Skipper Nic Pothas and Sean Ervine rescued Hampshire from trouble after the LV= County Championship First Division's bottom side had looked set for another difficult day against Somerset.

Hampshire had been tipped by many to challenge for the title this season, however, they have started terribly to lose all four of their opening fixtures.

And things looked to be going against them on the opening day of their clash at the Rose Bowl after three Charl Willoughby wickets helped reduce them to 123 for five in the afternoon session.

Pothas and Ervine steadied the ship, however, with a 158-run stand that was only ended in the dying embers of the day.

Pothas had cracked 12 fours and three sixes in his 87 when he was caught by Mike Munday off Ben Phillips, who then removed Dominic Cork from the final ball of the day.

Ervine remained unbeaten on 75 as the hosts finished 281 for seven.

Geraint Jones hit a century to lead Kent to 355 for six in their clash with fellow newly-promoted side Essex at Chelmsford.

Jones strode to the crease after opener Joe Denly managed just one and plundered 135 to give his side the upper hand. The former England wicketkeeper was aided by half-centuries from Martin van Jaarsveld (51) and Sam Northeast (65) while Darren Stevens was unbeaten on 57.

Defending champions Durham struggled to 79 for three on a day ruined by the rain against leaders Nottinghamshire.

Only 27.2 over were possible but that was enough for Nottinghamshire seamer Charlie Shreck to account for Kyle Coetzer (three) and Will Smith (10) while Darren Pattinson removed Michael Di Venuto (15).

In the Second Division, Middlesex continued their recent good form as they reduced second-placed Derbyshire to 190 for nine after bad light reduced the number of overs to 82.5 at Lord's.

Middlesex grabbed their first win against leaders Sussex last week and were in control mainly thanks to England seamer Steven Finn who took three for 45.

Glamorgan utilised the seam-friendly conditions at Sophia Gardens to bowl out Northamptonshire for 253.

James Harris and Huw Waters took three wickets apiece while opener Stephen Peters top scored for the visitors with a patient 72 from 181 balls.

Gloucestershire skipper Alex Gidman fell just one run short of a century as his side recovered from a poor start to be 314 for six at the close against Leicestershire.

The hosts had been eight for two early after Leicestershire skipper Matthew Hoggard accounted for Will Porterfield (duck) and Jonathan Batty (six).

But Gidman combined in a 138-run stand for the fourth wicket with Hamish Marshall (86), after Chris Dent (34) has stifled Hoggard's initial threat.

Gidman fell agonisingly short of his century, however, when Hoggard returned with the new ball and finished the day with figures of three for 49.