Malan ton frustrates Warwickshire

Warwickshire ended day one of their LV= County Championship clash with Middlesex top of Division One after picking up two bowling bonus points.

But Dawid Malan's 106 put the home side in a strong position on 324 for seven at Uxbridge. The Bears went into their game in hand level with Nottinghamshire on 135 points and Chris Wright collected three for 66 as they edged ahead.

Sussex skittled relegation-threatened Worcestershire for 162 inside 54 overs at Hove. Steve Magoffin took four for 34 as only Moeen Ali (43) and Richard Jones (30 not out) offered any resistance of note on an abridged first day. By the close, the hosts were 22 without loss from seven overs with Chris Nash 15no.

Rain also restricted the hours of play at Liverpool, where defending champions Lancashire's survival bid was also damaged as they slumped to 129 for five against third-placed Somerset. Ashwell Prince made 51 and put on 79 with Karl Brown (39) but Peter Trego took four for 34 to put the West Country side in control.

In Division Two, promotion-chasing Yorkshire were bowled out for a disappointing 249 against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Lee Daggett took three for 64 and also ran out top scorer Phil Jaques for 75, while David Willey and former Tykes spinner James Middlebrook grabbed two wickets apiece.

There were contrasting fortunes for Essex and Gloucestershire after they won the toss and chose to bat against Leicestershire and Gloucestershire respectively.

Essex openers Tom Westley and Jaik Mickleburgh batted through the 57 overs possible at Chelmsford to finish with their partnership unbroken at 161. Mickleburgh struck 11 fours and a six on his way to 81 while Westley will resume on 75, having found the boundary eight times.

But Glamorgan crumbled to 64 for six as just 27 overs were possible in Swansea. David Payne took two for 10 in eight superb overs and Jack Taylor added two for 20, with Jim Allenby's 25 the top score for the rock-bottom hosts.