Coverage of the second day of the latest round of LV= County Championship games, which saw enticing battles at both ends of each division.
By David Charlesworth & Glen Robertson
6.55pm - Warwickshire successfully see out four overs. It brings to an end another riveting day in the championship. Tomorrow and Monday's events will go a long way to shaping each table, so be sure to join us again for those.
Here's how the games currently stand:
Lancashire have reached 265 for five in response to Durham’s 340 in the basement battle at Emirates Old Trafford.
Nottinghamshire’s lead has reached 124 as they close on 384 for eight against bottom side Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.
Warwickshire are one for none in their second innings, 82 ahead of Somerset who were dismissed for 286 in their first effort Taunton.
Yorkshire are 258 for five, with Kane Williamson 10 short of a ton, as they respond to Sussex’s 368 at Scarborough.
Essex have slipped to 131 for five in their second innings, but still lead Glamorgan by 256 runs at Swansea.
Hampshire declined to enforce the follow-on at the Spitfire Ground after bowling out Kent for 191, and have reached stumps 58 without loss– a lead of 246.
Leicestershire are 303 for seven, still short of avoiding the follow-on, in response to Surrey’s 480.
Richard Oliver and Alexei Kervezee’s unbeaten stand of 122 has led Worcestershire to 154 for two, a deficit of 30 against Gloucestershire at New Road.
Stumps...Leics 303-7 Buck 4*, O'Brien 62*
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 16, 2014
6.35pm - That's that at Canterbury but at Taunton Somerset are all out for 286. And Warwickshire will need to come out and bat for a short time this evening.
6.12pm - It's the end of play at Emirates Old Trafford, Wantage Road and New Road. We'll bring a close-of-play round-up once the final games have ended. And it will not make pretty reading for Leicestershire fans. They are now seven down and still 182 behind as Batty strikes again to remove Jigar Naik.
6.08pm – It’s stumps at Scarborough and Swansea. Yorkshire are 285 for five, 110 behind Sussex on first innings, and Essex are 131 for five in their second innings, 256 ahead of Glamorgan.
Somerset’s Alfonso Thomas and Notts’ Luke Fletcher fall, while Alexei Kervezee registers a half-century during a hundred partnership with Oliver.
6pm – Ben Stokes breaks through by having Alex Davies held at gully for 25 and Ajmal Shazad brings up a fifty for Notts.
Rob Taylor follows O’Brien to a half-century, but is soon bowled by Gareth Batty to end a stand of 99.
5.51pm – Niall O’Brien raises a fifty as Leicestershire battle versus Surrey while Worcestershire’s Richard Oliver moves to 80, his highest first-class score.
Play will restart at 5:40 with no loss of overs.
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) August 16, 2014
5.34pm - Jack Leaning is bowled by James Tredwell for 33. Yorkshire are 257 for five, with Kane Williamson still there on 90. But he has a nervous wait - possibly an overnight one - as bad light intervenes again.
Ashwell Prince reaches a half-century for Lancashire, who trail Durham by 108 with six wickets still intact.
5.15pm - Soon after that wicket, the umpires take the players off for bad light at Taunton.
WICKET - Gregory (47) is well caught by Gordon running backwards from mid on after skying a pull shot off Jones. Somerset - 237-8 #YouBears
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) August 16, 2014
5.06pm - Hampshire have not enforced the follow-on, so Kent will return to the field shortly to have a bowl.
5pm - Wickets galore! Kent are all out for 191, still 189 behind, with James Tomlinson wrapping things up.
Lancashire, meanwhile, lose a fourth, Steven Croft bowled by John Hastings, and Hogan now has four and Essex are five down, Jesse Ryder the latest man out.
4.54pm - Wood completes a five-wicket haul! Adam Riley goes for nought and Kent are 189 for nine.
Elsewhere, Richard Oliver records a fifty as Worcestershire steady things following the double-blow early on, and Notts have reached 300 and extended their lead to 40.
4.47pm - It wasn't a particularly long delay in Yorkshire! We're back underway.
4.40pm - It's a bit dark on the coast so play has stopped at Scarborough. Elsewhere, Kent will wish they had bad light as Darren Stevens falls for 64, becoming Chris Wood's fourth scalp.
50 for Tom Abell on debut. Well played that man!!
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) August 16, 2014
4.25pm - Jonny Bairstow's entertaining knock comes to an end for 77. Yorkshire are 206 for four, trailing by 162. Chris Rushworth pops up with a wicket for Durham and it's a big one, Paul Horton for 114.
Dan Redfern is out the over after reaching his half-century, as he is caught behind off Gareth Batty.
4.20pm - Essex are four down! Jim Allenby, after impressing with the bat, strikes with the ball to remove James Foster. Essex lead by 186 but will be disappointed to find themselves 61 for four.
