Catch up on all the action from the opening day of the latest LV= County Championship matches, with Adam Lyth, Michael Yardy, Samit Patel and Daryl Mitchell all hitting hundreds.
By Rob Barnett, Matt Somerford & Callum Dent
6.42pm – The play ends at Edgbaston for the day so here are the close-of-play scores on day one of the latest round of LV= County Championship games.
Division One
Warwickshire, on 123 for four, trail Middlesex by 44 after dismissing the visitors, who won the toss, for a first-innings 167 at Edgbaston.
Having called correctly, Andrew Gale's Yorkshire are 299 for three versus Durham at the Emirates Durham ICG. Adam Lyth hit 104 and Kane Williamson 97.
Samit Patel and Chris Read, 116 and 95 not out respectively, helped Nottinghamshire– who were asked to bat by Somerset– reach 382 for five at Taunton.
Sussex, who won the toss, are 276 for eight against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford courtesy of Michael Yardy's unbeaten 132.
Division Two
Essex, who elected to bat, are 254 for six facing Leicestershire at the Essex County Ground.
Worcestershire, bolstered by Daryl Mitchell's 101 not out, are 232 for nine after losing the toss to Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium.
Kent restricted Surrey, who decided to make first use, to 276 for eight at the Spitfire Ground.
6.23pm – Stumps are drawn at Taunton, the SWALEC Stadium, the Spitfire Ground and Emirates Durham ICG. When the action finishes at Edgbaston, we will round-up the close-of-play scores for you.
WICKET with what is the final ball of the day. James Foster lbw to Buck 82, Kishen Velani 18* Essex 254-6. #EssvLei
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 4, 2014
6.10pm – The centuries keep on coming! Mitchell reaches the milestone this time, his second in five innings for Worcestershire this term. Saeed Ajmal departs shortly afterwards when he becomes Dean Cosker's fourth wicket.
Toby Roland-Jones' third wicket is Sam Hain, whose encouraging knock ends on 42.
The close of play arrives at Emirates Old Trafford and the Essex County Ground. Yardy is unbeaten on 132 of Sussex's 276 for eight while Essex close on 254 for six.
WICKET ! Riley to Kapil, OUT A Kapil st †Billings b Riley 38 271/8
— Kent Cricket (@kentcricket) May 4, 2014
6.03pm – Samit Patel goes to a hundred at Taunton. The Nottinghamshire all-rounder reaches the milestone from 129 balls with his side 346 for five.
Warwickshire move into three figures at Edgbaston, just 65 runs behind Middlesex.
10 overs to go tonight. Warks 95-3. Hain 39*, Javid 15. #middlesex150
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) May 4, 2014
5.40pm – Tom Smith gets his third Sussex wicket as he bowls James Anyon for 34, the tailender having put on 74 with centurion Yardy for the eighth wicket.
Opening batsman Daryl Mitchell, 80 not out, is running out of partners at the SWALEC Stadium. Jack Shantry's resistance ends on 28, becoming Graham Wagg's fourth scalp.
Pettini and Foster's 154-run stand is broken by Nathan Buck, who has the former caught in gully for 71.
300 up for Nottinghamshire, now 304-5 Read 54* Patel 80* from 84 overs #SomvNotts
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) May 4, 2014
5.26pm – Agony for Williamson! After Kumar Sangakkara shells a simple catch in the slips to give Andrew Gale a life off Graham Onions, Durham claim a wicket with the new ball. The New Zealander is bowled by Chris Rushworth for 97, paving the way for Jonny Bairstow to stride out to the crease for his maiden championship innings of the campaign. Yorkshire are 257 for three.
Mitchell Claydon dismisses Arun Harinath for 33 at the Spitfire Ground, leaving Surrey 240 for seven.
5.18pm – Durham and Glamorgan both take the new ball as they attempt to claim some late wickets. Yorkshire's overseas player Williamson requires another three runs to complete a hundred.
5.10pm – Warwickshire, trailing by 102, lose a third wicket at Edgbaston. Ollie Rayner takes a fine catch at slip to dismiss Ian Westwood for 19 off Neil Dexter's third ball.
Yorkshire reach 250 and collect their second batting point at the Emirates Durham ICG.
