LONDON, July 20: Australian Test opener Justin Langer smashed an unbeaten double century on Wednesday to set a new record for the highest ever individual score at Guildford.

Langer, playing in his last county championship match before returning home, led Somerset to 442 for two in their first innings against Surrey.

He finished the day on 234 not out from 279 balls with 31 fours and two sixes.

It was also the highest ever individual score at Guildford, beating the previous best of 228 recorded by Darren Bicknell in 1995.

Langer overshadowed Indian spinner Anil Kumble who was playing his first match for Surrey. By the close, Kumble had conceded 100 runs from 28 overs.

In Division One, leaders Sussex built up a commanding total against bottom side Middlesex thanks to an unbeaten century by Chris Adams at Southgate.

Adams was unbeaten on 101 and Luke Wright was 41 not out as the visitors ended the day on 374 for five.

Lancashire were in danger of succumbing to a crushing defeat despite the presence of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff against Kent at Canterbury.

Matt Walker made 197 after putting on 121 with tailender Amjad Khan as the hosts finished on 440 all out.

Lancashire then lost two quick wickets in reply as Mark Chilton (one) and Iain Sutcliffe (six) both fell for just 12 runs.

Mal Loye steadied the Red Rose county's nerves with an unbeaten 38 and will resume with Stuart Law who made 11 as Lancashire finished on 56 for two, still 166 runs adrift.

Australian paceman Jason Gillespie took four wickets and Tim Bresnan claimed three as Yorkshire reduced Warwickshire to 201 at Scarborough.

Only Heath Streak (68 not out), Ian Westwood (31) and Paul Harris (32) made significant contributions although it could have been far worse as the visitors were 122 for nine at one point before Streak and Harris put on 79.

Meanwhile, Lancashire captain Mark Chilton explained how he tried to ease Andrew Flintoff back into competitive play during Kent's first innings of the clash at Canterbury.

While there are no concerns over the ankle injury that kept Flintoff out of the 5-0 one-day series defeat to Sri Lanka and the first-Test draw with Pakistan at Lord's, Chilton was still aware of the need to look after the England captain.

“Just because Fred's playing doesn't mean he's going to bowl you a truck-load of overs,” Chilton said. “It's his first game back and you've got to manage him just like you'd manage anyone else.

“We tried to spread the bowling round and make sure all the seamers got a bowl. We were constantly asking him how he felt because we didn't want to over-bowl him and that was probably obvious from the side.”

Chilton confirmed Flintoff was “alright but a little bit stiff” after the second day's play.

“Fred's okay but a little bit stiff like all the bowlers,” Chilton said.

Close of play scores on Wednesday:

County Championship:

Division One:

At Southgate: SUSSEX 374-5 (C.J. Adams 101 not out, M.H. Yardy 97, M.W. Goodwin 69) v MIDDLESEX.

At Scarborough: WARWICKSHIRE 201 (H.H. Streak 68 not out; J.N. Gillespie 4-52); YORKSHIRE 122-2 (J. Sayers 63 not out).

At Canterbury: LANCASHIRE 218 (G. Cross 72, S.G. Law 53; T Henderson 4-29) and 56-2; KENT 440 (M.J. Walker 197, D.J.J. Bravo 76).

Division Two:

At Chelmsford: GLAMORGAN 312-5 (M.J. Powell 157 not out) v ESSEX.

At Leicester: DERBYSHIRE 355-8 (Hassan Adnan 117, D. Pipe 87 not out, M.J. North 80; S.C.J. Broad 4-77) v LEICESTERSHIRE.

At Guildford: SOMERSET 442-2 (J.L. Langer 234 not out, N. Edwards 77, A. Suppiah 71) v SURREY.

Pro40:

Division Two:

At Worcester: Gloucestershire beat Worcestershire by 12 runs.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE 245-6 (C.G. Taylor 93, S. Adshead 69 not out); WORCESTERSHIRE 233-9 (L. Vincent 56; M.C.J. Ball 4-47).—AFP