2018 County Championship round-up, round 1: Bowlers' dominance at the Old Trafford

Nottinghamshire v Sussex Specsavers County Championship: Division Two

Division One:

Abbott steals the victory in the 2nd innings

Hampshire weren't really off to a great start losing wicket-keeper Lewis McManus early to captain Joe Leach. However, they picked on from there to add a total of 290 runs on the board with skipper James Vince and Gareth Barg at the top with 75 runs each. At the end of Worcestershire's 1st innings, they were trailing by 79 runs with Ben Cox's 65 as their highest individual score.

The Hampshires were dominant in the 2nd innings despite Leach picking Jimmy Adams, Sam Northeast and Liam Dawson at crucial stages. Going back at a golden duck in first innings, Kyle Abbott hit back with a half-century and 4 more wickets to his name, while he had already picked 3 wickets earlier. The captains have been the key players for the team although Kent's star Sam Northeast and overseas signing Hashim Amla haven't quite announced their arrival in the Hampshire team and Joe Clarke is yet to shine this season.

Hampshire won by 196 runs (Vince - 75 & 12, Barg - 75 & 10, Abbott - 7/90, Edwards - 5/78)

Ball and Gurney's career bests win it for Notts

It was the bowlers' match at Old Trafford with the sheer dominance of Ball-Gurney and Onions-Mennie among others. In the first innings, the highest individual score overall couldn't reach the half-century mark. Replying for Nottinghamshire's 158, Lancashire produced a lead of 64. Tom Bailey, Keaton Jennings and the captain Liam Livingstone shared 3 wickets each.

The match was taken away from the Lancashires pretty early in the 2nd innings as a better part of their batting line-up were out before they got off their marks, courtesy two lethal Nott pacers. While the Notts had to score a mere 10 runs to seal the opponent's fate, it took them six batsmen to do so. Mennie and Onions sent back 4 of their batsmen within 5 overs of the second innings.

Nottinghamshire won by 6 wickets (Vilas - 49 & 6, Jennings - 11 & 27, Ball - 9/57, Gurney - 8/43)

Headingley never allowed a ball to be bowled in the match between Yorkshire and Essex, due to continual showers. The match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.