Stumps, day one: Gloucestershire 251/6 (Klinger 93*, Taylor 58*) v Derbyshire, at the 3aaa County Ground
After a delayed start at Derby today, both Mark Footitt and Tony Palladino were able to reach milestones as they tried to make the best use of a pitch that has been soaking in water for about 12 hours. Footitt took his 200th first-class wicket to remove Chris Dent, and Footitt reached his 300th as the hosts took firm hold of the Gloucestershire innings.
Tom Taylor joined in the attack and the visitors were fairly speedily reduced to 119/5.
Things were soon turned around, though, as the newly-returned Michael Klinger stepped into the middle. Klinger and Gareth Roderick put on a partnership of 62 runs before Roderick was caught by Taylor at deep square leg.
For all the excitement of the bowling milestones, the hosts were unable to move the 38-year-old Australian who was victim to one of Footitt’s zingers last season and suffered a broken arm as a result. Shiv Thakor should have had Klinger removed on 21, as the ball went in the direction of Palladino but the sun interfered and the chance was lost.
It might be a moment Derbyshire will come to rue, but there are three days yet to come. Klinger is currently on 93*, partnered admirable by Jack Taylor on 58*.
Stumps, day one: Glamorgan 371 (Meschede 107, Cooke 73) lead Northants 0/0, at the SWALEC Stadium
Craig Meschede made a career best 107 today as he rebuilt Glamorgan’s fortunes on home ground. The hosts had been 92/4 at Cardiff, with the top four all having been removed lbw.
Meschede staged his fightback alongside Chris Cooke and the two built a partnership of 103 before Cooke was removed by Josh Cobb for 73, leaving Glamorgan at 258/7.
Having come in at number eight, Meschede himself was finally removed by Kyle Coetzer. When the final wicket fell, that of Michael Hogan for no score, the hosts had built a solid innings of 371 runs. A total that had seemed very unlikely several hours earlier.
Northants faced just one over in reply before the day came to an end, playing out a maiden.
Stumps, day one: Leicestershire 28-0 (Boyce 15*, Robson 8*) trail Essex 166 (Raine 5-48, Ryder 38) by 138 runs, at Chelmsford
Another career best was made today, this time at Chelmsford. Ben Raine took five wickets for 48 runs as Leicestershire dismissed Essex for just 166 in their first innings.
Jigar Naik contributed with two wickets for just nine runs in the proceedings, delayed by rain. Ravi Bopara, recently returned from the IPL, managed only four runs before becoming one of Clint Mackay’s two scalps.
Jesse Ryder was the only Essex batsman to make any headway at all, such as it was, reaching 38 before taking the honour of being Raine’s fifth victim.
In reply, the Foxes lost no wickets in the seven overs they faced. They reached 28/0 before close of play.
