Century number 104 for Ramprakash

Watchful early on, Mark Ramprakash blossomed alongside Usman Afzaal to put former county Middlesex under pressure

Mark Ramprakash wasted little time in adding to his century count by stroking 126 not out on his first LV= County Championship appearance of the season, against former county Middlesex.

The former England batsman, banned for the first two championship games after swearing at an umpire, remained unbeaten after 241 balls, as Surrey reached 290 for five at the Brit Oval. It was his 104th first-class ton.

Usman Afzaal earlier fell for 82 to Middlesex skipper Shaun Udal to break a 143-run stand between the pair.

Nottinghamshire underlined the potency of their seam attack by bowling Somerset out for a paltry 138 on the first day of the round of Division One matches.

With Stuart Broad away with England, and Charlie Shreck and Darren Pattinson injured, Luke Fletcher stepped up with four wickets to roll over their opponents at Trent Bridge.

With nothing of note from Somerset’s big guns - Marcus Trescothick (13) and Justin Langer (11) both fell cheaply - it was left to Zander de Bruyn (64) to edge Somerset towards the 150-mark.

Local boy Fletcher collected 4-38, while Ryan Sidebottom and Andre Adams took three wickets apiece.

However, the hosts fared little better with the bat, managing only 55 for three at the close with Charl Willoughby taking two for 27.

Yorkshire ground out supremacy over Warwickshire on the first day of their match with Warwickshire at Edgbaston, but Michael Vaughan missed out by making just 16.

The former England captain drove tamely to point to give Chris Woakes a prize wicket.

Vaughan’s frustration will have been heightened by the ease with which his team-mates plundered runs, notably Joe Sayers, who struck an unbeaten 114.

Jacques Rudolph also hit a half-century (62) in Yorkshire’s 258 for two, while Anthony McGrath will resume tomorrow on 46.

Inspired new-ball bowling from Glen Chapple and Sajid Mahmood put Lancashire in front in a lively clash with Worcestershire at New Road.

Chapple turned in an exceptional spell to leave the hosts reeling on 28 for three, eventually returning 6-34 as Worcestershire were skittled for 167.

Joe Sayers ensured Michael Vaughan's early loss was not costly by making a diligent 114 not out by close of play

Buy this photo

Mahmood, overlooked by England for the first npower Test, hoovered up the remaining four wickets as only in-form wicket-keeper Steven Davies (48) got a foothold at the crease.

Lancashire made swift progress but lost regular wickets on their way to 172 for five.

Chris Whelan claimed the first three scalps but Mark Chilton (51 not out) and Steven Croft (43) steadied the ship.

Dale Benkenstein proved the hero for Durham with a century to dig the reigning champions out of a hole against Sussex at Hove.

Durham were wobbling at 104 for five but Benkenstein hit 136 as the visitors recovered to post 318 for seven at the close.

Benkenstein shared a 148-run partnership with Liam Plunkett (65no) while Damien Wright took 3-57 for Sussex.

In Division Two, Leicestershire collapsed dramatically from 83 for nought to 133 all out against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Anthony Ireland collected six for 31 as only Tom New (54) got to grips with conditions at the crease. In reponse, Gloucestershire stuttered to 75 for four.

Essex were another side to find batting difficult as they were bowled out for 221 by hosts Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Andrew Hall took 5-29 but Monty Panesar was wicketless from four overs after coming on as a substitute having been left out of England’s Test line-up this morning. Jaik Mickleburgh (62) top-scored for Essex.

Northamptonshire were sailing along in reply but lost Niall O’Brien to the final ball of the day to close on 63 for one.

Teenage opener Sam Northeast made 87 on only his third first-class outing for Kent as the hosts racked up 282 in their first innings against Glamorgan at Canterbury.

The hosts slumped from 63 without loss to 84 for five after Rob Key was out for 25 before Wayne Parnell (90) and James Tredwell (59) helped rack up a respectable score. The remaining seven batsmen managed only seven runs between them.

Parnell also claimed the wicket of Gareth Rees as Glamorgan closed on 27 for one.