NORTHANTS opener Mike Hussey put the Gloucestershire bowlers to the sword to score an unbeaten 169 in Northants' 348-5 on the opening day of their Division Two match at Gloucester. Phil Jaques also continued his fine start to the season with 75.

The Gloucester bowlers toiled all day without much luck, including Swindon's Jon Lewis (0-79 in 23 overs).

Third-placed Warwickshire gave Collins Obuya his first taste of Frizzell County Championship cricket at Edgbaston and the Kenyan leg-spinner made an immediate impression, albeit with the bat.

Obuya hit an unbeaten 55 from number nine, coming in after Warwickshire had slipped to 238-7 following a bright start against Nottinghamshire.

The home side had started brightly with Jonathan Trott, who scored a rapid century on debut against Sussex last month, threatening to repeat the feat.

Trott (63) put on 104 for the first wicket with Nick Knight (33) but became one of Greg Smith's three victims soon after the former England opener had fallen to the same bowler.

Mark Waugh (58) and Dougie Brown (40) picked up the innings but it took Obuya's innings to carry them to 351-9 at the close.

Second-placed Lancashire made a fine start as they looked to close the gap on leaders Surrey yesterday.

Mark Chilton was unbeaten on 87 and Mal Loye not out 53 as the Red Rose county closed on 210-1 on a shortened first day of their encounter with bottom side Leicestershire.