Gary Ballance made his second successive Specsavers County Championship hundred and Joe Root continued his good early-season form with 94 as Yorkshire enjoyed a productive first day against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.
Ballance, who made the last of his 23 Test appearances in 2017, could be a contender for a recall this summer in his present form. After making an unbeaten 101 against Nottinghamshire on Monday he scored 120 not out and added 182 with Root for the third wicket as Yorkshire closed on 310 for 3. Root was on course for a second successive hundred as well before Liam Dawson bowled him with a full-length delivery. Earlier, Adam Lyth had passed 10,000 first-class runs in his 67.
Root said: “We’re in position now to put pressure on them, and hopefully Gary can make this big hundred count. I’m disappointed that I didn’t make that score into a 150-plus but it has been great to come back and contribute.”
Surrey had a solid first day of their title defence, closing on 342 for 7 against Essex at The Kia Oval. Against a persevering attack, there were half-centuries for Ben Foakes, Ryan Patel and 20-year-old Will Jacks, whose career-best 88 came in a stand of 151 for the fifth wicket with Patel – a new county record against Essex.
Another young batsman to impress was Kent opener Zac Chappell, 21, who made 108 as his side closed on 367 for 5 against Warwickshire, the side who came up with them from Division Two, at Edgbaston.
Heino Kuhn scored 72 and Ollie Robinson a maiden first-class half-century against a depleted attack which included non-contract seam bowler Tom Milnes, who is on trial having left the county in 2015.
Chappell said: “I was very pleased with the century. It was a lovely deck to bat on this early in the season.”
Bowlers dominated at Trent Bridge where Somerset’s Lewis Gregory continued his fine start to the season with 6 for 68 as Nottinghamshire were dismissed for 263 despite fifties from Chris Nash and Luke Wood. Stuart Broad then claimed 2 for 12 in an excellent nine-over burst with the new ball as Somerset reached 74 for 3 at stumps.
A delighted Gregory is enjoying the good times. “I’m on a roll at the moment but I’m sure that in the not-to-distant future there’ll be a couple of ‘none-for 100s’ which will swing it the other way,” he said. “It’s been a nice couple of weeks and hopefully it can continue.”
While Joe Root missed out on his century brother Billy did make his on debut as Glamorgan enjoyed a superb first day against Northamptonshire in Cardiff.
Root was one of three batsmen to make hundreds, finishing unbeaten on 126. Another debutant – Australian Marnus Labuschagne – hit 121 while Kiran Carlson was 101 not out at stumps with Glamorgan 433 for 4.
James Anderson took 3 for 41 on his first county appearance at Lord’s for 16 years as Lancashire took the first-day honours against Middlesex, who closed on 236 for 9 having been 126 for 1. Anderson removed Sam Robson, Dawid Malan and Max Holden while Toby Bailey picked up four wickets after Nick Gubbins and Steve Eskinazi, who both made half-centuries, had added 112 for the second wicket.
Anderson was happy with his team’s work. “I thought we bowled brilliantly all day and that the whole group were really on it,” he said.
Centuries from Daryl Mitchell and New Zealander Hamish Rutherford saw Worcestershire establish a dominant position at Grace Road as they reached 348 for 4 against Leicestershire after being put in. Mitchell made 114 – his 36th first-class hundred – and debutant Rutherford was unbeaten on 116.
New captain Cameron Bancroft made 33 as Durham struggled against Sussex at Chester-le-Street, reaching 201 for 8 at stumps. Teenager Liam Trevaskis scored a career-best 54 while Ollie Robinson and Chris Jordan both took three wickets.
