Mild weather greeted play at Stanley Park. Division One matches saw Leicestershire reach 180 for nine against Essex’s 401 at Grace Road. At Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire scored 193 while Somerset posted 310 and then 73 for two. Sussex reached 521 against Glamorgan’s 155 and 42 without loss at Hove. Yorkshire made 469 versus Warwickshire’s 225 for seven at Scarborough. In Division Two, Durham dismissed Derbyshire for 118 and 99 for four after posting 377 at Chester-le-Street. Lancashire were bowled out for 87 by Kent, who then reached 178 and 320 for eight at Blackpool. Northamptonshire scored 465 against Gloucestershire’s 233 for five at Northampton. Worcestershire made 265 while Middlesex replied with 339 and five without loss at New Road. Ben Stokes trained with Durham after missing England’s second Test against New Zealand due to a curfew breach involving a nightclub incident. Durham coach Ryan Campbell said any return decision rests with the player and board. Stokes bowled and batted in the nets as Durham dominated Derbyshire, who followed on 160 behind after Kasey Aldridge took five wickets. At Hove, James Coles scored an unbeaten 224 with 11 sixes, adding 103 for the last wicket with Jaydev Unadkat. Sussex lost Henry Crocombe to an England call-up. Kent’s Keith Dudgeon took six for 21 as Lancashire collapsed for 87, with Hasan Mahmud claiming three for 32. Chris Benjamin scored an unbeaten century for Kent. Somerset extended their lead to 190 at Trent Bridge, where Lewis Gregory took four wickets. Fergus O’Neill finished with six for 72. Leicestershire took Essex’s last five wickets for 58 but followed on, with Jordan Cox out for 204. Nick Kelly made 78. Sheridon Gumbs remained not out on 22 as Leicestershire closed at 51 without loss. At Northampton, James Bracey scored 72 and Graeme van Buuren 75 not out in a stand of 148 after Gloucestershire slipped to 56 for four. Krisitian Clarke took six for 109. Yorkshire held the advantage at Scarborough, while Toby Roland-Jones claimed four for 41 as Worcestershire were dismissed for 265. Play resumes at 11am.
