And just like that… the day is over. Time for this debutant to head home and drink some electrolytes, before rejoining the action tomorrow. Thanks for the warm welcome, and I’ll see you all back here in the morning!
Day one roundup
Rain brought an early close at Scarborough where Yorkshire took on Hampshire in Division One, but it didn’t dampen the efforts of either Mohammad Abbas or Kyle Abbott as they set the home side’s batting card alight. Yorkshire were 33 for six before a rescue effort from Will Fraine and Dom Bess – the only batters to reach double figures – put on 116 runs. Both men fell before close of play, and Yorkshire resume today on 158 for eight.
Seven of Warwickshire’s top eight made it into the 20s, but only Dom Sibley and Nathan McAndrew made it out of the 30s against Surrey at the Oval. There were three wickets for Conor McKerr, and Jamie Overton and Tom Lawes took two apiece as they restricted the visitors to 240 for eight.
The beachy Costa-del-wicket at Chelmsford told you what Essex were planning if they won the toss. Sure enough, they batted first against Somerset and Jack Leach was bowling before lunch. Alastair Cook and Nick Browne put on a hundred for the opening partnership, and Browne spread his first century since April across a patient five hours, helping his team to 281 for three at stumps.
Half-centuries from James Bracey and Ryan Higgins helped Gloucestershire to recover from 167 for five to 317 against Northamptonshire at Cheltenham. Higgin brought up his punchy 50 off 79 balls with a boundary off Rob Keogh, although the off-spinner had the last word, trapping him lbw next ball. Northants were 30 without loss at the close.
Thirty-five overs at Old Trafford were just enough for Navdeep Saini to prove why he was a brilliant signing for Kent, nipping out Luke Wells and Rob Jones in successive deliveries on his way to three for 45. Lancashire finished 112 for four.
Fifteen Division Two wickets fell at New Road, where Dillon Pennington’s opening spell left Derbyshire 14 for five, and only Anuj Dal’s dogged half-century could get them to 130, before Worcestershire had troubles of their own against the seamer Sam Conners, ending on 141 for five.
At the Riverside Alex Lees and Michael Jones put on an unbroken opening stand of 132 for Durham in the 44.5 overs they managed between rain delays against Middlesex.
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