Essex keep promotion hopes alive

Sixteen wickets tumbled on the first day at Derby, as Gloucestershire slumped to 98 for 6 in reply to Derbyshire's underwhelming first-innings total of 188. By the close of play, the difference between the teams was Steve Stubbing's excellent unbeaten innings of 62 from 103 balls. He had come to the crease with his side reeling at 54 for 4, which soon became 88 for 6 as Chris Rogers (40) became the first of five wickets for David Brown in a remarkable 6.5-over spell. But he was still there when the No. 11, Charl Langeveldt, fell after clubbing a handy 21 from 13 balls, and the value of his innings was soon apparent as Graeme Wagg set about redressing the balance of the match. He took 4 for 18 in 8.2 overs as none of Gloucestershire's top six exceeded Will Porterfield's 23.

Essex need a hefty victory over second-placed Warwickshire if they are to keep their promotion hopes alive going into the final round, and their batsmen did their best to fulfil their side of the bargain on the first day at Chelmsford. No-one got stuck in for the century that might have decided the course of the game, but contributions all down the order - a pair of 72s from Ryan ten Doeschate and Jaik Mickleburgh, and a pair of 42s from Ravi Bopara and James Foster - carried them to 333 for 8 at the close. Warwickshire's bowlers stuck to their task, with their new signing Rikki Clarke claiming 2 for 49 in ten overs, while the New Zealander, Chris Martin, claimed the vital wicket of ten Doeschate shortly before stumps.

Chaos is engulfing Glamorgan as the season draws to a close - their chief executive, Mike Fatkin, went earlier in the week, and now the groundsman, Les Smith, has followed close behind. But, on the field, the team are doing their best to put all such issues out of mind, and on the first day against Leicestershire at Sophia Gardens, they took command with the bat, thanks to a boundary-laden 140 from Gareth Rees, and an excellent unbeaten 80 from Michael Powell. For Rees, it was his third century of the season, and contained 20 fours and a six. He made light of the early loss of his opening partner, David Hemp, and went on to completely dominate a second-wicket stand of 97 with the teenager, Tom Maynard, who made 26. Leicestershire were kept in the frame by their opener Dillon du Preez, who claimed three of the four wickets to fall, including Jamie Dalrymple for 9.

Though Stephen Moore continued his superb season with 111 - his fifth first-class century of 2008 - Worcestershire looked as though they could have done with the services of Graeme Hick as they let Middlesex claim the ascendancy on the first day at Kidderminster. The retiring Hick was sadly robbed of his swansong by a long-standing elbow injury, and without him his Worcestershire team-mates toppled to a disappointing 265. That total did, however, represent something of a fightback, after Tim Murtagh's 6 for 52 had reduced them to 22 for 3, and 203 for 9, before Chris Whelan more than doubled his career runs tally with a mature 58 from No. 9. By the close, Andrew Strauss had underlined Worcestershire's missed opportunity with an unbeaten 66, though Gareth Batty did claim the wicket of Billy Godleman for 31.

Nottinghamshire took advantage of the bad weather that curtailed the day for their title rivals, Somerset and Durham, and chipped steadily away at the batting of relegation-doomed Surrey at The Oval. By the close, Surrey had reached 253 for 8, with a pair of 60s for Scott Newman and Lee Hodgson. The latter, on his first-class debut, made 63 to bail Surrey out after they had slid to 125 for 5. Surrey were hardly going down with all guns blazing. In the afternoon session of 33 overs they ground out 59 runs.

Play was called off by 10am at Chester-le-Street leaving Durham frustrated in their title push and Sussex unable to pull themselves clear of any relegation concerns.

Lancashire could be joining Surrey in the second division after a dreadful first day at Liverpool. Read Andrew McGlashan's bulletin for more.

Only 44 overs were possible between Somerset and Yorkshire at Scarborough. John Ward watched the opening exchanges.