• County round-up

Rogers helps Middlesex blast Somerset away

Chris Rogers' 173 came in 191 balls © PA Photos

Enlarge

A magnificent stand of 245 between Chris Rogers and Joe Denly ensured Middlesex bossed day two of their LV= County Championship Division One clash with Somerset at Lord's from start to finish.

Tim Murtagh, Toby Roland-Jones and Gareth Berg each took three wickets as Somerset were all out for 173 - losing their last five wickets for just 43 runs.

And that looks to be nowhere near enough after captain Rogers made 173 off 191 balls and Denly contributed an unbeaten 105 as Middlesex closed on 321 for two - a lead of 148.

Durham's 25-year-old seamer Chris Rushworth produced his second career-best performance of the week as Warwickshire's LV= County Championship challenge faltered at Chester-le-Street.

Brought in as a replacement for Graham Onions, Sunderland-born Rushworth followed his one-day best of five for 31 against Nottinghamshire on Sunday by taking five for 46. After an opening stand of 61 Warwickshire were all out for 197, trailing by 80, and Durham reached 28 for two in their second innings.

Sussex took control of their crucial clash with Surrey after bowling out the visitors for 124 on the first day at Horsham. Australian Steve Magoffin took four wickets for 27 runs after bowling through the morning session unchanged and was well supported by James Anyon (four for 63) as the Sussex seamers fully vindicated skipper Mike Yardy's decision to bowl first.

Sussex then batted impressively and were 81 for two when rain and bad light forced an early end with the recalled Luke Wells 33 not out.

Andre Adams was once again the scourge of Lancashire as his four wickets helped Nottinghamshire peg back the Red Rose on the first day of their clash at Trent Bridge. The ever-reliable seamer's four for 77 took his tally as the division's leading wicket-taker to 39 and enhanced his record against Lancashire to 24 victims in his last three outings.

But an unbeaten half-century from South African left-hander Ashwell Prince helped the visitors close on 203 for six. The in-form overseas batsman was dropped on 51 off New Zealander Adams at first slip by Alex Hales. Prince took advantage of that let-off to patiently progress to 63 not out from 130 balls with five fours - his seventh championship fifty of the season.

In Division Two, Ravi Bopara's unbeaten half-century allowed Essex to recover from a shaky start on a rain-affected first day of their clash at Northamptonshire. Essex were reduced to 57 for four just before lunch but England international Bopara's 65 not out off 129 balls, including 12 fours, helped the visitors to move on to 138 for four before rain brought about an early close at Wantage Road.

A torrential mid-afternoon downpour put paid to Derbyshire's hopes of building a sizeable lead over Leicestershire on the second day of the game at Grace Road. The Division Two leaders had reached 191 for five when the rain arrived, so Derbyshire will resume with a lead of just 14 runs as they look to set up their fifth win of the season and cement their position at the top of the table.

Only 34 overs were possible on the rain-ruined first day of Glamorgan's clash with Yorkshire at Colwyn Bay. Glamorgan, who won the toss, had reached 117 for three in their first innings shortly after lunch before persistent showers ruined the prospect of any further play.

And Kent seamer Mark Davies took two wickets as Hampshire limped to 50 for three during the 63 minutes of action possible on a largely dry first day of their clash in Tunbridge Wells. A flash flood in the early hours of Sunday morning had left the pitch damp in places and the outfield sodden, ensuring match umpires Steve Gale and Richard Illingworth had little choice but to hold five inspections before opting to start at 4.15pm.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.