Davies and Bess rescue Somerset from potential embarrassment at Taunton

Steve Davies and Dom Bess rescued Somerset from potential embarrassment on the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Taunton.

The Division One leaders were reduced to 145 for six by their bottom-placed opponents, with Jake Ball, Luke Wood and Ravi Ashwin claiming two wickets each.

But Bess then contributed 51 to a seventh-wicket stand of 128 in 37 overs with Davies, who hit 74.

Teenager Rob Yates fell nine runs short of his maiden first-class century as Warwickshire battled hard to eat into Hampshire’s huge first-innings total of 539.

Top-order batsman Yates, who only signed his first professional deal last December, showed maturity which belied his age to guide his side towards the follow-on target.

The 19-year-old academy graduate added a vital 142-run stand for the third wicket with fellow talented youngster Sam Hain, who collected his second Championship half-century of the season.

Elsewhere, Simon Harmer claimed his sixth five-wicket haul of the summer to take his tally past 50 for the third-successive season as Essex dismissed Yorkshire inside two sessions at Chelmsford.

Surrey had the better of a truncated and attritional first day at The Kia Oval as Kent failed to make the most of exaggerated movement before and after lunch.

Play started an hour late because of a wet outfield and, if the Surrey batsmen did not know how difficult conditions would be, they were given a clear indication after just two deliveries.

Rory Burns was dropped by Sean Dickson at first slip before Mark Stoneman shouldered arms and was lbw off Harry Podmore.

Leicestershire’s seamers bowled outstandingly to dismiss Durham for just 117 after the visitors had chosen to bat first in a Division Two match at the Fischer County Ground.

Chris Wright was the pick of the attack, claiming five for 30, his first five-wicket return since joining the county from Warwickshire at the end of last season.

By the close of play Leicestershire had passed their opponents’ score and begun to build a first-innings lead, captain Paul Horton leading the way with a half-century.

Twenty wickets fell on the opening day of Worcestershire’s match with Derbyshire at Kidderminster.

Derbyshire opted to bat and were dismissed for 108 in 44.2 overs, with Worcestershire club captain Joe Leach and Charlie Morris inflicting most of the damage.

The home side then also struggled for runs and were bowled out for 113, with Luis Reece their chief destroyer.

Temba Bavuma made his first century in county cricket as Northamptonshire enjoyed a fabulous opening day against Lancashire at Wantage Road.

Bavuma, who had only made one half-century in 11 innings before, lit up the afternoon with 103 runs as Northamptonshire closed on 334 for five.

Josh Shaw returned his best figures of the season as Gloucestershire gained the upper hand by bowling Middlesex out.

The 23-year-old paceman finished with four for 33 as the home side were dismissed for just 172 at Merchant Taylors’ School, with former Middlesex all-rounder Ryan Higgins taking three for 52.

However, Toby Roland-Jones brought the Seaxes back into contention in the evening session, picking up both wickets to leave Gloucestershire 59 for two at the close.