North

Jason Gillespie signs autographs at Headingley © Getty Images Enlarge

Pre-tournament favourites Lancashire came unstuck at Derby where Graham Wagg took three early wickets as they were bowled out for 114. Even so, Derbyshire did their best to muck things up, scraping home with three balls to spare, thanks to a half-century from Steve Stubbings.

A disappointing crowd of 4,884 at Headingley watched a poor match as Durham struggled to 121 for 8, with Darren Lehmann, the unlikely bowling star, with 3 for 19. Yorkshire ambled to an eight wicket win with more than three overs to spare.

There was a low-scoring match at Grace Road where Leicestershire's 137 for 6 looked well below par, but Nottinghamshire collapsed to 46 for 7 and were always struggling thereafter, finally ending up 14 runs short.

South

James Benning of Surrey celebrates catching Middlesex's Ed Smith © Getty Images Enlarge

More than 28,000 packed Lord's as Surrey maintained their unbeaten Twenty20 record against Middlesex. Ali Brown (83) and James Benning (57) added 148 for Surrey's first wicket as they amassed 218 for 7, and then Tim Murtagh, who took a record six wickets in this game last year, reduced Middlesex to 13 for 4 to end the contest. They eventually made 178.

Sussex, second favourites for the title, restricted Hampshire to 152 for 6 at Arundel, Mushtaq Ahmed taking 4 for 30, and then knocked off the runs with five balls and five wickets in hand. The match was tarnished by an incident in which Matt Prior was run-out at the non-striker's end.

Kent's 186 for 6 at Beckenham was enough to beat Essex who had Ronnie Irani (61) to thank for even keeping them in the game as they were bowled out for 147. Tyron Henderson, Kent's new signing from South Africa, and Neil Dexter shared six wickets.

Midlands/Wales/West

Somerset got their campaign off to a flying start by posting a record 250 for 3 against Gloucestershire at Taunton, with the Australian duo of Cameron White (116 from 53 balls) and Justin Langer (90) leading the charge. The visitors folded meekly for 133.

At Northampton, Warwickshire's 185 for 5 was enough to earn the points as Northamptonshire limped to 161.

Brendon McCullum cracked 63 off 26 balls to help Glamorgan to a seven-wicket win over Worcestershire at Cardiff.