Mike Di Venuto - batting at Derby today Photo CricInfo

Surrey were reminded just how hard it is to win the title when they lost the toss at Canterbury against Kent in the latest round of Frizzell County Championship matches. They then had to endure much of a long day in the field as Kent's batsmen piled up 374. Leading the way was Andrew Symonds who reached 118 off 110 balls with 15 fours and two sixes. David Fulton scored 62 and Robert Key 57 in putting on 121 for the first wicket, but the lower Kent order fell away with little resistance as Saqlain Mustaq took five wickets and Ian Salisbury four. When Surrey batted, they lost Ian Ward cheaply as they reached 20 for one.

The weather ruined the first day of the Roses Match at Headingley, with only 48 overs bowled. After a delayed start, Yorkshire reached 163 for two, with Anthony McGrath on 55 and Darren Lehmann on 68 when rain returned to end play early.

Somerset were bowled out for 270 by Sussex at Taunton, and even that marked a major recovery by the lower order. They were 153 for seven at one time, but Matthew Bulbeck marshalled the tail with 53 not out. Tony Cottey, with a half century, and Michael Yardy shared a third wicket partnership of 70 for Sussex as they replied to the Somerset total by reaching 164 for two, although Yardy was forced to retire hurt just before the close of play.

Division Two leaders Middlesex started a day before the others in their match against Essex at Southgate. They took their first innings to 538, with Paul Weekes only adding four to his overnight 67 but David Nash went on to 81 not out, finding an unlikely partner in Phil Tufnell who scored 45 of a last wicket partnership that added 71. There were four wickets for Tim Phillips. Essex were soon deep in trouble in reply at seven for three. Darren Robinson initiated a recovery of sorts with 73, and Ronnie Irani confirmed that he was a man in form with 109 and has, so far, put on 65 with James Foster for the fifth wicket. At 239 for four, Essex trail by 299.

Derbyshire made 324 for seven having won the toss against Nottinghamshire at Derby, with a bulk of the runs coming from the top order. Michael Di Venuto got 91 of them, Chris Bassano 83 and Andrew Gait 76. Four of the wickets have fallen to Nicky Boje.

Chris Taylor led the Gloucestershire effort at Cheltenham with 126. He found little support until he was joined by Jack Russell who was 75 not out at the close having put on 179 with Taylor for the fifth wicket and 64 with Ian Fisher for the sixth as Gloucestershire reached 363 for five.

Mike Hussey became the first batsman to score a thousand first-class runs this season when he reached 70 for Northamptonshire against Worcestershire. But he did not stop there. Hussey went on to 163 not out at the close, by which time Northamptonshire were 339 for seven. The next highest scorer was Matt Cassar with 55.

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