Pieter Malan’s season finally got off the ground for Warwickshire in the County Championship, with the 31-year-old claiming his first century of the season on day one against Worcestershire.

The Test opener scored 141 and was the dominant partner in his 220-run partnership with England opener Dom Sibley.

In what has been a disastrous season for the reliable right-hander, before day one he scored 121 runs in his eight innings and had not scored over 50, this innings will go a long way in boosting his confidence and getting his season out of first gear. Warwickshire were 245-4 at stumps.

Elsewhere, there were not many notable performances from a South African perspective on day one in the County Championship. Leus du Plooy got another decent start for Derbyshire but was out for 43. They were bundled out for 146 by Essex, with Simon Harmer finishing with figures of 1-11.

In a day where rain was a factor, Kyle Abbott picked up 1-43 for Hampshire against Gloucestershire. In Cardiff, Ricardo Vasconcelos also could not convert his start and was gone for 25 captaining Northamptonshire against Glamorgan.