Aymes aids Hampshire's recovery

Hampshire recover after poor start

Leicestershire v Hampshire - First Division
(Day One)

Hampshire wicketkeeper Adrian Aymes was the hero against Leicestershire as he impressed at Grace Road.

He held a shaky innings together with a painstaking 74 not out in his first County Championship game of the season.

Aymes, returning to the side after a knee operation, batted for just over four hours to keep the Leicestershire attack at bay. Phil DeFreitas claimed three wickets for the home side.

After struggling at 149-8 bottom-of-the-table Hampshire had recovered to 227-9.

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Derbyshire v Yorkshire - First Division
(Day One)

Dominic Cork came to Derbyshire's rescue after Paul Hutchison answered an SOS for Yorkshire.

Hutchison took three wickets after being drafted in as a late replacement to leeave the home side struggling.

Cork restored the balance with a disciplined 43 as the hosts closed the first day on 285-8.

Yorkshire were already without the services of Darren Gough, Chris SIlverwood and Craig White before Ryan Sidebottom was injured in net practice.

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Nottinghamshire v Gloucestershire - First Division
(Day One)

Nottinghamshire hit back to regain the initiative after Gloucestershire seamer Jon Lewis took his first hat-trick.

An innings of great maturity from Guy Welton (74) and some excellent bowling put the hosts back in the ascendancy with a score of 215.

Gloucestershire slumped to 47-5 by the close, with Paul Franks devestating the visitors with his opening spell.

He removed the top three batsmen in a sizzling nine-over spell that yielded just two runs.

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Warwickshire v Essex - First Division
(Day One)

Dominic Ostler is poised to end a five-year run without a century following a rain-interrupted opening day of Warwickshire's clash with Essex.

The 29-year-old from Solihull has not made a championship ton since June 1995.

He put four lean years behind him with a sparkling display of strokeplay only for a heavy afternoon shower to cause an early close and leave him on 93.

He dominated a second wicket stand of 88 with Michael Powell, who made 30 in 41 overs.