County round-up: Trescothick to retire

DIVISION ONE
Essex 216 & 183 beat Somerset 131 & 117 by 151 runs
Surrey 194 & 325 beat Warwickshire 230 & 215 by 74 runs

DIVISION TWO
Gloucestershire 313 & 161 lost to Glamorgan 287 & 188/6 by 4 wickets
Northamptonshire 299 & 206/6d drew with Leicestershire 293
Sussex 232 & 240 lost to Durham 384 & 284/3d by 196 runs

Marcus Trescothick
After 27 summers of playing cricket, Somerset legend Marcus Trescothick is set to call time on his professional career at the end of this season. Having been part of the fabric of the game for so long, his departure will leave a mighty void, not just at Taunton but throughout the sport. For many, his career has spanned their entire experience of cricket. Somewhere along the way, he will have contributed to their love and knowledge of it, and for that they shall be thankful. But when it comes to reminiscing about a player's influence, in Trescothick's case, it's hard not to look beyond the boundary. While his performances on the pitch will be fondly remembered, it's his impact away from the middle where he left the greatest impression, bravely opening up about his experiences with depression and enlightening multiple generations on the debilitating mental illness, helping to remove the stigma attached. For that everyone should be grateful.

Championship title fight
The Somerset faithful will be hoping Trescothick gets to finish his career in style, finally winning the County Championship, however their title aims were dealt a blow by losing their first match of the season, away at Chelmsford. Essex had an ex-England opener of their own to thank for victory, Alastair Cook scoring a vital first-innings 80 before Jamie Porter (9/71) and Aaron Beard (7/45) put in sterling efforts with the ball to secure a 151-run win and move them within 13 points of Somerset.

Glammy rocking Div Two
Surprise contenders for the Division Two trophy Glamorgan inched their way closer to silverware and, crucially, promotion with victory over Gloucestershire. Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne once again produced the goods with the bat, hitting two half-centuries, taking his season tally to 851 runs. Yet it was the bowlers' showing in the first innings, who after suffering a miserable start to the opening day fought back to dismiss Gloucestershire for 313, that swung the match in Glamorgan's favour.

Durham on the move
A win on the final day against Sussex helped Durham leap from the foot of the Division Two table up to 8th. Ben Raine proved the hero, taking a career-best 6/27 either side of lunch following Chris Rushworth's earlier intervention at the top of the Sussex batting order. The win - Durham's second of the season - was built on an impressive performance in the first innings, Cameron Bancroft (158) and Ned Eckersley (118) making substantial contributions that always Sussex were in trouble.