5.02pm – Kane Williamson, eight runs short of a first century of the season, is given a life as Phil Mustard cannot hold on diving to his right off Durham seamer Mark Wood.
50 for Mark Pettini from 134 balls with 7 fours. Essex 189 for 4 James Foster 58 #EssvLei
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 4, 2014
Century to Mike Yardy off 154 balls, @SussexCCC 1st inns 216-7 (70th over) Anyon 18* #LancsvSus
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) May 4, 2014
4.45pm – Samit Patel has a fifty for Notts, who are 229 for five, but Roy is bowled by Adam Riley for 60 to leave Surrey 193 for six.
4.37pm – During a sedate period of play round the shires, Surrey’s Jason Roy reaches a half-century from what is a patient 91 balls for the normally aggressive batsman.
4.26pm – Essex captain James Foster raises his third championship fifty of the season. He and Mark Pettini are setting up a decent score that is currently 163 for four.
Another wicket for Wagg as Helm takes a good low catch at point to remove Andrew. Worcs 143/7.
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) May 4, 2014
4.19pm – Adam Lyth falls for 104 to Jamie Harrison in an erratic first over after tea that contains two wides. The left-hander drove at an away-swinger and Scott Borthwick made no mistake at second slip.
4.09pm – As usual, some games reach tea before others but all are at the second interval now.
3.49pm – Riki Wessels has not made it to tea as Jamie Overton finds an edge through to Craig Kieswetter behind the stumps. Notts are 194 for five.
Darryl Mitchell gets his 50 off 179 balls, score is now 130/6
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) May 4, 2014
Nearly a fifth wicket as Buck finds the edge of Foster but the chance has gone down at slip
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) May 4, 2014
3.33pm – Middlesex are fighting their way back just before tea as Toby Roland-Jones prises out Laurie Evans. Warks are 27 for two in response to Middlesex's 167.
WICKET! Ansari c & b Riley 48. Surrey 146/5 (55.5 overs)
— Kent Cricket (@kentcricket) May 4, 2014
3.27pm – Sussex are 176 for seven as Ashar Zaidi chops Tom Smith onto his stumps. Michael Yardy is still going strong unbeaten on 76.
3.22pm – A first hundred of the season for Lyth. A back-foot shot through point does the trick, although he would have had his heart in his mouth for a moment as the ball dipped under Mark Stoneman's unconvincing effort to scoop up the half-chance to catch.
3.20pm – Williamson and Lyth have now extended their partnership to 150 runs. Lyth is seven runs away from a century, although he has slowed up considerably in the past hour.
WICKET - Chopra is bowled by Roland-Jones for 12. Warks - 15-1 #youbears
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) May 4, 2014
3.17pm – A third wicket for Dean Cosker in the afternoon session as Ben Cox is trapped lbw. Worcs are 125 for six.
3.06pm – A double breakthrough for Lewis Gregory at Taunton. After removing Jaques he has now had Taylor caught behind and Notts are 162 for four. Taylor made 60.
Brown caught at slip by Smith http://t.co/Ov4X9KtbjC
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) May 4, 2014
3.02pm – Williamson has now moved along to his half-century and Yorkshire are enjoying themselves are 171 for one. Collingwood has brought on himself to try and prise out a wicket.
The third wicket falls and its the first bowling point as Jacques is caught by Hildreth, bowled by Gregory for 65. @TrentBridge 157 for 3.
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 4, 2014
2.45pm – Well that jinxed them. Rayner has just been snapped up by a sharp Varun Chopra catch at slip off Jeetan Patel. Middlesex all out for 167 from 43.5 overs, last-man Finn the highest scorer and left unbeaten on 37.
2.43pm – Middlesex's last-wicket pair are showing the rest of the team how to bat at Edgbaston. Steven Finn and Ollie Rayner have just brought up a 50-run stand.
Wright LBW to Jarvis http://t.co/xwo5JLCH73
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) May 4, 2014
2.39pm – Kyle Jarvis has been expensive so far today, but he now has a second wicket in three overs. Luke Wright is this time lbw to the Zimbabwean. Sussex are 140 for five.
2.35pm – Double drop at the Emirates Durham ICG! Lyth gets a life on 88. Scott Borthwick pushed a thick edge up in the air at second slip - Paul Collingwood still had a chance to complete the catch but he just failed to hang on after turning and diving from first slip.
