County Cricket Live 2012

While Hampshire clinched a two-wicket win from the penultimate ball of a dramatic match at Cardiff, Durham suffered a late wobble at Lord’s. Warwickshire made it two wins out of two at Liverpool, while Nick Newell, the Nottinghamshire director of cricket, had some harsh words for his team after the rain came to their rescue at Trent Bridge.

Maybe it is genetics, maybe it is coincidence, maybe it is simply a respect for the timeless values of cricket, but the Compton family seem to like batting at Trent Bridge.

Here, on the ground where Denis enjoyed such success, his grandson Nick provided another reminder of his considerable qualities with the third century – and second double-century - of what is already turning into a remarkable season. With more than a week to go to the start of May, Compton has already amassed 685 first-class runs at an average of 137. Few are seriously suggesting changes in England’s top-order but here is an interesting (and rhetorical) question to ponder: who, given equal opportunity, would score more Test runs this summer, Andrew Strauss or Compton?

For Gloucestershire, this victory by 33 runs was not so much important as desperately needed. Having been beaten in two days at Chelmsford last week and worryingly short of money, they had to dismiss Hampshire, a club with significantly greater resources, for a total of less than 289. They did so with just 12 balls remaining.

Hampshire, seemingly, were on the verge of drawing what had been an absorbing contest. Michael Bates, their talented young wicketkeeper, had demonstrated he can also bat. His innings of 87 was a career best score. His partnership of 118 with Chris Wood, whose 65 was also more than he had ever made before, appeared sufficient to save the match...

So the first round of a new season comes to an end. We've got reports on wins for Notts, Surrey, Somerset and Yorkshire's draw from our reporters for your perusal.

Elsewhere Derbyshire have pulled off a great win at the Racecourse, declaring just before lunch and David Wainwright, on his debut for the county, rattled through Northants under the lights to hand them a big win and a fine start to the season.

Both other games in Division Two were wrapped up yesterday with wins for Essex by an innings and Leicestershire, who were deducted five points for a slow over rate.

6.50pm: Alex Winter's round up In the other games today we’ve had a couple of results in Division Two...

Robbie Joseph, on debut for Leicestershire, took 12 wickets as the foxes successfully defended 236 against Glamorgan at Grace Road. The visitors fared little better than their first dig, bowled out for 183 as Joseph took another six wickets.

Essex were also victors on day three, hammering Gloucestershire by an innings at Chelsmford. Graham Napier took five wickets as the visitors couldn't even match theirpaltry first innings effort.

Still cricket tomorrow at the Racecourse where Martin Guptill has made a century to put Derbyshire well on top with a big lead and still 10 second-innings wickets in hand; great chance for them to push for victory against Northamptonshire.