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Division One: Craig Kieswetter stars on return to action; Chris Nash punishes Notts

Craig Kieswetter of Somerset walks off after being dismissed
Image: Craig Kieswetter: Somerset wicketkeeper hit 69 on comeback from facial injury

Craig Kieswetter marked his return to action by digging Somerset out of a hole on the opening day of the match with Middlesex at Taunton.

Coming in at 119-4 on a green pitch, the 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman hit a typically entertaining 69 off 80 balls, with 10 fours and a six, sharing a fifth-wicket stand of 84 with James Hildreth, who ended up 70 not out, as the hosts recovered to 266-5.

It was Kiewetter's first appearance since sustaining a broken nose and shattered eye socket when a David Willey bouncer squeezed between the grille and peak of his helmet against Northamptonshire in mid-July.

He showed no lack of confidence against the short ball, pulling Toby Roland-Jones over deep square for six early in his innings and dealing effectively with several other lifting deliveries.

Middlesex, needing 13 points from their last two games to be sure of avoiding relegation from Division One, could rue not having made further inroads, having won the toss in excellent bowling conditions.

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Nash century

Chris Nash continued his special relationship with Trent Bridge by scoring his third championship century on the ground to help Sussex to 358-9 on the first day of their match against Nottinghamshire.

Nash scored 178, the first time he had reached three figures this summer; his runs coming from 235 balls with 32 fours. It was the 31-year old's 17th first-class hundred, with four of them coming against Notts.

After a scratchy start against the new ball he prospered to reach 70 not out by lunch and was on 160 at tea. His only alarms came after passing his hundred when twice he somehow managed to escape having edged the unlucky Samit Patel.

The first instance, when on 116, saw him somehow find a gap between wicketkeeper Chris Read and first slip Alex Hales. Nine runs later, a genuine edge seemed to go through Hales' attempt to grab it before racing down to the third-man fence.

Veteran spinner Gary Keedy, who had pocketed a total of nine wickets during recent defeats to Durham and Yorkshire, ended Nash's resistance in another impressive showing.

After almost five hours at the crease the opener attempted a sweep and became the second batsman to be given out lbw in that manner by umpire Richard Kettleborough.

Earlier Keedy, who ended with 3-96, had altered the complexion of the day by dismissing both Craig Cachopa and Luke Wright in the same over, late in the afternoon session.

Cachopa narrowly missed out on his sixth 50 in seven innings, edging Keedy to slip, after sharing in a punishing stand of 133 with Nash and then Wright was trapped in front five balls later.

Notts included two debutants in their side, 21-year old batsman Jake Libby and England Under 19 left-arm medium-pace bowler Luke Wood, who picked up his maiden wicket with the first delivery after tea when he enticed Michael Yardy to steer into the hands of Michael Lumb in the gully.

At that stage Sussex had lost three wickets in as many overs but regained the initiative with Ben Brown making 46 and Chris Jordan adding 25 before both fell to the new ball.

Luke Fletcher, the only right-arm bowler in the five-man attack, claimed them both to end with figures of three for 49, having earlier had Ed Joyce smartly taken at slip by Riki Wessels.

Late in the day Wood struck again, having Steve Magoffin caught at the wicket, to secure a third bowling point for his side, with Sussex having already obtained four points for their efforts with the bat.

Weather woe

No play was possible on the first day of Durham's match against Northamptonshire at Chester-le-Street because of poor light and drizzle.

It was announced at 3.20 that play would start at 4pm, but the murk closed in again and umpires Michael Gough and Rob Bailey decided there was no prospect of it clearing.

Durham are to rest Phil Mustard for this match because of a knee problem ahead of the Royal London Cup final against Warwickshire at Lord's on Saturday. Michael Richardson will keep wicket while new overseas signing, India bowler Varun Aaron, was awarded his county cap in the afternoon.

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