African-born all-rounder enjoyed a moment of freakish good fortune on 80 when a ball from Lyndon James clipped his off stump only for the disturbed bail to drop back into its groove, but otherwise did not offer a chance until he was dismissed on 116, having hit 17 fours and a six.
Alex Lees marked his first match as Durham's club captain with a half-century, while Josh Tongue took two wickets on his much-delayed Nottinghamshire debut, although he looked nowhere near the form that catapulted him into England's Test side in 2023. Graham Clark and George Drissell each made 45.
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