Twenty wickets fell on the first day of the Vitality County Championship match at Taunton, with Essex steamrolling Somerset for 128 after being bundled out for 156.
Somerset seamer Migael Pretorius claimed 4-36 as the home side impressed after opting to bowl, with Tom Westley (43) the only Essex batter to pass 25.
But Jamie Porter (5-37) and Sam Cook (5-38) then shredded the hosts as Essex took a first innings lead of 28, which they extended to 34 through stumps as the watchman night Cook (4no) saw a sole in the company of Dean Elgar (0no).
Each of the day’s wickets fell bowling.
Rain affected matches elsewhere but At Kent Joey Evison (50no) made his third half-century of the season as he reached 203-7 against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford, in a game broadcast live on Aerial sports.
Evison and Grant Stewart (45) came together at 129-3, after George Balderson took three wickets in 28 balls, and proceeded to put on 69 for the seventh wicket.
Division 1 Scorecards
Division Two Scorecards
In Division Two, England bowler Ollie Robinson took two wickets to help put Sussex in a strong position Derbyshire.
Robinson bowled five consecutive maidens either side of lunch and took 2-48 as Derbyshire reached 189-8 before rain prevented further play – Luis Reece scored with 50 from 78 balls and Aneurin Donald hit nine fours in his 44.
Glamorgan Opener Billy Root was dropped for six by his older brother Joe and went on to score 51 against Yorkshire as the Welsh side made 109-4 in 41 overs at a rain-hit Headingley.
First day between Middlesex and Leicestershire at Lord’s was completely wiped out by the rain.
Watch Lancashire v Kent day two, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix from 10:50am on Saturday.
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