Four teams from Group 1 were in action on Day 1 of the fifth round of the County Championship. Nottinghamshire's Luke Fletcher produced a career-best performance to reduce Essex to 199. In the second match, Rob Yates smashed his second consecutive century and has put Warwickshire in a strong position.
Let's take a look at all the action from Group 1 of the County Championship.
Nottinghamshire vs Essex, Trent Bridge
Essex 99 (Browne 53, Fletcher 6-24) trail Nottinghamshire 188/4 (Mullaney 63*, Snater 3-54) lead by 89 runs.
On a lively, green surface that favoured pace, Luke Fletcher returned with career-best figures of 6-24 to bundle out Essex for 99 in just 41 overs.
Although Fletcher stole the show, and rightly so, it was Stuart Broad who triggered this dramatic downfall, by dismissing his former England captain Alastair Cook. Following that, Fletcher ran through the side, picking up wickets in abundance as the dark, gloomy clouds making its presence felt in the Trent Bridge.
Other than Browne (53), Dan Lawrence (14) was the only player to reach the double-digit mark. The last six Essex batters could only add 19 runs between them. As many as four of them departed without opening their account, with two of them got a golden duck.
In reply, Nottinghamshire has reached 188/4 by the stumps on Day 1. Haseeb Hameed was unlucky to miss out on a fifty by one run, while Steve Mullaney is unbeaten on 63, which came in just 69 deliveries. Mullaney hit 12 fours and has added 104 for the fifth wicket with Lyndon James (42). For Essex Shane Snater has picked up three wickets so far.
Warwickshire v Worcestershire, Edgbaston
Warwickshire 271/7 (Yates 104; D’Oliveira 2-31) vs Worcestershire
Rob Yates’ gutsy century saved the day for Warwickshire, whose middle-order collapsed without putting up a fight. After Will Rhodes’ dismissal, Yates forged an important 77-run partnership with Pieter Malan (32), who was playing in place of Hanuma Vihari.
Sam Hain and Matthew Lamb got out cheaply. Michael Burgess then added 70 with Yates before the latter got out soon after reaching his century to Brett D’Oliveira. This was the second consecutive century for Yates, and the one that has definitely pushed him in a conduit for England's potential openers.
Burgess ended the day unbeaten on 65. Joe Leach, Ed Barnard and D’Oliveira picked up a couple of wickets apiece, while Josh Tongue has had one to his name.