Middlesex v Warwickshire

So, after the conclusion at Chelmsford, here's how things fared in week two of the County Championship season.

Division One:

Yorkshire 593-9 (d) & 183-8 (d) v Hampshire 453-9 (d) - Match Drawn

Middlesex 452 & 304-6 (d) v Warwickshire 468 - Match Drawn

Lancashire 332 & 88-2 v Nottinghamshire 242 & 175 - Lancashire won by eight wickets

Division Two:

Sussex 360 & 288 v Essex 320 & 266-7 - Match Drawn

Gloucestershire 563 v Derbyshire 444 & 260-2 (d) - Match Drawn

Glamorgan 348 & 191 v Leicestershire 427 & 115-0 - Leicestershire won by 10 wickets

For full scorecards click here.

Catches win matches, it is said, and dropping Alastair Cook when he only has a single to his name is never a good idea. The England captain bats through 91 overs for an unbeaten 127 as Essex earn a draw at Hove, and following his ton against Gloucestershire last week, his seasonal average is 134. 

The Sussex team shake Cook's hand in a show of respect and sportsmanship, with partner Graham Napier unbeaten on six. Sussex take 12 points from the game, with Essex earning 11. 

Steve Magoffin is switched to the Sea End, but no success for Sussex. Time running out. Three overs left. Can they claim the three wickets they need? Alastair Cook 123 not out.

Captain Andrew Gale takes a pragmatic view...next up for the defending champions, it's a trip to Edgbaston to face Warwickshire on Sunday.

After a couple of overs each from Steve Magoffin and Ollie Robinson, Sussex try the spin of Danny Briggs. Graham Napier blocks out resolutely. Five overs left. 

Seven overs to go - three wickets needed by Sussex. Alastair Cook 123 not out, Graham Napier on six. Some draws in cricket are dull - this one isn't (if it ends in a draw, that is). Perhaps should be mentioned that wicketkeeper Ben Brown is skippering Sussex in this game with Luke Wright having undergone wrist surgery.

BBC Sussex's Adrian Harms at Hove:

"Suddenly two quick wickets as Essex look to chase down the target and Sussex are back in the driving seat and pressing for victory.

"The new ball has been taken and the hosts need three more wickets. Alastair Cook stands in their way - dropped on one, he is now 123 not out." 

The pitch was the only winner at Bristol where Chesney Hughes provided the highlight of the final day's play with an unbeaten 137. The Anguilla-born Derbyshire opener hit a six and 20 fours, and added 80 with first-innings centurion Wayne Madsen (27*) before Hamish Rutherford's declaration ended the game.

Gloucestershire, beaten by Essex in their opening game of the new season, take 12 points and Derbyshire 8.

A mixed performance by county champions Yorkshire at the start of their attempt to complete a hat-trick of titles. After enjoying the first two days when Adam Lyth (111), Jonny Bairstow (246) and Liam Plunkett (126), the final two were far less satisfactory against an injury-hit Hampshire side. 

Andrew Gale declares his side's second innings with Plunkett 27 not out and Jack Brooks on 15 and a halt is called. Yorkshire take 12 points and Hampshire 10.

BBC Radio Leeds' Dave Callaghan: 

"After being dominated by the champions for the first two days, you have to say well done to Hampshire, who came back strongly and fully deserved their draw at Headingley. 

"The visitors lost Fidel Edwards for the fourth day to an ankle injury sustained in the practice before the game. They put that behind them and bowled really well to reduce Yorkshire to 120-6. The home side eventually closed at 183-8 and were never going to lose the game due to the 140-run lead from the first innings."

So the old adage is true, you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth - Adam Voges misses out on a century as Warwickshire keeper Tim Ambrose takes off his pads at Lord's and claims the first wicket of his career, the Australian caught by Keith Barker at deep mid-wicket for 92. He immediately declares the Middlesex innings, bringing the game to an end.

No doubt about the star performer in this game - Middlesex opener Sam Robson, who made 231 and 106. the home side take 12 points, with 11 for the Bears.

Ian Bell has withdrawn himself from Warwickshire's attack with figures of 0-15 from seven overs. Sam Hain and Varun Chopra are the ninth and 10th bowlers used by the Bears - Middlesex skipper Adam Voges moves into the 90s and you suspect that on this occasion he is content to look a gift horse in the mouth - or a gift bear in this instance.

Leicestershire's elite performance director Andrew McDonald is a happy man following their 10-wicket victory at Glamorgan. 

He told BBC Radio Leicester: "It was a very professional performance, pretty clinical in the way we got the job done. Being none down in the chase was exceptional, so well done to Angus Robson and Paul Horton.

"But I think there were great contributions from every player, batting, bowling and fielding. The bowlers thought they had been a bit sloppy in Glamorgan's first innings, so to come back the way they did in the second innings to bowl them out for 200 was outstanding."

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Three runs off spinner Danny Briggs take England's captain to his second century in successive games for Essex. It took him 189 balls and included 11 fours - and all after Briggs dropped him at slip early in his innings. It's also his first in an ECB safety regulations-compliant helmet. Essex need another 126 to win.

BBC Sussex's Adrian Harms at Hove:

"This game looked to be drifting towards a draw, but Essex have never needed more than five an over, and with Cook holding the fort at one end, the Essex middle order have licence to have a tilt at this target."