Rogers shines again for Derbyshire

Chris Rogers continued to remind the Australia selectors of his worth with a second-innings 77 that helped Derbyshire to a surprise win against Essex in the County Championship. This followed his first-class hundred the previous week. Justin Langer hit his straps immediately with a fifty in Somerset's first Championship outing, as rain again caused pain across much of the rest of England and muted contributions from the Australian contingent.

Rogers' knock ended when he was bowled by David Masters but not before he had taken Derbyshire well on their way to giving Essex their first defeat of the season. Derbyshire required 265 from 65 overs at Derby and eased home with four wickets in hand. Rogers had stumbled in the first innings, contributing 13 before falling to Andre Nel.

Steve Magoffin proved the most successful Australian bowler of the round with 3 for 47 for Worcestershire in Leicestershire's first-innings and 0 for 13 in the second. His unbeaten 4 was his only batting contribution with rain forcing the draw in Worcester.

Also in the second division, Jason Gillespie retained his rhythm from the Australian domestic season with 2 for 56 and 1 for 17 from 14 overs in Glamorgan's initial first-class outing, a rain-ruined draw against Middlesex at Lord's. Gillespie's 18 was the second highest score for an Australian in the first innings.

The biggest first-innings total was in the first division, as Stuart Law hit 21 in Lancashire's only innings against Somerset at Old Trafford after rain ripped out most of the first day and all of day three. Law finally edged through, as did Brad Hodge who made 1 before Charl Willoughby claimed him. Hodge took two late wickets and then went to join the IPL for five weeks. Langer struggled in his first-innings dig too, making 2, yet like Rogers he recovered to post a second-innings fifty, with 76. Glen Chapple got him twice in the inevitable draw, Somerset's first outing this term.

Michael Di Venuto had a match to forget with 1 and 14 as Durham drew with Surrey at Chester-le-Street. His fellow opener Mark Stoneman called him for an impossible run in the first over of the match, and he was run out to leave Durham 1 for 1 while Jimmy Ormond trapped him in front in the next knock. Matthew Nicholson took 2 for 43 from 18 overs in his first match this season for Surrey after having a virus last week.

In the one-day league, Adam Voges provided the stand-out performance from the smattering of Australians on show. His 60 from 83 balls lifted Nottinghamshire to an unassailable 217 for 9 against Ireland in Dublin and he provided a cool head after his side had wobbled to 19 for 3. Voges also contributed in the field and Nottinghamshire now top the Midlands Division.

In the North Division, Law was hardly troubled as his 14 not out nudged table-toppers Lancashire home to their paltry target of 74 following Scotland's collapse in Edinburgh. Hodge's absence was hardly noted. In the same division, Rogers made 3 as Derbyshire slipped to 94 all out in a match against Yorkshire reduced to 24 overs apiece at Headingley. Derbyshire lost by 25 runs.

Murray Goodwin's 29 from 18 balls came too late to help Sussex in their first match as they fell to Essex at Chelmsford, 14 runs short of their Duckworth-Lewis target in the South/East Division. In the South/West Division, the rain came before Gillespie could contribute for table-topping Glamorgan against Gloucestershire in Bristol.

Joint-leaders Somerset's match was also washed out in the first innings, with Magoffin on 1 not out for Worcestershire at New Road. Langer took a catch to remove opener Steve Davies but did not bat.