Bevan leads Aussie charge

Another Aussie, Shane Warne, starred with both bat and ball at Portsmouth as Hampshire claimed the first-day honours in the relegation tussle with Kent.

A blistering 69, featuring 11 fours and two sixes at more than a run-a-ball, preceded two wickets in Warne8217;s more familiar guise as leg-spinner as Matthew Fleming8217;s men closed on 31 for two in reply to 320.

In division II Gloucestershire were indebted to a miserly spell from Australian One-day specialist Ian Harvey, who took five for 29 from 23 overs against second-placed Warwickshire at Chelmsford.

Mark Waugh and David Hemp, after a poor run of form, compiled half-centuries in a total of 260.

Martin Bicknell claimed a season-best haul for Surrey, launching a one-man assault on Leicestershire at Guildford.

Six of the wickets to fall were snapped up by the 31-year-old as the champions and current Division I leaders reduced the visitors to 313 for nine at the close.

The in-form Ben Smith provided the major resistance with 102 before offering a chance to Mark Butcher off Bicknell.

Bicknell finished with six for 70 as eighth-wicket pair Phil de Freitas 27 and Dominic Williamson 47 proved a nuisance with a stand of 86.

Third-placed Yorkshire had the better of the opening day at Scarborough where Somerset folded for just 182. David Byas8217; side closed just 38 behind on 144 for three.

England paceman Matthew hoggard claimed three for 47 as the Yorkshire attack shared the wickets before youngster Simon Widdup, bolstered the reply with 44.

Division II pacesetters Worcestershire crawled to 232 for seven from 104 overs at Chelmsford.

Veteran Paul Pollard ground out a painstaking 77 and shared in a 117-run partnership for the fourth wicket with David Leatherdale 62.

England a bowler Darren Thomas took five for 43 as Northamptonshire were routed for 229 in Cardiff.

Australian-born Jeff Cook top-scored for the Midland County with 53 before the visitors reduced Glamorgan to 39 for two in response.