Birt blasts third century for Derbyshire

Travis Birt's third hundred of the season kept Derbyshire afloat against Essex at Derby. Tasmania's Birt, who is in the Australia A squad for the Top End Series next month, steered the innings with an unbeaten 121 that contained 16 fours and two sixes. Alex Tudor was in fine form, taking 4 for 64 from 20 overs, to leave the home side in disarray. They had reached 295 for 8 at stumps.

Mark Butcher's coruscating century helped Surrey pile up 319 for 6 before rain brought a premature finish at Sophia Gardens. Aftter choosing to bat, he hit 136 from 175 balls with 20 fours and a six, his second century of the season. Martin Bicknell added some lower-order fireworks, making 59. Glamorgan's bowlers had started well enough, removing Jonathan Batty early and scalping the prize Mark Ramprakash (22) as they reduced Surrey to 98 for 6. But then the two old heads of Butcher and Bicknell came together and left Glamorgan scratching theirs as they put on 152 for the seventh wicket to reverse the momentum.

A season-best 82 from John Sadler rescued Leicestershire from 146 for 5 to enable them to close on 332 for 9 against Gloucestershire at Grace Road. Jon Lewis puts the skids under the home side with three wickets before Sadler found support from the lower middle-order.

Hampshire got off to a strong start, dismissing Durham for 234 and then reaching 123 for 3 before the close at The Rose Bowl. Dmitri Mascarenhas triggered the initial collapse, taking three wickets as Durham collapsed to 60 for 5 and although Callum Thorp blasted 75 from No. 9 to restore some respectability, Chris Tremlett then took three of his own to finish off proceedings. Michael Carberry (20) and James Adams opened with a partnership of 59 and although two further wickets fell, Hampshire will be pleased with their day's work.

Martin van Jaarsveld's second hundred of the summer gave Kent the upper hand against defending champions Nottinghamshire at Canterbury. It was at Canterbury that Nottinghamshire secured their title last September, but last week's rout of Middlesex was their first win since. Mark Ealham removed Robert Key for 31, but there was only one other wicket as van Jaarsveld, aided by David Fulton (65) and Matt Walker (80*), made untroubled progress. Kent closed on 309 for 3.