Five-star ten Doeschate gets Essex off to a flier
PART-TIME bowler Ryan ten Doeschate claimed a match-winning 5-13 to help Essex claim victory in their season opener with Hampshire at Chelmsford.
The Dutch medium-pacer tore through the Hampshire tail to skittle the visitors out for just 185 – 63 runs short of their victory target.
Meanwhile, a six-wicket stand of 153 between Jacques Rudolph and Jonathan Bairstow helped Yorkshire get their season off to a winning start at the expense of Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Chasing 291, the Tykes looked to be heading for defeat at 123-5 before Rudolph (69no) and Bairstow (81) led them to a four-wicket success.
In division two, Surrey were bowled out for just 165 as they slumped to defeat in their season opener with Derbyshire at the Brit Oval.
Derbyshire captain Chris Rogers made history by becoming the first player to score single and double centuries for the county in the same match as his second innings 140 helped the visitors to 274-6dec, leaving Surrey an unlikely 374 to win.
Steven Davies top scored for the hosts with 56 but got little support as Surrey toiled.
Matthew Hoggard got off to the perfect start as captain of Leicestershire after steering his side to a six-wicket win over Northamptonshire.
The Foxes, who finished bottom in last year’s Championship, needed just 65 for victory but slumped to 29-4 at one stage before Josh Cobb (20no) and Tom New (14no) steadied the ship.
All-rounder Chris Nash claimed four wickets to help Sussex to a 201-run victory over Glamorgan in Cardiff.