Monday 27 April 2015 11:37, UK
Marcus Trescothick smashed 140 and James Hildreth cracked an even quicker 187 before an astonishing collapse saw Somerset falter from 377-3 to 408 all out on day one against Middlesex at Taunton.
The pair shared a third-wicket stand of 261 in the LV= County Championship Division One clash, with Trescothick reaching his hundred in 129 balls and going on to hit 24 fours and one six before falling shortly before tea when Adam Voges had him caught by James Harris.
Hildreth's ton came slightly quicker in 119 balls, but he was forced to watch wickets fall at the other end with Jim Allenby, Alex Barrow and Peter Trego all being dismissed by Harris (5-83) as the rot set in.
Barrow and Trego both made five-ball ducks before Hildreth became Harris' fifth victim at 400-7 and from there the hosts were quickly wrapped up.
Lewis Gregory mustered five from 20 balls, but Steven Finn removed Tim Groenewald and Abdur Rehman for two more ducks to partially rescue Middlesex's day having put their hosts in.
They then reached 10-0 at stumps after Sam Robson and Nick Gubbins safely negotiated four overs.
Earlier, two Toms were the batsmen to fall before lunch, Abell making 16 before being bowled by Tim Murtagh before Cooper was trapped lbw first ball by Harris.
Ian Westwood compiled a superb unbeaten 151 as Warwickshire recovered from losing Varun Chopra to the third ball of the match to reach 270-4 at stumps on day one of their Division One clash with Yorkshire at Headingley.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, they quickly lost Chopra when he nicked Tim Bresnan behind before Westwood and Will Porterfield (35) steadied matters to give the visitors a solid platform.
Porterfield, who was dropped on 19 by Bresnan off Matthew Fisher, nicked behind after lunch at 95-2 to hand Bresnan his second wicket and Laurie Evans could only make 14 before being trapped in front by Steven Patterson, but Sam Hain (50) added 92 for the fourth wicket alongside Westwood to frustrate the hosts.
Hain's 50 came off 99 balls with seven fours and a six but with the century stand approaching Yorkshire took the new ball and it soon brought a wicket as Bresnan (3-39) eventually claimed him lbw.
But Peter McKay joined Westwood, who reached his century in 195 balls and hit 19 fours in the day, to see the visitors through to stumps with no further setbacks.
Alex Hales hit an unbeaten 136 as Nottinghamshire made a solid start to their first innings after being put in by Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.
The visitors reached the close 301-6 with Hales the spine of the innings, hitting 24 fours and reaching his century in 156 balls.
Brendan Taylor was the only man to fall before lunch, bowled by Danny Briggs for 24 after a 61-run opening stand with Steven Mullaney, who then followed him back to the pavilion for 66 when Sean Ervine had him caught behind.
Hales' fellow England hopeful James Taylor fell in unfortunate circumstances when his attempted sweep off Liam Dawson hit the man at short leg and popped up for Ervine to take the catch at slip.
Samit Patel could then make only four before Riki Wessels (17) and Chris Read (4) both fell to Gareth Berg as Hampshire sensed a chance to race into the lower order.
But Will Gidman (22no) was a model of stability alongside Hales to see Notts to stumps without further concern.
A sensational last-wicket stand of 164 between Oliver Robinson (110) - on his first-class debut - and No 11 Mathew Hobden (65no) dug Sussex out of a hole on day one against Durham, helping them post 335 at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Robinson came to the crease at 145-7, but helped the visitors more than double their total with 110 from 112 balls before he was finally snaffled by Usman Arshad, leaving Hobden stranded.
Sussex earlier needed 40s from Ed Joyce and Matt Machan to avoid a disastrous first session.
Put in by their hosts, they lost Chris Nash to Graham Onions' fourth ball of the match, but recovered as Joyce (43 from 53 balls) and Machan (41 from 56) added 88 for the second wicket.
Both fell within five balls of each other and Craig Cachopa was then caught behind to hand John Hastings his second wicket before Robinson and Hobden's heroics.
