Mahmood upstages Flintoff

Sajid Mahmood removes Chris Adams, one of five wickets on the opening day

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Lancashire all-rounder Andrew Flintoff’s return to LV County Championship action was overshadowed by team-mate Sajid Mahmood against title-holders Sussex.

Mahmood claimed 5-76 as the hosts were dismissed for 253, with Flintoff - recently recovered from a side strain suffered during his rehabilitation from an ankle operation - bowling 15 overs for 43 without success.

Only Robin Martin-Jenkins’ 70 off 98 balls prevented an even worse scenario for Sussex, although the visitors made a poor start as they slumped to 67 for four in reply by stumps.

Division One leaders Yorkshire were dismissed for 184 as Paul Collingwood and Liam Plunkett claimed three wickets apiece with Steve Harmison and Callum Thorp two each for Durham at Chester-le-Street.

The hosts replied with 59 for three, with Ben Harmison 21 not out.

Mark Ramprakash’s bid for his 100th first-class century continues after the former England batsman fell for 48 as Surrey closed on 251 for four against Kent at the Brit Oval.

Jon Batty spent almost five hours at the crease making 70 not out off 240 balls with Usman Afzaal contributing 57.

Nottinghamshire’s New Zealander Andre Adams claimed 4-63 to help dismiss Hampshire for 293 at the Rose Bowl.

John Crawley (50), Nic Pothas (56) and Dimitri Mascarenhas (55) all made starts but failed to capitalise and the visitors had reduced the deficit by 13 without loss at stumps.

Usman Afzaal and Jon Batty, both of whom hit half-centuries, team up for Surrey against Kent

A rain-interrupted day could not prevent Hamish Marshall from scoring for a century for Gloucestershire against Division Two leaders Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

The New Zealander had to leave the field on 94 mid-afternoon when the weather closed in but was able to return to eventually progress to 107 in his side’s total of 190 for two - Will Porterfield having hit 74 - before more rain forced an early finish.

Worcestershire opened up a 55-run lead over second-placed Leicestershire after Simon Jones claimed 5-30 and Kabir Ali 3-40 to dismiss the hosts for 120 at Grace Road.

Captain Vikram Solanki (93no) and Daryl Mitchell (49) led the Worcestershire response as they closed on 175 for two.

England opener Alastair Cook warmed up for the first npower Test against South Africa on Thursday week with 95 in Essex’s 365 for seven against Derbyshire at Chelmsford.

However, he was overshadowed by Ryan ten Doeschate, who hit 118 not out off 144 balls and shared an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 126 with Alex Tudor (53no).

Dawid Malan’s unbeaten century - his first in first-class cricket - rescued Middlesex from 36 for four against Northamptonshire, allowing the hosts to close on 317 for seven at Uxbridge.

Malan hit 19 fours in his 239-ball innings of 121, with Eoin Morgan (66) and Ben Scott (50) also making contributions as Johan van der Wath picked up 4-64.