Scott Newman passed 50 for the 10th time this season for Surrey in their finely-poised match at the Brit Oval against Nottinghamshire in Division One of the LV County Championship.

The opener helped himself to 61 before edging a neat outswinger from Andre Adams to Chris Read.

The hosts had looked in trouble when they were on 29 for two after Charlie Shreck dismissed Mark Ramprakash for four and Darren Pattinson removed Chris Murtagh for a duck.

Division One's bottom side rallied, however, through Newman and Jonathan Batty (30 not out) to reach lunch on 100 for three.

Somerset suffered a stuttering start against relegation candidates Yorkshire at Scarborough.

The visitors made the worst possible start to the match when Yorkshire seamer Matthew Hoggard dismissed former England team-mate Marcus Trescothick with the first ball of the day.

Justin Langer made 55 before falling to Adil Rashid, who also accounted for Zander de Bruyn for a duck to leave Somerset on 96 for three after 26 overs.

Relegation-threatened Lancashire saw the start of their match delayed by rain at Liverpool, where they are taking on fifth-place Kent.

Durham's attempts to make up ground on Division One leaders Hampshire were put on hold at Chester-le-Street, with play on day one washed out in their match against Sussex.

An impressive innings from Stephen Moore put Worcestershire in a decent position against Middlesex in their Division Two match at Chester Road.

The Worcestershire opener lost three partners during the first session but escaped dismissal himself to reach lunch unbeaten on 78.

Tim Murtagh proved to be a thorn in Worcestershire's side, however. He removed Daryl Mitchell for four, Ben Smith for three and Vikram Solanki first ball to leave the home side on 115 for three at lunch.

Derbyshire suffered an early collapse in their match against Division Two bottom side Gloucestershire at the County Ground.

Anthony Ireland ended the first session with figures of three for 20 while Steve Kirby and David Brown also picked up a wicket each.

Despite 40 from opener Chris Rogers, they still looked in trouble as they headed in at lunch on 82 for five.

Essex made 37 for one by lunch at Chelmsford where they are facing second place Warwickshire.

Navdeep Poonia caught John Maunders off the bowling of Chris Martin for seven to pick up the only wicket of the day so far.

Play began late at the Swalec Stadium where Glamorgan are taking on Leicestershire.

Glamorgan, currently second bottom of Division Two, survived the first two overs to reach three without loss.

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