Champions make strong start

Opponents Kent won the toss and elected to bat but that decision soon proved to be a mistake as Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed helped Sussex bowl them out for 216 four balls short of the 60-over mark.

Mushtaq took six for 74 as he served notice that despite his age - he will be 37 later this year - he is not yet ready to stop tormenting county batsmen yet. Their struggles were put into context when Chris Adams' side cruised to 138 for one, with Montgomerie on 52 not out and Chris Nash eight short of his half-century at stumps.

Darren Gough, meanwhile, enjoyed his first action as Yorkshire captain, blasting an entertaining 23 from 26 balls in the Tykes' 390 for eight against Surrey.

Gough had earlier chosen to bat first and after an unconvincing start - Yorkshire were 73 for four when Pakistan's Younis Khan was dismissed for four - a sterling 122 from Jacques Rudolph and an impressive 86 from England prospect Adil Rashid set them up well.

Jim Troughton hit exactly 100 for Warwickshire as his side opened their season with 337 for five against highly-fancied Lancashire at Edgbaston. Veteran Darren Maddy started well for his new county following his summer move from Leicestershire, making his way to 71 before becoming Oliver Newby's second victim.

That left the spotlight to Troughton who lasted 184 deliveries, and just reached his milestone before Lancashire seamer Glen Chapple bowled him. All-rounder Alex Loudon, meanwhile, is poised ominously on 81 not out.

Durham made a solid 313 all out batting first against Worcestershire at New Road and Dale Benkenstein's side are in a promising position after taking four quick wickets in the reply. Benkenstein had a forgettable day, mustering just 10, but Australian Michael Di Venuto took the plaudits with the first ton of the new season, closing on 155 not out.

England paceman Steve Harmison (30) was an unlikely candidate to hit Durham's next best score, but he helped himself to six boundaries, while Doug Bollinger and Gareth Batty each took three wickets.

Worcestershire struggled to 110 for five at stumps with 38-year-old Ottis Gibson (three for 18) accounting for captain Vikram Solanki, Stephen Moore and Kabir Ali.