There were debuts for two South African internationals as the County Championship Division One took several twists and turns on day one.
Middlesex v Derbyshire
Lord’s
Close of play: Derbyshire 205-9.
England bowler Steven Finn announced his arrival back on the County Championship stage with his 300th first-class wicket, as Middlesex had the better of day one.
Finn finished the evening session with figures of 4-36 with Derbyshire opener Billy Godleman the last to fall as the visitors posted just 205-9.
Godleman’s 55 was the only real highlight for the away side as they continue to struggle with life back in Division One, as West Indian maestro Shivnarine Chanderpaul managed just 18 runs.
The bowling of Finn, along with Gareth Berg and Toby Roland-Jones, helped the home team pick up maximum fielding points and put them in control going into day two – which starts today at 11.00 BST.
Surrey v Somerset
The Oval
Close of play: Somerset 344-8.
Somerset batsman Alviro Peterson enjoyed a fantastic debut as he scored 167 to spoil Surrey and Graeme Smith’s start to the new County Championship season.
The home side missed the first round of Division One fixtures due to there being nine teams in the league, but captain Smith was outshone by fellow South African Peterson.
It was lucky the visiting batsman scored so well, a knock that included 20 boundaries, as the rest of the top order failed to shine as England opener Nick Compton scored a duck on his return to the side.
Peter Trego also couldn’t get off the mark, although young Three Lions wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter did help put on a 143-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Zander de Bruyn eventually trapped Peterson lbw but not before Somerset had amassed 344-8 going into day two, which resumes at 11.00 BST today.
Warwickshire v Durham
Edgbaston
Close of play: Warwickshire 299-7.
The defending Division One champions got their season back on track after rain forced a draw in their opening County Championship match.
The Bears put on 299-7 after being put into bat by Durham captain Paul Collingwood, as skipper Jim Troughton top scored with 84.
Laurie Evans also managed 44 whilst all-rounder Keith Barker finished on 39 not-out at the end of day one.
It had looked like the visitors would take control of the match after former-England Lions all-rounder Ben Stokes took two key wickets, including Troughton, which prompted a mini-collapse from Warwickshire.
Yet Barker and young England star Chris Woakes steadied the ship and both finished the day unbeaten, as the home side took back the initiative going into day two, which starts at 11.00 BST today.
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