Rogers ton secures Derbyshire draw

Australian players have dominated the English county scene in recent years, in both their number and with their figures. But the IPL, the new one-overseas player limit, and, ultimately, the rain all had their part to play in limiting Australians' appearances and their chances to contribute to the opening round of seven first-class matches last week.

Chris Rogers, however, made the most of his opportunity to give a nod to the selectors who had dumped him off the contracts list, with a second-innings ton for Derbyshire in their Division Two draw with Gloucestershire in Bristol. He had made an inauspicious 3 in the first dig as the visitors collapsed.

His former Western Australian team-mate Marcus North topscored in the home side's first innings with 87 and did not bat second time out as rain put paid to proceedings after Derbyshire's Rogers-led rally. Only three wins were registered, the four draws all victims of the weather.

Lancashire captain, the English-qualified Stuart Law, made 38 as Lancashire, last year's runners-up, drew with the champions Surrey at The Oval. His team-mate Brad Hodge made an unbeaten 43 before the rain came. Surrey were without Matt Nicholson, who had a virus.

In the second division, Western Australia's Steve Magoffin took one wicket in each innings as Worcestershire drew with Warwickshire.