Record stand heads county action

A record-breaking 10th wicket stand of 164 has steered Sussex out of trouble against John Hastings's Durham on the opening day of the latest round of English county action.

The eight Australians involved on day one of the eight matches had mixed results, while Kevin Pietersen was dismissed for 32 for Surrey in the latest step of his comeback to red-ball cricket.

Pietersen was trapped lbw by Essex's Kiwi allrounder Jesse Ryder, who continued his good recent form with the ball by taking 3-54, including the wicket of Kumar Sangakkara for 52, as Surrey finished the day on 5-293.

In Taunton, Adam Voges's Middlesex produced an impressive fightback after former England opener Marcus Trescothick and James Hildreth both posted centuries for Somerset.

After South Australia's Tom Cooper was dismissed for a first-ball duck, Trescothick and Hildreth put on 261 for the third wicket before Middlesex picked up the last eight wickets for just 96 as Somerset were bowled out for 408.

Voges removed Trescothick for 140 with his left-arm spin as his side finished the day on 0-10 in reply.

At Chester-le-Street, two wickets to Victoria's Hastings (2-81) had helped Durham reduce Sussex to 9-171 in the second session before debutant No.9 Oliver Robinson and No.11 Matthew Hobden combined for a 10th-wicket partnership that broke a 107-year Sussex record.

Robinson, whose contract at Yorkshire was terminated last year due to disciplinary reasons, had recently signed a short-term deal with Sussex and was only playing in this match due to an injury to fast bowler Tymal Mills.

He hit 18 fours in his 112-ball innings of 110, while Hobden scored nine fours and two sixes in his unbeaten innings of 65 as the pair put on 164 to steer Sussex to a competitive 335.

"When we got to 50 partnership, we were like, ‘Come on let's get to 100, just keep going’," said Robinson, who admitted the pair were unaware of the record.

"We just kept each other going really.

"When I was out there I was just trying to bat, keep it steady.

"I'm still pretty gobsmacked to be honest. I'm not sure what's happened today.

"When I lie down on my bed later, I might take it in a bit more."

Durham finished the day at 2-103 in reply, with Robinson taking two wickets, and Steve Magoffin bowling nine wicketless overs for 25.

Of the other Australian performances of note, Victoria's Peter Handscomb scored 17 for Gloucestershire while Clint McKay took 2-75 for the Mark Cosgrove-led Northamptonshire.

Peter Siddle had a relaxing day at Old Trafford, the Victorian not needed as Lancashire finished with 5-317 at stumps against Kent.

Meanwhile, English opener Alex Hales continued to put his name forward for a Test debut with an unbeaten 136 for Nottinghamshire against Hampshire.

Hales, who scored a career-best 236 against Yorkshire last week, hit 24 boundaries as his side finished the day on 6-301.