Rudolph ton sets up Yorkshire

Gerard Brophy chipped in with 70 runs for Yorkshire

Jacques Rudolph struck a patient century to put LV County Championship Division One leaders Somerset on the back foot against Yorkshire at Taunton.

The former South Africa Test batsman was the star of the opening day with an innings of 155 before he became one of three victims for left-armer Ian Blackwell.

Rudolph enjoyed century partnerships with Andrew Gale (61) and Gerard Brophy (70) to guide the visitors to 315 for three, although three late wickets helped Somerset limit Yorkshire to 339 for six at the close.

Four half-centuries enabled Lancashire to frustrate second-placed Nottinghamshire at Old Trafford.

A century stand between openers Iain Sutcliffe and Paul Horton got the hosts off to the perfect start but Sutcliffe’s run-out for 50 with the score on 109 sparked a mini-collapse.

Horton (64) and Mal Loye then fell in the same over, the latter to Charlie Shreck, who also removed new overseas player Lou Vincent for five to leave Lancashire on 131 for four.

But Francois du Plessis and Steven Croft wrestled back control with a gritty stand of 84 before the former was snared by Graeme Swann’s arm-ball for 55 as Lancashire closed on 260 for five.

Croft will resume on 60 with stand-in skipper Luke Sutton 15 not out.

Twelve wickets fell at Chester-le-Street as Durham dismissed Hampshire for 239 before closing on 59 for two.

Callum Thorp was the mainstay with the ball as he claimed 5-64 with the Harmison brothers Ben and Steve collecting the other five - Ben taking the family honours with 3-25.

Opener Michael Carberry held the visitors’ innings together with an attractive and fluent 78 while Sean Ervine also notched a half-century.

Graham Wagg took 4-66 for Derbyshire © Getty Images

Hampshire claimed two scalps in the 20 overs faced by Durham, Mark Stoneman and Will Smith falling cheaply, but dangerman Michael Di Venuto is unbeaten on 35 having survived a couple of late scares.

There was no play in the Division One match at Canterbury between Kent and champions Sussex due to heavy showers.

Opener Ian Westwood compiled an unbeaten century as Warwickshire boosted their chances of topping the Division Two table by reaching 278 for four against Glamorgan in Cardiff.

Westwood dominated proceedings with a championship-best knock of 139 while wicketkeeper Tony Frost will resume on 42 not out.

Alex Wharf was the pick of the bowlers for the Welsh county with 2-69.

Derbyshire skittled Worcestershire for 151 before bad light brought an early end to play at Chesterfield.

Graham Wagg and Charl Langeveldt claimed four wickets apiece while the visitors’ best partnership of the day was 50 for the last wicket between Steve Magoffin (33 from 30 balls) and Simon Jones.

Essex were another side that failed to impose themselves with the bat as they were hurried out for 161 by Middlesex at Lord’s.

Tim Murtagh caused mayhem for the visitors to finish with 6-44 while Gareth Berg chipped in with a handy three wickets. England all-rounder Ravi Bopara top-scored for Essex with 43.

The hosts closed on 75 for one, Ed Smith the only wicket to fall for 37.

Bad light held up Gloucestershire’s Marcus North as he moved to within sight of a century in the away clash against Northamptonshire.

The hosts were on top when they reduced Gloucestershire to 77 for three but a 151-partnership between North and Alex Gidman (68) turned things around, the left hander digging in to finish the day unbeaten on 84.