2.31pm – Steven Davies' recovery job for Surrey is ended on 31 as he is caught by Ben Harmison in Adam Riley's second over. Surrey are 103 for four. That partnership with Zafar Ansari was worth 71 runs.
Whiteley out for 9 playing across, off bowling of Cosker. Two wickets down since lunch for 26 runs @WorcsCCC 99/5
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) May 4, 2014
2.28pm – James Taylor has followed his partner Jaques to a half-century as Notts have progressed to 142 for two at Somerset.
2.18pm – The Emirates Old Trafford floodlights have done for Matt Machan. Kyle Jarvis has trapped him in front shortly after the lights go on and Sussex are now 128 for four.
Getting gloomy so we are going to switch on the floodlights (again)! @SussexCCC 126-3 in 37th over Yardy 55* Machan 4* #LancsvSus
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) May 4, 2014
2.10pm – The runs have started to flow more freely for Yorkshire after lunch. Kane Williamson has just brought up the 100-run stand with Lyth with a pushed cover-drive for four. Yorkshire are 131 for one.
2.05pm – It has been slow going at most grounds so far today but a few players are starting to reach half-centuries now. Phil Jaques has reached his fifty, from 103 balls, for Notts at Somerset while Michael Yardy is halfway to a ton at Old Trafford.
WICKET And now another wicket falls, two in the same over for Anthony Ireland. Ben Foakes edges to the w/k and is out for 2. 75 for 4....
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 4, 2014
1.55pm – The end is close for Middlesex now as Toby Roland-Jones is caught at slip off Chris Wright. That's Wright's fourth wicket of a forgettable innings for the visitors, who are 106 for nine.
1.54pm – Lyth reaches a gritty half-century with a pulled boundary against Durham. Skipper Andrew Gale's decision to bat first is being rewarded so far as the White Rose county progress to 109 for one.
1.50pm - Essex lose a wicket straight after lunch too as Jaik Mickleburgh is bowled by Nathan Buck. Essex are 69 for two.
1.46pm – Alexei Kervezee has failed to last the first over at the SWALEC Stadium. Dean Cosker has had him caught at mid-off. Worcestershire are 43 for four.
1.44pm – Yorkshire opener Adam Lyth begins the afternoon session at Durham by cover-driving the first ball from Jamie Harrison to the rope. He also found the midwicket boundary later in the over.
1.06pm – Here are the lunch scores:
Division One
Yorkshire, who won the toss, are 87 for one versus Durham at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Sussex, having opted to bat first, are 113 for three against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford.
Nottinghamshire, who were put into bat, are 101 for two facing Somerset at Taunton.
Middlesex, having won the toss, are in trouble at 90 for eight versus Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Division Two
Essex, who chose to bat first, are 57 for one against Leicestershire at the Essex County Ground.
Worcestershire, having been put into bat, are 73 for three facing Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium.
Surrey, who won the toss, are 64 for three versus Kent at the Spitfire Ground.
1.04pm – It’s lunch in all seven games. We’ll soon round up the scores for you.
Wicket! Hamilton-Brown on 5 is tempted into a big hit by Kerrigan but skies the ball to Reece at extra cover @SussexCCC 108-3 #LancsvSus
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) May 4, 2014
12.42pm – It gets worse for Middlesex! Jones has James Harris caught at second slip and the visitors to Edgbaston are 66 for eight.
Alex Hales, making his Worcestershire debut after joining on a one-month loan, is undone for 15 by Wagg. The score at the SWALEC Stadium is 57 for three.
Nash caught behind http://t.co/kiVDmInRpv
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) May 4, 2014
12.33pm– Hannon-Dalby traps Joe Denly in front to leave Middlesex, who won the toss, 65 for seven. Chris Nash, leading Sussex in the absence of Ed Joyce on his return from injury, is caught behind for 40 off Tom Smith, making the score 97 for two.
In Division Two Kent’s Darren Stevens has Rory Burns lbw and Essex’s Tom Westley plays on to Rob Taylor.
12.23pm –Middlesex, who amassed 472 for three on Wednesday to incredibly beat Yorkshire, are 64 for six as Richard Jones has John Simpson caught behind and Oliver Hannon-Dalby removes Adam Rossington.
