Durham secure strong lead on extraordinary day

Eighteen wickets tumbled on a sensational second day at Chester-le-Street, as the county champions, Durham, seized the initiative against Lancashire, only to have their dominance undermined late in the day by Sajid Mahmood and his fellow seamers. By the close, Durham had collapsed to 122 for 6 in their second innings, but still held an important lead of 250 thanks to Graham Onions and Steve Harmison, who claimed four wickets apiece in Lancashire's meagre 116 all out. Only one batsman really got the measure of the conditions all day - Durham's Ian Blackwell, who hoisted his side from a Mahmood-inflicted 10 for 4 with a hard-hitting 65 not out. Andrew Flintoff, still firing after his first-innings four-for, was once again on target with 1 for 17 from 12 overs.

Mike Yardy clubbed his second hundred in four days as Sussex dominated the second day against Worcestershire at New Road. Yardy, who didn't reach three figures in a Championship at all last season, was fourth man out for a magnificent 152, sharing in significant partnerships with Chris Nash (52) and, in particular, Matt Prior who blitzed 82 from 87 balls. Yardy was dropped in the second over of the day and Worcestershire already appear to be heading for their fourth loss of the season, as they struggle to reach the demands of Division One cricket following their promotion last season.

For a report from the second day at The Rose Bowl between Nottinghamshire and Hampshire, click here.

Click here for John Ward's report on the second day at Headingley, where Yorkshire took on Somerset.

Jamie Dalrymple cracked his third hundred of the season to stitch together Glamorgan's reply on the second day against Derbyshire at Derby. The hosts had the better of the morning as Tim Groenewald (24) and Ian Hunter (33*), Nos. 10 and 11, extended Derbyshire's first innings to 307. Their bowlers then grabbed early wickets as Glamorgan slipped to a precipitous 35 for 3. Enter Dalrymple, who found good support in Gareth Rees (42), sharing in an 82-run fourth-wicket stand. Greg Smith picked up two wickets as Derbyshire's seamers continued to threaten, leaving Dalrymple to hold the fort on an unbeaten 105. At stumps, however, Glamorgan still trailed by 82 with just four wickets in hand.

Usman Afzaal's unbeaten 156 put Surrey in complete control of their match against Northamptonshire on the second day at Northampton. Resuming on 113 for 4, Batty and Afzaal set the tone for the day with a fifth-wicket stand of 130. Batty fell for 48, caught behind off the persistent David Lucas, but Ryan Harris stuck by Afzaal in another sizeable partnership of 149. Afzaal brought up his hundred by smashing the wicketless Monty Panesar over the top for six, while Harris, who made 94, reached his fifty from a speedy 58 balls to pile more pain on the home side.