Morne Morkel and Rikki Clarke led a Surrey fightback as the Specsavers County Championship leaders found themselves in a scrap with Lancashire.

Morkel and Clark ripped through the visitors’ top order with their team attempting to defend a modest total of 211 as wickets tumbled on the opening day at the Kia Oval.

Tom Bailey took five for 53 as Aaron Finch top-scored with 43 in the home side’s first innings, which lasted just 52.2 overs.

Highlights: Surrey v Lancashire – Day 1

🎥 Highlights from Day 1 of our day-night Specsavers County Championship game against Lancashire County Cricket Club which saw 16 wickets fall. #SURvLAN

Posted by Surrey Cricket on Sunday, August 19, 2018

However, Morkel and Clarke claimed two wickets apiece to get Surrey back on track with Lancashire finishing the day on 134 for six, still 77 runs adrift of the hosts with skipper Dane Vilas having succumbed to England bowler Sam Curran for 61.

Marcus Trescothick rolled back the years for Somerset on day one of their clash with Essex at Taunton.

The 42-year-old former England batsman struck 95 runs off 158 balls to just miss out on a 67th first-class century in Somerset’s 308 for seven of the Division One contest.

Captain Tom Abell added 70 for second-placed Somerset while Essex paceman Peter Siddle took three for 71 for the defending champions.

Relegation-battling Worcestershire bowled out Yorkshire for 216 and had progressed to 39 without loss in reply before bad light brought a premature halt to proceedings at Scarborough.

Kane Williamson struck 87 for the hosts and teenager Dillon Pennington took four for 53 for Worcestershire, who finished the day trailing by 177 runs.

At Southampton, James Vince struck 74 before Liam Dawson (72) and Kyle Abbott (60 not out) put on 133 for the eighth wicket  as Hampshire recovered to post 277 in their clash with Nottinghamshire.

Fidel Edwards then took three wickets for nine runs in six overs to reduce Notts to 39 for four by stumps.

Warwickshire dominated with ball and bat against Gloucestershire to build a 43-run lead with eight wickets in hand in their Division Two clash at Edgbaston.

Chris Wright took five for 32 as the visitors were skittled for 127 before Will Rhodes struck an unbeaten century as Warwickshire reached 170 for two.

Ben Brown scored 116 as Sussex powered their way to 400 for seven and maximum batting points against Derbyshire at Hove.

Harry Finch (82) and David Wiese (89 not out) provided able support as Derbyshire’s bowlers toiled.

Leicestershire lead Kent by 167 runs after reducing the visitors to 53 for three at stumps.

Mohammad Abbas took two for 22 after Leicestershire made 220, with four wickets for Ivan Thomas.

Chris Rushworth and Matt Salisbury took three wickets apiece for Durham as Glamorgan were all out for 154 at Cardiff.

In reply, Durham reached 75 without loss as new signing Alex Lees made an unbeaten 53 on his debut, with Cameron Steel  contributing  22 to the partnership.

Northamptonshire reached 332 for eight against Middlesex, with 20-year-old wicket-keeper Ricardo Vasconcelos stealing the show with a  brilliant 140 – almost 100 more than any other batsman managed.

James Harris took five for 81 for visitors Middlesex.