Fell caught Gidman off Payne for 9. Worcestershire 32-2 trailing by 152 runs.
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) August 16, 2014
4.15pm - And as the rest of the players start to head back out for the evening session, tea is taken at Canterbury.
4pm - The Kent joy didn't last long. Calum Haggett falls to Sean Ervine to leave them seven down and 217 behind. Tea is taken at Taunton, Scarborough and Grace Road.
3.50pm - Worcestershire make a bad start with skipper Daryl Mitchell falling to Craig Miles for four.
Jeetan Patal has removed Craig Overton to leave Somerset seven down, while Darren Stevens gives Kent fans something to applaud as he reaches a half-century.
Essex, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire's batsmen earn a rest as tea is taken.
Ben Stokes bowling spin now for @DurhamCricket. Lancs 163-2
— Stuart Rayner (@sturayner) August 16, 2014
3.40pm - Read's gone, too! Good fightback from Northants, with Andrew Hall striking this time. Sam Northeast is the fifth Kent wicket to fall, and Sam Billings goes in the next over to leave the hosts 152 for six at the Spitfire Ground.
3.23pm - Agony for Michael Lumb! He's nicked Kyle Coetzer behind one run short of a century. It ends a fantastic knock and a partnership of 106 with Read. Hogan continues to wreak havoc at Swansea with Tom Westley becoming his third victim
3.25pm - Gloucestershire are all out for 378, a lead of 184. Leach ends with four wickets, but Worcestershire have a fight on their hands to save the game.
Chris Tremlett leaves Leicestershire four down by having Matthew Boyce caught behind for 29, while Hogan has a second early scalp for Glamorgan, this time Ravi Bopara trapped in front.
Chris Read has a half-century for Nottinghamshire, who soon after move into a first-innings lead on 263 for five.
Congratulations to @PJHorton20 on his century. He's now 101 & @LancsCCC 147-2 trail Durham by 193 #LanvDur
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 16, 2014
3.10pm - Gloucestershire have lost their ninth wicket - David Payne dismissed by Leach for nought - while Scott Borthwick takes a return catch to send Usman Khawaja back to the pavilion for just two.
Kane Williamson follows Bairstow to a fifty at Scarborough, while Richard Jones picks up his third wicket, Peter Trego the victim to leave Somerset 128 for six.
3.05pm - The record-breaking partnership is over on 138. Paul Collingwood takes a smart catch at slip to remove Luis Reece.
Somerset are now five down, Alex Barrow the man to fall for 11, while Jack Shantry sends Mark Craig packing at New Road. Jonny Bairstow has recorded a fifty for Yorkshire, who are 138 for three against Sussex.
.@PJHorton20 (93) & Luis Reece (35) have broken the Lancs 1st wicket record v Durham, now 136-0 in 48th over #LanvDur
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 16, 2014>
2.52pm - That's not the start Essex were hoping for. Michael Hogan - in his second over - removes Nick Browne for two.
2.47pm - Gidman's gone! He falls four runs short of 150 as Leach strikes again. Gloucestershire's lead is a healthy 149, though, with three wickets still to play with. Surrey have Leicestershire three down, as Tim Linley raps Ned Eckersley on his pads.
2.40pm - Joe Leach traps Benny Howell lbw to reduce Gloucestershire to 342 for six, but Alex Gidman - on 146 - remains.
WICKET - Hildreth (15) is caught at fine leg by Hannon-Dalby after top edging a pull shot off the bowling of Jones. Som - 98-4 #YouBears
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) August 16, 2014
2.25pm - But nobody will stick around with Allenby. Jesse Ryder ousts Dean Cosker and Michael Hogan with successive deliveries and Glamorgan are dismissed out for 161 - a deficit of 125.
Kent are in trouble on 64 for four, replying to 380, with Fabian Cowdrey the latest man to depart, bowled by Matt Coles.
2.12pm - Jim Allenby reaches a half-century. Glamorgan would be in deep trouble without his efforts today. Even with his knock, they still trail by 130 with two wickets left.
1.55pm - Another one down for Leicestershire, as Angus Robson perishes at the hands of Chris Tremlett. Steve Magoffin has struck at Scarborough to remove Andrew Gale, while Glamorgan are eight down, Monty Panesar accounting for James Harris
Close call Williamson, who edges to Tredwell at second slip off Hatchett. on 16. Given not out despite claims from Sussex. 57-2 in 16th now
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) August 16, 2014
1.45pm - Not a great start to the afternoon for Kent and Leicestershire, who have lost Rob Key and Greg Smith respectively.
Heading out after luncheon pic.twitter.com/Z8JR2th8KC
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 16, 2014
1.15pm - Now the opening session has ended in all eight matches, here's a round-up of the action:
Division One
Leaders Yorkshire were made to toil in Scarborough as Sussex's lower order added 53 for the final two wickets, while White Rose openers Adam Lyth and Alex Lees were both dismissed with just five on the board. Andrew Gale's quickfire 27 took them to 38 for two.
