Somerset punish Kent

Third-placed Kent are in trouble against Somerset after the first day of their LV County Championship Division One clash at Taunton.

The hosts battered their way to 427 all out in 88.5 overs after being asked to bat before reducing Kent, who stand just two points behind leaders Nottinghamshire, to 13 for three.

Somerset were boosted by half-centuries from Marcus Trescothick (58), Justin Langer (50), Peter Trego (65), Zander de Bruyn (81) and Ian Blackwell (55), while Martin Saggers took 3-44 for Kent.

In reply, Joe Denly fell for a four-ball duck, trapped lbw by Charl Willoughby, and Rob Key (eight) and nightwatchman Saggers (five) followed as the visitors closed in a precarious position.

Sussex dominated Hampshire in the battle of the top flight’s bottom two at Arundel.

The champions were in trouble when three wickets fell with the score on 24 but centuries from Carl Hopkinson, whose 106 was his first championship ton, and Murray Goodwin (115 not out) helped them to 316 for five at stumps on day one.

Surrey opening batsman Scott Newman cuts on his way to three figures against Durham

James Tomlinson’s 3-81 was the best of the Hampshire attack.

At Guildford, Steve Harmison (2-31) and Liam Plunkett (3-49) were outshone by Ben Harmison’s 4-27 as Durham bowled Surrey out for just 220.

But the visitors fared no better as they slumped to 44 for three in pursuit, Jimmy Ormond taking 2-23.

Surrey had been almost entirely reliant on Scott Newman’s 113 for their modest total as they collapsed from 199 for four.

In Division Two, honours were just about even between the top two, Warwickshire and Middlesex, at Uxbridge.

Warwickshire reached 271 for five at stumps, thanks largely to Jim Troughton’s 83 not out and Tony Frost’s 84.

They shared a 157-run partnership for the fifth wicket which helped them recover from the depths of 78 for four.

Derbyshire batted themselves into a strong position against Northamptonshire at the County Ground.

The visitors were 352 for six at the end of day one thanks to a solid effort that included half-centuries from Paul Borrington (57), Wavell Hinds (76), Greg Smith (50) and Jonathan Clare (58no) and Graham Wagg (81no).

Northants seamers David Wigley and David Lucas took three wickets apiece before the visitors hit back.