Leaders Surrey reached 191 for five on the rain-delayed first day of their Frizzell County Championship Match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. After rain prevented play until 1200, Dougie Brown gave the hosts an excellent start, with three wickets as Surrey slipped to 59 for four. But Mark Ramprakash (67*) and his skipper Adam Hollioake (66) shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 88 before Hollioake was dismissed just before the close.

Carl Crowe took three wickets for second-placed Leicestershire as they bowled out third-placed Hampshire for 311 at Grace Road. Nic Pothas (63) and John Crawley (60) shored up the hosts, while there were also two wickets for Academy hopeful Matthew Whiley.

Kent's Amjad Khan (six for 56) broke the back of the Sussex batting after the hosts were put in at Hove. Martin Saggers and David Masters shared the remaining wickets as Sussex were turned over for just 145, with only Michael Yardy (33) passing 20. At stumps Kent were 152 for five, with Ed Smith unbeaten on 63.

At Scarborough, Peter Bowler gave Somerset the backbone Sussex lacked. Bowler (84), Piran Holloway (65) and Keith Parsons (59) helped the visitors to a healthy 299 for five at stumps against bottom-of-the-table Yorkshire. Off-spinner Richard Dawson took two wickets for the hosts.

Division Two leaders Essex had a bad day at Southend. Worcestershire's off-spinning all-rounder Gareth Batty garnered six for 71 as the hosts crumbled to 197 all out. Veteran John Stephenson (44) led a praiseworthy rearguard action, and Andy Flower made 41. At the close the visitors were 20 for no wicket in reply.

Another veteran, Kim Barnett, scored his 61st first-class century to hold second-placed Middlesex at bay at Southgate. Barnett (119*) was assisted first by Craig Spearman (46) and then by Mark Alleyne (45) as Gloucestershire closed on 270 for four.

A two-day finish looks possible at Darlington between third-placed Derbyshire and bottom-of-the-table Durham, who were bowled out for 191 by Derbyshire, for whom Kevin Dean took four for 65. At one point Durham were 108 for seven before Graeme Bridge (49) led a minor revival. Derbyshire fared even worse as Neil Killeen (three for 27), Mark Davies (two for 18) and Marc Symington (two for 12) shot them out for just 96, with only Michael Di Venuto (57) and Lian Wharton reaching double figures. At stumps Durham were 63 without loss in their second innings, 158 ahead.

Paul Franks (four for 46) and Andrew Harris (four for 70) combined to bowl Glamorgan out for 213 at Trent Bridge, with only Ian Thomas (76) playing an innings of substance. Notts ended the day on 133 for two, with Guy Welton on 55 and Usman Afzaal 53.

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