Jamie Smith’s century puts Surrey in control against Middlesex

Jamie Smith stole a century as Insurance County Championship leaders LV=Surrey made Middlesex work hard at Lord’s.

Smith was still there at the close with 120 alongside Jordan Clark with 34, and the visitors reached 312 for five despite losing Dom Sibley by just three.

Tom Helm’s three-for-86 helped to make up some ground, but Surrey left the field happier.

Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook hit an unbeaten 64 as Essex closed to Kent’s 101 with 10 wickets in hand after an eventful opening day at Chelmsford.

Jamie Porter and Sam Cook each took three wickets as the visitors, who chose to bat, were bowled out for just 207 in 59 overs, with opener Ben Compton’s 47 the most notable contribution.

Cook and Nick Browne got Essex’s answer with a good start to close at 106 with no loss.

George Balderson and Tom Bailey mounted a rear-guard action against Warwickshire to take Lancashire towards 300 with an unbeaten partnership of 145 at the eighth wicket.

Number seven Balderson reached stumps six runs short of a century with number nine Bailey 75 unwilling to help the visitors to 295 for seven.

Nottinghamshire will resume against Hampshire down 79 runs with five wickets in hand after an eventful day at Trent Bridge.

Brett Hutton, Dane Paterson and Lyndon James each took three wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 166.

However, Ian Holland claimed four for 19 in eight overs to reduce Nottinghamshire to 87 for five.

Northamptonshire seaman Jack White’s five-wicket haul failed to prevent Somerset from reaching the 350 mark.

White claimed five for 77 at the County Ground as the visitors were finally dismissed for 351 with opener Sean Dickson leading scorer on 70 and George Bartlett on 55.

In Division Two, Derbyshire wicketkeeper Brooke Guest frustrated leaders Durham with a career-best 145 without coming out as the home side finished the first day on 317 for six after being placed.

Number three Guest hit 22 fours in a 257-ball unbeaten stand and put on 118 for the third wicket with Wayne Madsen making 62, before Durham captain Scott Borthwick took two late wickets to put his side back on him.

England player Rehan Ahmed provided much-needed resistance as Leicestershire tried to avoid a significant first-innings deficit against Worcestershire at Oakham.

Ahmed had 25 not outs as the home team fell to 88 of eight in response to the visitors’ total of just 178.

Matt Salisbury and Wiaan Mulder took three Worcestershire wickets but Dillon Pennington equaled the feat at a cost of just 24 runs as the hosts collapsed.

Yorkshire’s Matthew Fisher took four for 53 as Sussex were reduced to 120 for six on a rain-affected day at Headingley.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Nathan McAndrew ended a day in which they bowled just 42 unbeaten overs at 29 and 25 respectively.