Glamorgan relegated to Division Two

Division One

Points Table

On the first day of Glamorgan's match against Gloucestershire, a century by Daniel Cherry was of little consolation to the Welsh county, who were relegated to Division Two. Middlesex only needed one point to force Glamorgan, who lie at the bottom of the first Division, to the second Division. Despite this news, which came at midday, Glamorgan's batsmen managed 350 for 8, thanks to Cherry who was unbeaten on 152. Mark Hardinges and Malinga Bandara each took three wickets for Gloucestershire.

Jonathan Trott's third century of the season gave Warwickshire a decent start to their match against Division One leaders Sussex, but only two of their batsmen made substantial contributions. Trott, who was unbeaten on 130, formed the bedrock of Warwickshire's innings. Yet despite his knock, and 69 from Nick Knight, there was little of any substance from the rest of Warwickshire's batsmen. James Kirtley was the pick of Sussex's bowlers with 3 for 71 from 20 overs.

Rain continued to thwart Middlesex's game against Kent, but there was enough play to see Owais Shah go through to his sixth hundred of the season after being dropped when he had not added to his overnight 34. Earlier, Ed Smith failed to add to his overnight score of 40 as he fell to Amjad Khan, and Khan struck again soon after to remove Ed Joyce for 12. Shah found a willing partner in Paul Weekes, and together they put on 138 for the fourth wicket, to leave the visitors on 297 for 5 at stumps.

Surrey made up for lost time in their match against Hampshire, by scoring at over four an over in rattling up 378. There were a pair of 70s for Scott Newman and Mark Butcher, Newman's 71 coming from just 65 balls. Jonathan Batty then struck a hundred around which his team built a solid total. However, wickets continued to tumble as Hampshire bowled Surrey out, with James Bruce taking 3 for 82. Mohammad Akram then struck in Hampshire's reply, to leave the visitors struggling on 13 for 2, 365 runs behind.

Division Two

Points Table

A partnership of 249 between Mal Loye and Stuart Law gave Lancashire control, on the first day of their match against Worcestershire. Loye, who struck an unbeaten and magnificent 170, and Law, with a brisk 143, dominated the day and rescued Lancashire when they were tottering on 63 for 2. They got off to the worst possible start when their captain, Mark Chilton, was dismissed by the Australian Matthew Mason for a first-ball duck. Although they lost Law, whose 143 came from 189 balls, shortly followed by Andrew Symonds, Loye then combined with Marcus North in a partnership worth 69. Lancashire finished on 388 for 4.

Essex and Somerset were again frustrated by the rain at Colchester, but did at least manage 70 overs in which Essex reached 220 for 5. Will Jefferson was the mainstay of the innings with a knock of 93, before becoming the first of two quick wickets for Ian Blackwell. Ronni Irani clobbered four sixes and three fours in his unbeaten 43, before a torrential downpour left the ground underwater.

Only 14 overs were possible at Grace Road on another frustrating day for Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. Put into bat by Northants, Leicestershire's openers made 29 without alarm, with Darren Robinson unbeaten on 11 and John Maunders reaching 15.

Durham lost Paul Collingwood, who failed to add to his overnight score of 33, and Mike Hussey in quick succession on a rain-affected day at Scarborough against Yorkshire. Despite the early losses, Gordon Muchall, who struck 42 and Dale Benkenstein, with 59, consolidated in an unbeaten partnership worth 108. Durham ended the day on 260 for 3.