Gary Keedy kept his cool to steer Lancashire to a thrilling one-wicket win over Leicestershire in their Frizzell County Championship opener at Old Trafford. Set 388 runs for victory, Mark Chilton (53), Alec Swann (49), Stuart Law (69) and Graham Lloyd (73) had kept Lancashire on target until a late clatter of wickets almost cost them the game. Joined by last man Michael Smethurst with five still needed, Keedy drove Devon Malcolm for four and then took two more to see his side home by a whisker.

The game at Canterbury ended in a draw after John Crawley's monumental first effort for Hampshire eventually came to an end. The former Lancashire batsman was run out for 272, shortly before the visitors overhauled Kent's first-innings 577. South African wicket-keeper Nic Pothas, also making his Hampshire debut, made 48 before his team was finally bowled out for 671. The match was called off after Kent declared their second innings on 163/4, 69 runs ahead.

Surrey duly knocked off the 89 further runs they needed to beat Sussex at The Oval. Mark Butcher found some early-season form with an unbeaten 68, while Ian Ward (43*) kept him company throughout the morning as Surrey cruised to a ten-wicket win. Surrey take 20 points and Sussex five.

In Division Two, Lian Wharton finished with a career-best 6-103 as Derbyshire confounded their pre-season detractors, opening their campaign with a 163-run win. After a delayed start at Cardiff Mark Wallace completed a century for Glamorgan, but he lost Michael Kasprowicz for 36 with the score on 291, and Dean Cosker at 319. The end came at 341 with the dismissal of Simon Jones.

A Gloucestershire second-innings collapse gave Worcestershire a comprehensive win at New Road. Set 361 to win, the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals, with only Ian Harvey (41) providing significant resistance. Kabir Ali and Alamgir Sheriyar each took two wickets and Gareth Batty three as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 154, giving the home team a 206-run win.

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