Lucas lacerates Gloucestershire

Marcus Trescothick made up for lost time after a rain-ruined first day at New Road, as he motored to his fourth hundred of the season to give Somerset a commanding position against Worcestershire. By the close of a day reduced to 68 overs, Trescothick had fallen for 142 from 201 balls, but Justin Langer was still in situ on 89 not out, in a hefty total of 312 for 3. Matt Mason was the pick of a beleaguered attack with 2 for 74.

Ian Bell was dismissed for 7 on the day that he returned to the Ashes spotlight following Kevin Pietersen's heel surgery, and so was left to watch his team-mate Jonathan Trott take control for Warwickshire against Hampshire with a brilliant 140 not out at Southampton. After resuming on 30 for 0, Warwickshire stumbled initially to 90 for 5, with James Tomlinson ripping through the top-order with three quick wickets. But then Trott got into his stride, and with able support from the lower-order, set about repairing the scorecard. Rikki Clarke made 46 and Andre Botha 40, but Trott's major sidekick was Chris Woakes, who was unbeaten on 77 in an eighth-wicket stand of 121.

Click here for John Ward's report of the second day's play between Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire at Scarborough.

Sixteen wickets fell on the first day, rain fell on the second, 15 wickets fell on the third day. And by the end of it all, Northamptonshire emerged victorious by nine wickets against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham. David Lucas was the destroyer, adding the formidable figures of 7 for 24 in 10.3 overs to his first-innings 5 for 49, to finish with the best innings figures of his career, and the first ten-wicket haul. In between whiles, Northants made a middling first-innings total of 232, but that was more than sufficient once Gloucestershire had been rolled over for 142 second-time around.

Tim Murtagh took advantage of a juiced-up pitch at Derby, to claim 7 for 82, the best figures of his career, to give Middlesex the upper hand against Derbyshire. Six of Murtagh's dismissals were either caught-behind or lbw, as he located a perfect line and length and gave all the batsmen the hurry-up. Only Tim Groenewald and Steffan Jones, with an improbable eighth-wicket stand of 91, were able to hang around for long, as Derbyshire were bowled out for 247, before Graeme Wagg claimed an early wicket in reply.

Hashim Amla struck his second century of the season at Grace Road to give Essex some momentum against Leicestershire, after rain had written off the opening day of the game. Amla made 118 out of a total of 294 for 4, and was well supported by John Maunders (56) and Matt Walker (67 not out).