Third-placed Kent are in trouble against Somerset after the first day of their LV County Championship Division One clash at Taunton.

The hosts battered their way to 427 all out in 88.5 overs before reducing Kent, who stand just two points behind leaders Nottinghamshire, to 13 for three.

Somerset were boosted by a quintet of half-centuries from Marcus Trescothick (58), Justin Langer (50), Peter Trego (65), Zander de Bruyn (81) and Ian Blackwell (55), Martin Saggers taking three for 44.

In reply, Joe Denly was out for a four-ball duck, trapped by Charl Willoughby, and Rob Key (eight) and Saggers (five) followed as the visitors closed in a precarious position.

Sussex dominated Hampshire in the battle of the top flight's bottom two at Arundel.

The champions were in trouble when three wickets fell with the score on 24 but centuries from Carl Hopkinson, whose 106 was his first Championship ton, and Murray Goodwin (115 not out) helped them to 316 for five at stumps on day one.

James Tomlinson's three for 81 was the best of the Hampshire attack.

At Guildford, England's forgotten bowlers Steve Harmison (two for 31) and Liam Plunkett (three for 49) were outshone by Ben Harmison's four for 27 as Durham reduced Surrey to 220 all out.

But the visitors fared no better as they slumped to 44 for three in pursuit, Jimmy Ormond taking two for 23.

Surrey had been almost entirely reliant on Scott Newman's 113 to post their modest total, as they collapsed from 199 for four.

In Division Two, honours were just about even between the top two, Warwickshire and Middlesex, at Uxbridge.

Warwickshire reached 271 for five at stumps, thanks largely to Jim Troughton's 83 not out and Tony Frost's 84, the pair sharing a 157-run partnership.

It represented a good recovery after Middlesex had reduced them to 78 for four.

Derbyshire batted themselves into a strong position against Northamptonshire .

The visitors were 352 for six at the end of day one thanks to a solid effort that included half-centuries from Paul Borrington (57), Wavell Hinds (76), Greg Smith (50) and unbeaten pair Jonathan Clare (58no) and Graham Wagg (81no).

Northants seamers David Wigley and David Lucas took three wickets apiece before the visitors hit back.

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