Collingwood posts a timely reminder

In the frame: Paul Collingwood on his way to his second hundred in less than a week © Getty Images

Division One

Mark Ealham's 34 not out gave Nottinghamshire the edge by the end of a manic day at Trent Bridge on which 18 wickets fell. After winning the toss and batting, Surrey were skittled by Greg Smith, who claimed three wickets for four runs, including Rikki Clarke and Jon Batty for ducks. Mark Ramprakash retaliated with a gutsy 42, but Surrey's total of 136 seemed inadequate, until it came to their turn to bowl. Martin Bicknell bagged his brother Darren for a second-ball duck, and had taken 4 for 42 by the close as Notts limped to 185 for 8.

Only 30 overs were possible on the first day of Sussex's match against Gloucestershire at Hove. Sussex won the toss and batted first, and were indebted to a solid opening knock from Richard Montgomerie, who clung on in difficult conditions as four wickets fell at the other end. Steve Kirby took the notable scalps of Matt Prior and Chris Adams, as Sussex closed on 97 for 4.

Darren Gough cemented his side's advantage with two wickets in his first four overs, as Leicestershire closed on 12 for 2 in reply to Essex's Ronnie Irani-inspired 297. Irani top-scored with 97, falling three short of his second hundred of the season and the 24th of his career, one of David Masters' four wickets in the innings. His efforts lifted Essex from an early rut - they had at one stage been 57 for 3 after Andy Flower had become the first of Ryan Cummins' three wickets. Alistair Cook contributed a solid 62 at the top of the order, while Andre Adams' hard-hitting 32 from 40 balls lifted them from a dicey 213 for 6. But once Gough had made his mark on the top of Leicestershire's batting, Essex's position was looking much healthier.

Paul Collingwood chose the ideal moment to stake his claim for an England Test recall, by carting a Somerset attack including Andy Caddick all around the ground at Taunton in front of David Graveney, the chairman of selectors. With speculation surrounding the make-up of England's second-Test squad, Collingwood finished unbeaten on 181 from 268 balls, with 24 fours and a six, as Durham closed on a hefty 345 for 3. He dominated both of the big stands of which he was a part, 142 for the second wicket with Mike Hussey (63), and 152 for the third with Gordon Muchall (57), to put pressure on the England batting line-up that crumbled so feebly at Lord's this week. Somerset stuck to their task, with Caddick taking two wickets, but Durham have their sights firmly fixed on first division action.

Phil Jaques and Anthony McGrath put Derbyshire's bowlers to the sword at Headingley, adding 310 for the third wicket to leave Yorkshire on a commanding 419 for 3 at stumps. McGrath made 134 but the star of the show was Jaques, who finished unbeaten on 217, and needs another 27 runs tomorrow to pass his career-best. The pair came together at a wobbly 29 for 2, after Matthew Wood and Joe Sayers had fallen cheaply, but that was as good as Derbyshire's day got.

Hampshire's National League match against Worcestershire at The Rose Bowl was abandoned without a ball being bowled, thus denying the home crowd a chance to see Kevin Pietersen in action. Both teams now have 14 points.