Law and Foster lift Essex after wickets fall to seamers

Stuart Law and James Foster forged a fifth-wicket partnership of 119 to revive Essex after Glamorgan had claimed their first four wickets for just 55 at Sophia Gardens yesterday.

Adrian Dale, Glamorgan's acting captain, might have been relieved to have lost the toss, especially after Ronnie Irani had elected to bat on a pitch that proved helpful to the seamers for the first couple of hours.

Darren Robinson went to the third ball of the day, Steve Watkin got one to move in sharply and Robinson's inside edge was superbly held by the wicketkeeper Mark Wallace.

Stephen Peters soon gave Wallace his second catch, fending outside off stump. Paul Grayson was bowled through the gate by an inswinger, and when Irani pushed forward to a lifter and was caught off his glove at third slip Essex were in serious trouble.

Essex closed the opening day on 242 for 7 after bad light and rain brought a halt with 20 overs still scheduled. But Glamorgan failed to press home their advantage as Law and Foster mounted a profitable struggle.

The Second Division leaders Sussex made 273 for 8 by the end of the first day against Derbyshire at the County Ground. Murray Goodwin impressed with 67, and Mark Davis steadied the ship with an unbeaten 51.

Graeme Hick reactivated his season with his 116th first-class century in a demolition of Warwickshire at Edgbaston. After four hundreds in his first 12 series innings this summer – including 124 on Warwickshire's visit to New Road – he came into the return derby with only 61 runs in his last six knocks.

Hick made an unbeaten 196 and put on 217 with Vikram Solanki, who reached 112 from 166 balls in Worcestershire's first-day total of 435 for 5.

Paul Johnson amassed 149 as Nottinghamshire made 322 against Gloucestershire at Bristol. Darren Bicknell and Guy Welton had put on 117 for the opening wicket, but their dismissal paved the way for Johnson and his 192-ball knock. Gloucestershire were four without loss by the close.