Monday 13 April 2015 23:20, UK
Tim Bresnan came to the rescue for champions Yorkshire in their season-opening LV= County Championship Division One clash with Worcestershire.
Yorkshire's batsmen - Alex Lees apart - disappointed at New Road but Bresnan and Jack Brooks contributed valuable late runs as they reached 298-9 in response to the home side's 311.
Brooks took the final two Worcestershire wickets early in the morning, completing a five-wicket haul to kick off his campaign in style, but Yorkshire were soon in trouble as Will Rhodes and Cheteshwar Pujara were dismissed for ducks.
Lees and Rich Pyrah put on 108 for the third wicket but wickets fell regularly during the afternoon session with Gareth Andrew and Jack Shantry claiming four apiece.
Andrew landed the key wicket of Lees for 87 but, from 193-7, Bresnan and Brooks added 81 for the eighth wicket before the fast bowler's stay came to an end on 26.
However Bresnan made it to the close on an unbeaten 78 and he will look to take Yorkshire to a first innings lead on Tuesday with Ryan Sidebottom, who returned late on after suffering a calf injury and initially retiring hurt.
Paul Collingwood continued his fine start to the campaign with a century as Durham took control of their clash with Somerset at Taunton.
After taking five wickets on Sunday, the former England all-rounder hit an unbeaten 109 as Durham took a first innings lead of 81 with their total of 380.
Collingwood hit 11 fours and two sixes in his 145-ball knock to continue the early momentum provided by Scott Borthwick, who fell six runs short of a ton.
Seamer Lewis Gregory claimed five wickets for Somerset, but their second innings started in horrible fashion as Chris Rushworth took three wickets to reduce them to 26-4.
Wicketkeeper Alex Barrow scored a fluent 28 in partnership with James Allenby, but at 58-4 and still 27 behind, the home side remain in deep trouble going into day three.
Nottinghamshire are in a strong position to start their campaign with a victory after dominating the second day against Middlesex at Lord's.
Although they missed out on a third batting bonus point when they were dismissed for 298 in the first over of the day, Nottinghamshire bowled out Middlesex for 181 with Harry Gurney and Samit Patel each taking three wickets.
Going in again with a lead of 117, Nottinghamshire openers Steven Mullaney and Brendan Taylor, who made a century in the first innings, put on 77 before Mullaney (44) was bowled by Tom Helm.
Taylor was caught at long-off off Tim Murtagh for 34, but they will resume in a position of strength on 101-2, a lead of 218.
And it was a second good day for Sussex at the Ageas Bowl, where they have Hampshire in serious danger of having to follow on.
Ben Brown completed his century for the visitors on Monday morning, eventually finishing with an unbeaten 144 as they posted 444 all out. Ajmal Shahzad (35) and Steve Magoffin (41) also provided valuable runs, and support as Brown reached three figures.
Shahzad and Magoffin were in the wickets during the Hampshire reply as well, with runs suddenly proving hard to come by.
Matt Hobden and Shahzad took two wickets apiece to reduce them to 58-4, and when Magoffin made Gareth Berg (0) his second victim they were 95-7 and staring a heavy defeat in the face.
Sean Ervine (57no) and Chris Wood (48) put on a very handy 109 for the eighth wicket, but Tymal Mills struck twice late on to leave Hampshire 75 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.
