Root digs in to upstage brother

JOE ROOT was overshadowed by his younger brother Billy as Glamorgan took charge against Yorkshire at Emerald Headingley.

The England captain’s first outing in the LV= Insurance County Championship for two years – and his first knock on home soil after a long winter on the sub-continent – saw him fall for just 16.

Yorkshire would eventually stutter to 193 all out. A three-wicket newball burst from Ben Coad clawed back some of the lost ground but Billy Root’s 25 not out oversaw a recovery that left the Welshmen 205 ahead at stumps on 68 for four.

Essex captain Tom Westley hit his highest score for five years as his double century put them in control against Worcestershire.

Westley produced a chanceless 213 for the second double century of his career.

Essex declared on 490 for nine before Sam Cook took three wickets in five balls to see the visitors slump to 43 for three at the end of day two.

Durham seized the initiative at Trent Bridge, where a familiar Nottinghamshire collapse with the bat was compounded by a back injury to their England fast bowler Jake Ball.

Durham posted a competitive first-innings total of 330.

Their seamers then took advantage of difficult batting conditions to reduce Nottinghamshire to 85 for six before Tom Moores and Liam Patterson-White stemmed the flow of wickets with a stand of 56.

Tim Murtagh claimed four wickets as Middlesex got the upper hand against Somerset at Lord’s.

The 39-year-old returned four for 46 and with his heir apparent at Middlesex Ethan Bamber contributing three for 24, the visitors were bowled out for 172. Middlesex then reached 87 for two by stumps for a lead of 228.