Former England captain Ben Stokes made a half-century as Durham finished the opening day against Worcestershire 437-7 in an innings where Mayank Agarwal scored a brilliant 177 in the county championship.
Durham have already been crowned Division Two champions and secured promotion, but that didn’t stop them piling on the runs at The Riverside, with wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson (78 not out) also enjoying a fine day with the bat.
In the First Division, Surrey – struggle for survival – diminished Glamorgan to 132 all out but then mustered just 115 in reply after 20 wickets fell on the opening day at The Oval, with the visitors reaching 30 not out in their second innings to lead by 47 runs at the close of play.
At the top of the table provided Ethan Bamber and Sam Hain Warwickshire maintained their title challenge by closing the first day against Essex with a lead of 17 runs with one wicket in hand.
Seamer Bamber took six for 26 at Chelmsford to help Essex skittle out 134 and as wickets continued to fall in Warwickshire’s reply, Hain was unbeaten on 58 as the visitors closed on 151 for nine.
Warwickshire began the penultimate round of fixtures in third place, five points off the leaders Somerset and four behind the defending champions Nottinghamshirewhile conditions up and down the country favored the bowlers.
Somerset’s Lewis Gregory, Migael Pretorius and Jake Ball took three wickets each as they bowled out. Yorkshire for 212 at Headingley, but the visitors then struggled to 68 for five and trailed by 144 at the end.
Nottinghamshire moved up to 150 for eight against Sussex in Hove before Brett Hutton (59 not out) and Tom Giles (32) shared a 74-run stand in the ninth over, with the visitors to resume at 232 for nine.
Leicestershire captain Ian Holland claimed six for 38 as the relegation rivals Hampshire were blasted out for 214 at Grace Road – Nathan Gilchrist adding four for 54 as visiting captain Ben Brown made a challenging 80 not out – before Hamza Shaikh (50 not out) helped the hosts reach 148 for seven in reply, 66 runs behind.
Bangladesh seamer Khaled Ahmed took five for 42 on his home debut for the promotion chase Kent at Canterbury in the Second Division, and Matt Milnes finished with four for 28 as Lancashire were bowled out for 161.
Kent opener Zach Crawley then made an unbeaten 68 to help the hosts reach 151 for seven, 10 runs behind with three wickets remaining as James Anderson and Tom Bailey took three each.
Promotion rivals Northamptonshire is allowed Derbyshire to buck the trend as captain Wayne Madsen (151) and number eight Ben Aitchison (106) both made centuries to help the visitors reach 372 all out. Northamptonshire were 15 for no loss at the close and will resume 357 runs behind.
The middle sex closed on 324 for nine at Bristol against the bottom side Gloucestershire.
