Students struggle against counties

Durham UCCE handed Nottinghamshire a tough start to the season by rolling them for 183 in Durham despite being 92 for 0 before lunch. Jason Gallian hit 73 but the middle and lower order fell in a heap, including Chris Read for 15. However, the students struggled in reply and stumbled to 95 for 7 by the close.

Chris Rogers and Stephen Peters helped themselves to centuries after Northamptonshire skittled Cambridge UCCE for 79 at Fenners with Johann van der Wath taking the season's first five-wicket haul.

Ed Smith and Ben Hutton enjoyed the sunshine at The Parks with a century apiece as Middlesex flayed the students from Oxford to the tune to 379 for 2.

Neil Edwards struck 212, the first double century of the summer, as Somerset reached over 400 against Loughborough UCCE at Taunton. Marcus Trescothick was bowled for 28.

John Crawley hit 105 as most of the Hampshire top order gained useful batting time against Cardiff UCCE at The Rose Bowl. Shane Warne decided to give himself some match time ahead of the Championship season.

Surrey also made good use of batting practice against Bradford/Leeds UCCE at The Oval as Jon Batty eased to 103 while Rikki Clarke and James Benning hit eighties. The major surprise was that Mark Ramprakash only reached 26.