Cricket: 2011 County Championship, Division 1 Update

Lancashire and Warwickshire lead the way in Division One after two games while many people's title-favorites Somerset are bottom having lost both their opening games.

Lancashire, playing all but two of their four-day games at Liverpool, hammered Somerset by an innings and 20 runs.

Batting first Somerset posted 268 thanks to Nick Compton (61), James Hildreth (55) and Craig Kieswetter (53) all passing 50. Three wickets for Gary Keedy (3-26) and Sajid Mahmood (3-72) ensured Lancashire didn't miss the injured Glen Chapple too much.

Lancashire recovered from 169-5 to score an impressive 451 as Farveez Marharoof (102) scored a century on debut, Tom Smith made 89 and Stephen Moore 73. Steve Kirby (6-115) did his best to restrict the home side.

Somerset capitulated to 163 in their attempt to set Lancashire a target, 20 runs short of making the home side bat again. Gemaal Hussain's 42 and Kieswetter's 38 not enough, while Smith (2-25), Maharoof (2-25) and Keedy (2-47) were among the wickets.

Warwickshire are also on 44 points after their latest win against Worcestershire by 88 runs at New Road.

Batting first, the away side only managed 201, as Chris Woakes top-scored with 47 not out but Damien Wright's 5-62 did the damage.

Worcestershire gained a first innings lead as they managed 375 with Moeen Ali hitting 92, James Cameron 56 and Matthew Pardoe 54. Irish seamer Boyd Rankin took 5-57.

Warwickshire batted much better the second time around, as they made 461-8 declared. Varun Chopra's 228 a highlight and Mohammad Yousuf's 81 also helped. Alan Richardson's 4-97 the pick of the home side's bowlers.

Chasing 288, the home side fell short on 199 despite Alexei Kervezee's 65 as Chris Woakes (6-49) tormented all the batsmen and Warwickshire won by 88 runs.

Third-placed Nottinghamshire are the only other side with a 100 per cent record after they beat Yorkshire by 58 runs in a topsy-turvy game at Headingley.

Nottinghamshire elected to bat but soon found themselves in trouble at 7-3 and 56-6 before recovering slightly to post 143 thanks to Alex Hales's 85. Rich Pyrah taking 5-58 and former bowler Ryan Sidebottom haunting his old side with 4-30.

Yorkshire looked in control when they replied with 336. Andrew Gale top-scoring with 145 not out, supported by Adam Lyth (64), Anthony McGrath (49) and Adil Rashid (40). Luke Fletcher's 4-72 the best of the home side's bowlers.

As champions do, Nottinghamshire rallied to make 337 second time around with 80's from Chris Read (86), Alex Hales (83) and Steven Mullaney (83). Side-bottom was the pick of the bowlers with 4-67, but Pyrah's 3-73 and Adil Rashid's 3-52 meant Yorkshire only needed 145 for victory.

But the White Rose county couldn't get over the line as they were skittled for just 86. Jonathan Bairstow was left stranded on 50 not out, with Joe Root (14) the only other batsmen to score more than six.

Three wickets each from Fletcher (3-27), Shreck (3-29) and Adams (3-24) ensured Nottinghamshire won the match by 58 runs.

Durham are fourth but were beaten by Sussex, who picked up their first win of the season, by two wickets.

Durham started well but fell away from 173-1 to 292 as Gordon Muchall top-scored with 74. Monty Panesar claimed 4-88 for Sussex.

In reply, the visitors could only make 194 despite Andy Hodd's 67 and Chris Nash's 65. Callum Thorp took 3-52, while Ian Blackwell took 2-8 from 10.3 overs.

Durham managed 210 second time around as Ian Blackwell (51) and Dale Benkenstein (50) made half-centuries. Naved-ul-Hasan's 4-43 did the primary damage with Panesar's 3-46 not far behind.

Chasing 309, Sussex got the target with two wickets remaining, despite falling to 149-4 as Luke Wells hit 103 and Ben Brown made 61. Ruel Brathwaite's 5-56 ended up in vain for Durham.

Nottinghamshire play Worcestershire in their third game and Durham host Warwickshire. Sussex play Lancashire on April 26 and Hampshire face Somerset starting on April 27.