County Championship Plays of the Day - May 4

DIVISION ONE

SCORECARD: Essex 142 v Yorkshire 50 & 161/2
SCORECARD: Lancashire v Somerset 317/5 
SCORECARD: Surrey 278/4 v Worcestershire
SCORECARD: Notts 302 v Hampshire 70/3

DIVISION TWO

SCORECARD: Warwickshire 375/6 v Derbyshire 318 
SCORECARD: Durham v Leicestershire 301/4
SCORECARD: Glamorgan 94 v Kent 163/9
SCORECARD: Sussex 60/4 v Middlesex

There's only one place to start with our round up of Friday's action...

CARNAGE AT CHELMSFORD

Essex v Yorkshire could be done before lunch on Day Two. Yep, you read that right. A simply sensational day at Chelmsford yielded 22 wickets as the champions rolled the Tykes for a paltry 50 in their first innings. England captain Joe Root got a golden duck as Gary Ballance was the only man to make double figures. If it hadn't been for Dan Lawrence, Essex might not have made three figures in their reply either. Their 142 meant Yorkshire started their second dig after tea. Remember, this is Day One. Elevated to the opening spot Jonny Bairstow thrashed a quick-fire 50 as the visitors ended the first day on 161/2 - a lead of 69. Extraordinary.

TRES FORMIDABLE

Show me a human being on the planet that doesn't love Marcus Trescothick and I'll show you a liar. At the ripe old age of 42, the Somerset legend chalked up his 65th first-class century, even creaming the returning Jimmy Anderson (complete with bleached blond hair) for a fair few runs. It was made all the more heroic by an ankle roll, which saw Tres hobbling about until a runner was called to help him get the single he needed to reach three figures. He was out the very next ball. Sadly, it was later confirmed he had a broken metatarsal. Gutted.

DI STEVENS IS ON THE CASE

On a good day for Championship veterans, Darren Stevens proved again that while his pace may drop a smidge every year, he just can't stop taking wickets. Glamorgan were 57/1 and cruising before big Darren, with no little help from Matt Henry, helped himself to six wickets and in the blink of an eye the Welsh side had slumped to 94 all out. In reply, Kent clawed their way to 163/9 in the face of Timm van der Gugten's heroics - he took 6/40 - to lead by 69 runs.

SEVEN UP FOR O-ROB, CARDINAL BURNS

A County Championship best for Sussex's Ollie Robinson, who excelled in the sunshine at Hove. His 7/58 ensured Middlesex could only post 230 in their first innings, though had Sussex held onto their catches it could have been ever better for the home side. Middlesex's London neighbours Surrey fared much better, skipper Rory Burns batting all day at the Kia Oval to end on 137 not out as his side ended Day One 278/4.

SHOT OF THE DAY

Summer is back. Let's just hope it is here to stay...

Specsavers County Championship HUB