Chanderpaul keeps Durham on top
A round-up of the first day's play between Durham and Somerset at Chester-le-Street
Cricinfo staff
02-Sep-2009
Division One
Shivnarine Chanderpaul stood firm with an unbeaten century, as Durham were made to battle to keep the ascendancy on a tough day's cricket at Chester-le-Street. Having taken control of the match by bowling Somerset out for 174 on the first day, Durham were indebted to Chanderpaul who overcame a collapse of 3 for 5 in five overs to convert his overnight 49 into a vital 117. Charl Willoughby was the pick of the Somerset attack with 5 for 56, but Ben Phillips was equally impressive with 3 for 46, including his former team-mate, Ian Blackwell, for a second-ball duck. Trailing by 98 on first innings, Somerset had hauled themselves right back into the contest by the close, as Marcus Trescothick and Arul Suppiah added 41 unbroken runs for the first wicket.
Warwickshire moved along to 179 for 1 against Worcestershire at Edgbaston. Click here to read George Dobell's report.
Lancashire struggled on a truncated day at Old Trafford. But at least they got any play at all. John Ward was there.
Middlesex's debutant wicketkeeper, John Simpson, struck an unbeaten 60 to rescue his team from a top-order slump on a rain-truncated first day against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. Johan van der Wath struck twice with the new ball to remove Nick Compton and Dan Housego, and Simpson, 21, came to the crease at 97 for 4 following the dismissal of Dawid Malan. However, he responded with eight fours in 73 balls, adding half-century stands with Neil Dexter and Gareth Berg. By the close, Middlesex were still precariously placed on 205 for 6, but their fortunes were in confident hands.
Kent are heading back to the top flight, but Derbyshire are making them work hard for it. Mark Pennell watched the action.
Garnett Kruger struck with his fourth ball of the match to dismiss Matthew Boyce for a duck, but that was the sum of the drama at Grace Road, as rain restricted Leicestershire to just 17.1 overs in their first innings against Glamorgan. Boeta Dippenaar and Paul Nixon took the total to 39 for 1 in the time available.
A mere 28 overs were possible at Bristol, as Surrey moved to 96 for 1 against Gloucestershire. Jon Batty reached 39 not out, with the debutant Arun Harinath unbeaten alongside him on 18. Batty added 70 with Michael Brown, who was trapped lbw by James Franklin for 30.