Gough roars back
County Championship round-up
Simon Cook picked up two late wickets - including Andy Flower, caught by Owais Shah for just 7 - to even things up on a day dominated by the bowler. Middlesex made just 214, with Jon Dakin returning figures of 4 for 57. Ben Hutton top-scored with 45. It didn't look to be enough, when Darren Robinson and the impressive Will Jefferson put on 104 for the opening wicket, until Cook's late intervention.
Notts v Warwickshire, Trent Bridge Scorecard
Mark Wagh made 73 and Ashley Giles chipped in with 38 as Warwickshire slumped to a disappointing 222 all out. Charlie Shreck (Nottinghamshire's new fast bowler from Cornwall, not a jolly green giant) picked up 4 for 33. But when Notts batted, they were in dire straits at 15 for 3 before Darren Bicknell (61), Chris Cairns (44) and Bilal Shafayat (37 not out) hauled them back into contention.
Surrey v Lancashire, The Oval Scorecard
Surrey's bid for a fourth title in five years didn't get off to an ideal start, as Lancashire's batsmen made full use of superb batting conditions at The Oval. Stuart Law and Mal Loye both made unbeaten centuries as Lancashire finished the day on 391 for 2. Earlier Iain Sutcliffe - like Loye making his debut for Lancs - made an accomplished 70.
Division Two
Derbyshire v Glamorgan Scorecard
Derbyshire were in trouble at 72 for 4, but Michael Di Venuto's aggressive 121 - the first Championship hundred of the new season - and Luke Sutton's unbeaten 77 ensured that they dominated the latter part of the day. For Glamorgan, Darren Thomas picked up 4 for 69.
Gloucs v Somerset, Bristol Scorecard
It was the Richard Johnson show at Bristol. Gloucestershire made just 203, with Jonty Rhodes chipping in with a bright and breezy 42. Johnson, who finished with figures of 3 for 27, then walked out to bat with Somerset in disarray at 36 for 6. His response was magnificent - an 84-ball 106, with 17 fours and four sixes, that meant his side finished the first day only 28 behind.
Worcs v Hampshire, Worcester Scorecard
Wasim Akram finished the day with 2 for 62, but Ben Smith led the way for Worcestershire with a doughty 104 in his first match as their official captain. His predecessor Graeme Hick also chipped in with 72.
Yorkshire v Northants, Headingley Scorecard
Darren Gough returned to competitive cricket with a wicket from his third delivery in Yorkshire's County Championship opener. Gough had been sidelined for nearly nine months, but showed little sign of rustiness as he claimed the wicket of Mark Powell. After Powell edged a low catch to wicketkeeper Richard Blakey, Gough went on to trap David Sales and Gerard Brophy leg-before in quick succession to finish with 3 for 40. Northants were bowled out for 184, and Yorkshire finished the day on top at 210 for 2, with Matthew Wood unbeaten on 109.
University matches (Day 1 of 3)
Cambridge UCCE v Kent, Fenner's Scorecard
Michael Carberry, the former Surrey batsman who joined Kent in the off-season, and Robert Key both made centuries in an opening partnership of 258, as Kent made light work of the paper-thin Cambridge attack.
Sussex v Cardiff UCCE, Hove Scorecard
Richard Montgomerie and Tony Cottey both made hundreds for Sussex after Mushtaq Ahmed's legspin had fetched him 6 for 20 against hapless University opposition.