Blackwell stops Warwickshire in their tracks

Warwickshire's hopes of a good start at First Division strugglers Somerset, to put pressure on the Championship leaders Surrey, suffered first day frustration yesterday.

The home side, having won the toss, saw Ian Blackwell lead the way with 110 off 105 balls and Michael Burns chip in with a more sedate 95 off 154 balls. Rob Turner (35) and Matt Bulbeck (26 not out) pushed the score on to 403 for 9 as Somerset recovered well from 227 for 5.

Graham Wagg claimed three wickets for 52 runs with the captain Michael Powell and Dougie Brown picking up two wickets.

The Division Two leaders, Middlesex, were frustrated by Australian Michael di Venuto who cracked an unbeaten 173 from 266 balls for Derbyshire, as the visitors scored 375.

Having reduced Derbyshire to 177 for 5, the hosts were then held up by Di Venuto and Graeme Welch (50) who shared a sixth-wicket stand of 130. However, Ashley Noffke's 5 for 118 kept the visitors in sight.

A good all-round bowling performance from Essex dismissed bottom side Durham for 259 but the hosts then found themselves in deep trouble at 25 for 3 at stumps. Mark Ilott, Joe Grant and John Stephenson all grabbed two wickets apiece as Michael Gough scored 103 ­ the next best score being Ian Hunter's 32.

However, Essex's acting captain, Darren Robinson, and Will Jefferson were removed without scoring and the loss of the Zimbabwean Andy Flower before the close was a severe blow.

Nottinghamshire's South African-born all-rounder, Kevin Pietersen, continued his rich vein of form with 60 not out as his side closed eight runs behind Gloucestershire's 173 all out.

A double century and back-to-back one-day hundreds already this month, Pietersen joined Usman Afzaal (38) with the score at 76 for 3 and hit 12 fours in his 49-ball innings.

Paul Franks had destroyed the visitors' innings with 4 for 33 in 14 overs. Spinner Stuart MacGill took 3 for 44.

Northamptonshire's Carl Greenidge picked up 5 for 44 as Glamorgan were skittled for 144. Only Matthew Maynard (43) and Adrian Dale (37) made significant contributions.

The home side closed the day 61 ahead on 205 for 3 with Robert White (80) and Mal Loye (41) and David Sales (37) out.