Kent are still keeping their opponents under wraps, Adam Ball accounting for Dominic Sibley to leave Surrey 28 for two.
Here is a snap of @colonel19 taking the catch to dismiss Alex Lees for 9 this morning. @jayharrison13 with the wicket pic.twitter.com/XGAiJbJSk4
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) May 4, 2014
Essex 17 without loss from 17 overs. Jaik Mickleburgh 3 not out having faced 50 balls, Tom Westley 13 from 53 balls #EssvLei
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 4, 2014
12.04pm – Wright makes a third breakthrough by having Chris Rogers held at first slip for 207 less than his epic 241 not out against Yorkshire earlier this week.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s difficult start to championship life continues as he falls leg-before to Glamorgan’s Jim Allenby. The 19-year-old is yet to reach 20 in five competition innings.
WICKET - 50-3. Dexter yorked by Wright for 6. Denly coming in. #middlesex150
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) May 4, 2014
11.48am – Evans holds another impressive take at third slip, this time ousting Dawid Malan for nought off Keith Barker. Notts are also two down as in-form Lewis Gregory snares Michael Lumb. Yorkshire lose a first victim when Alex Lees goes caught behind, hanging his bat out against Jamie Harrison.
Proper cricket at the moment..Surrey 9-1 Sibley 3*, Burns 3*
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 4, 2014
11.34am – Australia seamer Doug Bollinger pins former South Africa captain Graeme Smith lbw. Aside from a fifty against Essex, the Surrey skipper has not scored the runs he would have wanted to this season.
In Division One Somerset’s Alfonso Thomas bowls Steven Mullaney for 22 and Warwickshire’s Laurie Evans takes a superb catch to his right at third slip to give Chris Wright Sam Robson’s wicket.
Rushworth thinks he's got Lees caught behind but Jeremy Lloyds turns down the appeal. 26-0.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) May 4, 2014
11.21am – Lancashire captain/coach Glen Chapple traps Luke Wells in front for today’s opening Division One breakthrough.
11.11am – Glamorgan’s Graham Wagg gets the first wicket of the day, having Worcestershire’s Matt Pardoe held at third slip.
Erin Bermingham receiving her cap! #officiallyahorse#superkentpic.twitter.com/i50qlN0klL
— Kent Womens Cricket (@KentWomensCrick) May 4, 2014
Have you picked your @NatWestT20Blast Fantasy Team yet? Send us your teams #NWBlast. Pick your team now, it's FREE! http://t.co/YUe500ZBaC
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) May 4, 2014
10.54am – Also today, the Women's Royal London One-Day Cup, formerly known as the Women’s County Championship, begins. It boasts 34 county sides, split into five divisions. We preview it here with Sussex skipper and England Women star Sarah Taylor. In the above twitterpic England captain Charlotte Edwards presents county team-mate Erin Bermingham with her Kent cap.
10.47am – As expected, England duo Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan return from injury for Yorkshire versus Durham, who have Sri Lanka superstar Kumar Sangakkara in their side for the first time. There’s a clip of Sangakkara being given his Durham cap below.
10.42am – Here's the news of the coin-flips from round the grounds:
Division One
Yorkshire opt to bat versus Durham at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Lancashire are asked to bowl by Sussex at Emirates Old Trafford.
Somerset choose to field against Nottinghamshire at Taunton.
Warwickshire are asked to bowl by Middlesex at Edgbaston.
Division Two
Essex opt to bat versus Leicestershire at the Essex County Ground.
Glamorgan choose to bowl against Worcestershire at the SWALEC Stadium.
Kent are asked to field by Surrey at the Spitfire Ground.
Great news - the Somerset Pavilion build is one step closer as the General Committee give it the thumbs up: http://t.co/NAfdIVDJ6J
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 4, 2014
10.25am – Good morning and welcome to our live blog coverage of the latest LV= County Championship games. While waiting for news of the tosses in a few minutes, why not read our Division One and Division Two previews? Dominating this round’s team news is the unavailability of the England players picked to face Scotland for Friday’s Royal London one-day international at Aberdeen.
Kumar Sangakkara presented with his Durham cap by Paul Collingwood https://t.co/GyVBl0utQg
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) May 4, 2014