Goodwin and Wright boost Sussex

Three half-centurions helped Sussex rack up a solid 330 for 7 on the first day against Hampshire at Arundel. Sussex made a slippery start, however, when they lost Michael Yardy for 5, lbw to James Tomlinson, and the same bowler trapped Ed Joyce in identical fashion to leave the home side on 26 for 2. Chris Nash dropped anchor with 57 from 86 but he became the first of three victims for Imran Tahir. Sussex's middle-order fought resiliently, however, with Murray Goodwin (65), who was dropped on 42 at slip, putting on 91 with Carl Hopkinson. The pair departed in quick succession, but Luke Wright ensured Sussex's middle and lower-order didn't fold, with a crucial and unbeaten 53, and he was given able support by Yasir Arafat who cracked a momentum-stealing 37 from 44 balls.

Click here for John Ward's report from the first day between Nottinghamshire and Durham at Trent Bridge

No play was possible on the first day at Edgbaston between Warwickshire and Lancashire, as rain called off play at 3.30pm.

Three days after the nail-biting finish to the first Test, cricket at Cardiff returned to a gentler pace as Glamorgan closed the opening day against Kent on 295 for 8. The surface was again slow which suited the medium pace of Simon Cook and Ryan McLaren as they took three wickets each to keep the home side under control. Glamorgan's display was led by Gareth Rees' 80 after he overcame a laboured start where he made one run in the first hour and at lunch was 7 from 78 balls. However, he upped the tempo during the afternoon as he moved to fifty off 138 deliveries and twice hit James Tredwell for six before he was well caught, low down at slip, off McLaren. Jamie Darlymple also fell to McLaren, but Robert Croft's busy 35 lifted Glamorgan towards the 300 mark.

Ryan ten Doeschate led an Essex fightback on the opening day against Surrey at Guildford as his unbeaten 105 helped the visitors rally to 317 for 7 after the top order stuttered. Chris Jordan, who used the slope to good effect, took three wickets in an impressive spell as Essex slipped to 88 for 4 and when Tim Linley had Matt Walker caught behind they were 118 for 5.However, ten Doeschate made the most of gaining two lives on 3 and 30 to right the innings. He added 98 for the sixth wicket with James Foster (48) and 83 for the seventh with Graham Napier (43) as the depth of Essex batting came to the fore. Foster fell to a catch in the gully and Napier was well caught in the covers, but ten Doeschate had time to reach his hundred from 140 balls before the close.

Derbyshire moved to top of Division Two with a comprehensive 180-run win over Gloucestershire, on the final day at Cheltenham. Gloucestershire began the day on 148 for 4, but were unable to bat out three sessions in spite of a fine hundred from James Franklin, his first in county cricket. Alex Gidman, the captain, made 60 before he was bowled around his pads by Tim Groenewald, who finished with fine figures of 3 for 64. Chris Rogers held a safe catch at slip to dismiss Steve Snell, then pulled off a stunning take the very next ball to catch a leading edge from Jon Lewis. Steve Kirby survived the hat-trick, and shortly after Franklin brought up his hundred, he was bowled around his legs to hand Derbyshire a thumping win.