Sir Alastair Cook shared a 220 opening slipway with fellow Centurion Nick Browne to help Essex canter off against Kent at Chelmsford; in Division Two, Middlesex’s Stephen Eskinazi hit 16 fours in his 216-ball innings of 118 against Derbyshire
Sir Alastair Cook batted with Nick Browne and they both scored hundreds
Sir Alastair Cook showed his thirst for racing remains after scoring a century for Essex on the opening day of the new season of the LV=Insurance County Championship.
Cook shared an opening tier of 220 with fellow Centurion Nick Browne to help the hosts out at a canter against Kent at Chelmsford.
After being crowned the best red ball team in the country in three of the last five years, Essex signaled their intentions on day one with Browne as the first in triple figures, before losing 107 to become one of two scalpers. for Bird Jackson.
Former England captain Cook, who signed a new two-year deal in November, was pinned for exactly 100 as last season’s Division Two champions finished 272 from four against Kent.
Warwickshire they are the team to beat after their county championship and Bob Willis trophy last season, but they could only pick up one bowling point at Edgbaston against surrey.
Visiting captain Rory Burns made a solid 41 in his first competitive innings since the Ashes, but was overshadowed by Ryan Patel’s 75, which included two tops.
Ollie Pope continued his excellent domestic form with a near run-a-ball 40 before rain halted his innings with Surrey at 168 for three after Oliver Hannon-Dalby’s double.
James Hildreth’s 87 was the only high point for Somersault after they were fired for 180 at the Ageas Bowl.
Mohammad Abbas claimed two pieces of land for hampshirebut it was Keith Barker who had the victory with three of 33.
Home starters Joe Weatherley and Ian Holland ruled out any talk of tricky terrain with an undefeated century standing and the former not finishing at 65.
wickets fell Northamptonshire but English hopeful James Bracey showed his class to lead Gloucestershire at 164 for eight at the close.
Entering all three and seeing the visitors collapse to 42 for four and 103 for seven, Bracey helped his team rebuild with an undefeated half-century, but Ben Sanderson’s four heads have the home team firmly on top.
from Middlesex Stephen Eskinazi had the honor of being the first batsman to reach triple figures in the County Championship this season.
Eskinazi hit 16 fours in his 216-ball innings of 118 to help his team to a position of strength at Lord’s with Joshua De Caires, the son of former England captain Michael Atherton, batting 80.
Suranga Lakmal from Sri Lanka was the best of derbyshire bowlers but lost Ryan Sidebottom’s emergency loan deal through injury after just seven balls with Middlesex able to make 307 from four.
Only 47 overs were possible at Sophia Gardens, where glamorgan he made 164 of four thanks to Colin Ingram’s undefeated 71.
Durhamsans Ben Stokes as expected, it saw Ben Raine claim two for 23 on a close first day.
Stuart Broad was another notable absence from the second level of Nottinghamshirethat could only restrict sussex at 302 for six at Hove.
After starters Ali Orr and Tom Haines had made half a century, Tom Clark took over and didn’t finish at 82 despite the best efforts of Liam Patterson-White on his way to three for 69 in 34 overs.
The rain contributed to a day to forget for Azhar Ali in his worcestershire debut against leicestershire.
The Pakistan batsman made just two before he ran out after having waited until the evening session for a chance to bat.
Chris Wright’s three-wicket run inflicted more damage, but Worcestershire rallied to close at 118 for four.
