Worcestershire skipper Joe Leach insisted his team could take plenty of encouragement from their opening game back in Championship Division One, despite defeat by Hampshire earlier today.

The Pears regained their top-flight status by winning nine of their 14 games last summer and taking the second-tier title.

"The scoreboard doesn't quite do us justice, although we deserved to lose the game. It flatters them slightly. After the 75 (James) Vince got, we were always fighting to get back in the game. We always felt we were 50 runs behind," said Leach, who was out first ball.

"Ultimately it wasn't good enough, but we live and learn. We drove the game for large parts and have not got it right in other parts."

Image source, Rex Features

No early alarm bells for Warwickshire, who move to 11-0 after five overs in their second innings, trailing by 64. Will Rhodes is four not out and Dominic Sibley is unbeaten on seven. A draw remains the most likely outcome.

After this morning's flurry of wickets at Old Trafford, it would be foolish to state that this match at Edgbaston is a nailed-on draw. However, it will need a major collapse in Warwickshire's second innings for the two teams not to be taking five points each from this one.

We are told that a minimum of 50 overs remain. Dominic Sibley and Will Rhodes are the two opening batsmen for the Bears.

Image source, Getty Images

Incredible scenes at Old Trafford this morning as 12 wickets went down for 25 runs before Notts marked their return to Division One by wrapping up victory over Lancashire.

Hardly the way Liam Livingstone wanted his captaincy career to begin for the Red Rose county, and he admitted they had played some "average shots".

Livingstone added: "It's been a funny game really. At times, the pitch has looked unplayable and at times the pitch has looked pretty good. This morning it has quickened up and nipped around.

"We came out and bowled a really good length there which shows that we have the fight that we need. It would have been horrible for them if we'd got 70 or 80 in front."

From Mark: "#bbccricket county batsmen not exactly covering themselves with glory & screaming "pick me" to the England selectors. Either pitches are awful, bowling exceptional or batsmen are average....probably a mixture of the three."

In many cases, 'haven't had much practice out in the middle because of the weather' is another explanation.

Absolutely love the Icelandic team name, Kopavogur Puffins. I once made my wife (then pregnant) walk the entire length of Lundy Island in search of puffins - didn't see a single one. And having just typed that, I can't get Peter Griffin singing 'Bird is the Word' out of my head.

We've already had four results today - although it's hard to call the five points each for Yorkshire and Essex, after a match without any play, a result - and here's a reminder of what has happened.

• A draw appeared the most likely result between Lancashire and Notts at Old Trafford as the home side began the day on 58-2, but 12 wickets went down for just 25 runs as the visitors struggled to 10-4 to complete a six-wicket win.
• Worcestershire were never at the races in their bid to score 324 to win at the Ageas Bowl. Instead, Hampshire knocked over their last seven wickets for 68 to win by 196 runs.
• In Division Two, Gloucestershire only needed another 47 to win and although they lost three wickets for three runs and four for 21, Benny Howell's unbeaten 50 saw them home by five wickets against Kent.

Adrian Harms
Sports reporter, BBC Sussex

By his own admission, David Wiese was disappointed by his performances for Sussex last season but he seems determined to put that right this time round

His celebration at reaching three figures said it all, as he punched the air in delight after a quite magnificent innings which drew generous applause from the Warwickshire players

The innings was full of shots all around the wicket the highlight of which was a huge six into the Birmingham end, and it followed his four wickets earlier in the match.

It was his first hundred in Sussex colours and the first century of the County Championship season.

Image source, BBC Sport

Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson singled out Gareth Roderick for special praise following their season-opening win over Kent at Canterbury.

Roderick made a half-century in their first innings and added 75 with Benny Howell in the second before they eventually reached their target of 127.

"That 51 was probably worth 100 on a different pitch. He batted exceptionally, and the way he and Benny batted in the second innings was really good as well; the tempo that they played, even though there were still balls passing the edge and appeals and things. He puts a price on his wicket, he's a stubborn individual," Dawson told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"I've been working on some things over the winter and it's nice to get out there and put them into practice. On a wicket like that, you probably need a little bit of luck, and across both innings I hd some fortunate things go my way," said Roderick.

Nottinghamshire lost four wickets in scoring the 10 runs they needed for victory over Lancashire at Old Trafford - but a win is a win. Do Steve Mullaney's men have what it takes to emulate Essex and win the title the season after being promoted?

And what about Hampshire's chances following their opening victory over Worcestershire? Life in Division One hasn't been easy for them over the past couple of years, but the addition of Hashim Amla and Sam Northeast has certainly strengthened their batting line-up. How likely is it that they could become champions for the first time since glam rock was a prominent musical genre?

It definitely wasn't the start to the summer that Northamptonshire were hoping for, losing to Middlesex by 160 runs on Sunday.

They were bowled out for 142, chasing a target of 303, and skipper Alex Wakely admitted afterwards that his bowlers had not used the conditions as well as the Middlesex seamers.

"It was a bowler's paradise and it was always going to be very difficult to score runs. I think the pitch was slightly under-prepared, possibly too soft to play first-class cricket on," he said.

"There were two balls going past the edge every over and you always thought there was probably one with your name on it. We wanted to be positive but the only way we were going to win was to put a 100-150 partnership together."

Image source, Getty Images

Well, that was a busy morning, wasn't it?

Just Warwickshire v Sussex remains in play, and we'll continue to follow that match through the afternoon. You can listen to our local radio commentators describing the action via the radio link above.

Division One

Hampshire 290 & 244 v Worcestershire 211 & 127

Hampshire (21 pts) beat Worcestershire (4 pts) by 196 runs

Lancashire 158 & 73 v Nottinghamshire 222 & 10-4

Notts (20 pts) beat Lancashire (3 pts) by six wickets

Yorkshire v Essex - match abandoned (5 pts each)

Division Two

Kent 64 & 153 v Gloucestershire 110 & 108-5

Gloucestershire (19 pts) beat Kent (3 pts) by five wickets

Warwickshire 299 v Sussex 347-7

Sussex have the better of the morning session, as they go to lunch on 347-7 with a lead of 48. David Wiese is 103 not out off just 94 balls. Ben Brown has a more sedate 90 not out off 171.

Image source, Getty Images

Kyle Abbott is denied a five-for to go with his half-century earlier in the match as Worcestershire number 11 Steve Magoffin clips a ball from spinner Liam Dawson to James Vince at mid-wicket.

Travis Head is left unbeaten on 45, while the impressive Abbott's 4-45 gives him match figures of 7-90.

Worcestershire's batsmen now know how tough life can be in Division One following promotion last summer, with only three reaching double figures in their second innings after they were left a target of 324 to win.

FOR DAVID WIESEpublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 16 April 2018

12:54 BST 16 April 2018

Warwickshire 299 Sussex 334-7

Olly Stone comes back into the attack in the 77th over and is pulled away by Wiese for the batsman's first-ever Championship 100 for Sussex and 10th in all first class cricket - and it's the first Championship hundred of the summer. 91 balls, 14 fours and three sixes. Sussex lead by 35.

Image source, Getty Images

That was quite some finish at Old Trafford where 12 wickets went down for 25 runs, as Notts began life back in Division One with a victory.

Andy Smith: "WOWSERS @bracecricket I need a lay down.... phew #carnage"

Simon Mahon: "Shame Lancashire didn't get a few more runs on the board. If Notts had a chase of 100+ it could have been very interesting"