England fast bowler Josh Tongue took five wickets for defending champions Nottinghamshire against Warwickshire to strengthen his claims for a spot against New Zealand.
The visitors were stumbling at 179 for six, having been asked to bat first at Trent Bridge, but skipper Ed Barnard’s unbeaten 134 steered the Bears to 375 for eight.
Surrey, chasing a first win of the season, also asked their visitors to bat and Essex made them pay as Dean Elgar, who made 92, and Paul Walter shared a 183-run opening stand.
Walter was dismissed for 101 and Surrey claimed three quick wickets before Essex reached 325 for six at stumps – with England bowler Gus Atkinson striking late in the day in his first match since the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Also back in action was Joe Root, who made his first County Championship appearance of the season but was made to wait to get bat in hand as Yorkshire opted to bowl first in the Division One match against Sussex at Headingley.
Tom Price made 93 and shared a 165-run stand with John Simpson, who ended the day unbeaten on 101, as Sussex closed on an impressive 373 for six. Glamorgan also made a strong start, with skipper Kiran Carlson (95) and Sean Dickson (90) steering them to an opening day score of 334-7 against Leicestershire.
In Division Two, Zak Crawley’s hopes of retaining his place as England’s Test opener suffered a further blow as his disappointing start to the season continued.
The 28-year-old hit six fours as he reached 27 for Kent against Worcestershire at New Road before he pushed forward at a full ball from Matthew Waite and edged through to the wicket-keeper.
It was Crawley’s highest score of the season, following innings of nine, 20, 26 and five, as his chances of being retained for England’s first Test against New Zealand in June continue to ebb away.
Australian Marcus Harris’ second century of the season steered early leaders Lancashire to a strong 356 for seven having been asked to bat first at Durham.
Harris was unperturbed by Lancashire losing regular wickets to reach the close unbeaten on 135 at Chester-le-Street. Miles Hammond’s unbeaten 140 guided Gloucestershire, who have lost their first three matches of the season, to 287 for six at Derbyshire.
PA
