County Championship 2022 | Adam Lyth's century pushes Surrey on the backfoot against Yorkshire

The 2022 County Championship resumed on Monday, July 11, with a set of five Division One matches across England. At the end of the opening day of action, we a look at the high points from each of those five matches.

Essex vs Gloucestershire

Hosts Essex took on winless Gloucestershire at Chelmsford’s County Ground. The visitors, currently placed at the bottom of the Division One points table, won the toss and opted to bat first.

Their batting struggles continue to torment them as they were folded out for just 136 within the first 39 overs of the opening day. Captain Graeme van Buuren top-scored for his side with just 34 as their batting ambitions were shattered by Essex’ Simon Harmer, who bagged figures of 5-44.

By the end of the day, Essex reached 127-1 in their first innings. Trailing by just nine runs, the home side will resume action on Day 2 with Alastair Cook (61*) and captain Tom Westley (50*) at the crease.

Brief scores:

Gloucestershire: 136 (39)

Graeme van Buuren 34, Zafar Gohar 29

Simon Harmer 5-44, Jamie Porter 2-22

Essex: 127-1 (55)

Alastair Cook 61*, Tom Westley 50*

Tom Price 1-15

Essex trail by nine runs

Hampshire vs Warwickshire

The high-flying Hampshire unit were humbled by struggling Warwickshire on the opening day of their Division One home game. Despite shooting out the visiting Warwickshire batters for just 217, courtesy of Kyle Abbott’s 5-45, the hosts find themselves struggling at 42-3.

The Hampshire team lost wickets in succession, losing opener Felix Organ and captain James Vince within single-digit scores. Ian Holland ended the day with an unbeaten 20 and will resume his side’s quest of reducing the 175-run gap with the visitors.

Brief scores:

Warwickshire: 217 (70.5)

Nathan McAndrew 63, Dominic Sibley 56

Kyle Abbott 5-45, Liam Dawson 2-51

Hampshire: 42-3 (23)

Ian Holland 20*, James Vince 8

Oliver Hannon-Dalby 2-22, Nathan McAndrew 1-10

Hampshire trail by 175 runs

Kent vs Northamptonshire

Seventh-placed Kent took on eighth-ranked Northamptonshire at Canterbury’s St Lawrence Ground.

Winning the toss and batting first, the visiting Northamptonshire batters charted 303, courtesy of Emilio Gay’s 112 and Ryan Rickelton’s 55. However, Kent’s opening bowlers, Matthew Quinn and Matt Milnes, did most of the damage by sharing five wickets between them.

Brief scores:

Northamptonshire: 303 (93.3)

Emilio Gay 112, Ryan Rickelton 55

Matt Milnes 3-47, Joe Denly 2-31

Lancashire vs Somerset

Somerset, languishing at number nine in the 10-team Division One standing, made a confident start in their away game against Lancashire. Batting throughout the opening day, they piled up 297-5. Lewis Goldsworthy finished the day at 103*, and he will resume his side’s innings on Day 2 with Lewis Gregory (23*) at the other end.

Lancashire’s opening bowlers Tom Bailey and Will Williams accounted for four of the five wickets that fell on the day.

Brief scores:

Somerset: 297-5 (96)

Lewis Goldsworthy 103*, James Rew 70*

Will Williams 2-42, Tom Bailey 2-66

Yorkshire vs Surrey

Surrey struggled against Yorkshire batters on the opening day of their ongoing match. Hosts Yorkshire won the toss and batted throughout the day, piling up 364 at a rapid pace in the process.

Opening batsman Adam Lyth and wicketkeeper Jonathan Tattersall plundered unbeaten tons and will resume action on Day 2.

Brief scores:

Yorkshire: 364-5 (96)

Adam Lyth 152*, Jonathan Tattersall 104*

Daniel Worrall 2-61, Tom Lawes 1-40