Gloucestershire relegated

Division One

Points Table

Gloucestershire recovered from a tricky start against Middlesex to post a reasonable score of 333 on the first day at Bristol. Their efforts, however, weren't enough to join Glamorgan in being relegated to the second division. Choosing to bat first, Middlesex plucked out Craig Spearman for nought and Ramnaresh Sarwan for four. A partnership of 88, and a pair of fifties for Stephen Adshead and Alex Gidman steadied Gloucestershire's innings, but neither went on to contribute a hundred. At 209 for 6, they were indebted to a brisk knock by Malinga Bandara, who struck seven fours and two sixes in his innings of 70, his top score this season. Alan Richardson and Jamie Dalrymple were the pick of the bowlers, each taking four wickets for Middlesex who ended the day on 20 without loss trailing by 313 runs.

Glamorgan, who only last week sealed their first Championship win of the season, crumbled to 151 all out against Nottinghamshire at Cardiff. Choosing to bat first, they lost 5 for 76 and it was only Mike Powell who showed any form of resistance with a solid innings of 62. Ryan Sidebottom finished with figures of 3 for 31, and the South African, Greg Smith, had the impressively economical figures of 4 for 28 from 17 overs. Nottinghamshire ended the day 2 wickets down with the scores level, with Darren Bicknell unbeaten on 81.

Hampshire had the better of the day against Warwickshire, in which they scored 353 for 6 but, while four of their batsmen registered half-centuries, none progressed to the three-figure mark. Sean Ervine got Hampshire off to a flyer, and combined well with James Adams in an opening stand worth 104. There were fifties for John Crawley and Shane Watson, too, with Watson ending the day unbeaten on 91. Makhaya Ntini was the pick of Warwickshire's bowlers, with 2 for 60 from 27 overs.

Division Two

Points Table

Twelve wickets fell on the first day at Chester-le-Street between Durham and Derbyshire. The home team won the toss and batted first, but were quickly in trouble as they lost Jimmy Maher and captain Paul Collingwood cheaply. Only Gary Scott, with 45, and Dale Benkenstein, with 49, made meaningful contributions, with five of the batsmen succumbing to Ian Hunter who took his first five-wicket haul of the season. In reply, however, Durham removed both openers Michael Di Venuto and Steve Stubbings, as Derbyshire ended the day on 36 for 2, trailing by 194 runs.

Northamptonshire batted slowly against Lancashire at Northampton, limping to 280 for 9 at the close. Several of their batsmen got useful starts, but only David Sales, with 66, offered anything substantial. Dominic Cork was remarkably economic, conceding just 23 runs from 15 overs and he also picked up three key wickets, including the dangerous Martin Love for 44. Ben Phillips was left not-out on 14, from 40 balls, with just Jason Brown left for company.

John Maunders' first first-class hundred, in his twelfth game, was the cornerstone of Leicestershire's innings on day one of their match against Worcestershire at Worcester. Maunders featured in partnerships of 94 with Tom New, and 74 with Paul Nixon. But wickets fell consistently and, Maunders' 148 aside, the next highest score was Paul Nixon's unbeaten 37. The visitors went to stumps on 342 for 7.