Michael Lumb and Riki Wessels both registered half-centuries as Nottinghamshire recovered from an overnight 38 for four to 161 for five against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. Lumb is still there on 64 not out.
Oliver Hannon-Dalby came to the fore with a brisk 40 to lift Warwickshire to 367 all out before taking two wickets to reduce Somerset to 73 for three at Taunton.
Durham added just 11 to their overnight 329 for eight, with Tom Smith completing a five-for, before Paul Horton's unbeaten 59 led Lancashire to 78 without loss in reply at Emirates Old Trafford.
Division Two
Gareth Roderick fell two runs shy of a century although Alex Gidman made it to three figures as Gloucestershire moved to 287 for five - a lead of 93 against division leaders Worcestershire at New Road.
Steven Davies' 174 plus a half-century from Stuart Meaker carried Surrey to 480 all out at Grace Road, with Leicestershire reaching 26 without loss in reply.
Graham Napier and Monty Panesar each took three wickets this morning as Glamorgan limped to 118 for seven in Swansea - still trailing Essex by 168.
Hampshire were all out for 380 at Canterbury, with Sean Irvine falling for 75 to the first ball of the day, before Kent reached 47 for two.
1.00pm - A few wickets fall on the stroke of lunch, with Gloucestershire's Ian Cockbain dismissed for two, Ben Harmison perishing for 21 at Canterbury, while Panesar claims his fourth wicket by ousting Glamorgan's Graham Wagg.
Wicket! Wessels b Azharullah 71, Notts 158-5 #NhantsvNotts
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) August 16, 2014
12.40pm - Opener Johann Myburgh departs in Richard Jones' first over, while Hannon-Dalby removes Nick Compton two balls later to leave Somerset 55 for three, while in Swansea, Panesar claims his third wicket to dismiss Mark Wallace as Glamorgan are 104 for six.
12.35pm - Michael Lumb joins Riki Wessels in passing his half-century, with Lumb now on 53 not out and Wessels on an unbeaten 66. Notts are 144 for four, with the partnership worth an unbroken 119, still trailing Northants by 115.
12.25pm - Oh dear, look away Yorkshire fans! Both of the White Rose's openers are now back in the pavilion with just five on the board as Magoffin induces the edge of Alex Lees, who is caught at fourth slip for a nine-ball duck. Sussex are well on top now.
Surrey 480 all out...Meaker c O'Brien b Taylor 58..Linley 3*
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 16, 2014
12.20pm - Gloucestershire batsman Alex Gidman brings up the 22nd century of his first-class career thanks to back-to-back fours off Worcestershire left-armer Joe Leach. Shortly afterwards, Hamish Marshall is caught behind off Shaaiq Choudhry to leave Gloucestershire 260 for four - a lead of 66.
12.15pm - Monty Panesar, playing his first match for Essex in over a month, raps Murray Goodwin on the pads to leave Glamorgan struggling on 76 for five, while Kent's reply has got off to a bad start as Daniel Bell-Drummond falls lbw to Hampshire seamer James Tomlinson in the third over.
Lyth gone! He's chopped on to Hatchett. 3-1 in the second.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) August 16, 2014
12.10pm - Apologies to all Surrey fans, as the curse of the commentator strikes, with Davies' outstanding innings ending on 174 as he is trapped lbw by Rob Taylor. Stuart Meaker brings up his fifty soon after, however.
Surrey 465-9....Davies LBW b Taylor 174 pic.twitter.com/dhtxE1Sx78
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 16, 2014
12.05pm - One game we have yet to mention so far has been at Grace Road, where Surrey continue to pile on the runs against Leicestershire. Steven Davies scored his second championship ton of the season and he is still there on 170 not out. His partnership with Stuart Meaker, who has contributed an unbeaten 45, is worth 103, with Surrey now on 460 for eight.
Hobden gone! Lbw to Rashid, who finishes with three-for. Sussex 368 all out.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) August 16, 2014
11.55am - Yorkshire claim their first wicket of the morning when Adil Rashid bowls Steve Magoffin, who contributed a useful 39 to leave Sussex on 368 for nine, while at Taunton, Hannon-Dalby continues a fine morning by removing Somerset opener Marcus Trescothick.
Useful knock from Briggs (24), but he's become Riley's third wicket & Hampshire are 380 all-out. #LVCC
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) August 16, 2014
11.50am - Nottinghamshire pair Michael Lumb and Riki Wessels have just reached a fifty partnership to dig their side out of trouble. Title-chasing Notts had been 25 for four in response to bottom-of-the-table Northants' 260 all out at Wantage Road, but the visitors have now moved onto 76 for four.
11.40am - Warwickshire's last-wicket partnership between Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Recordo Gordon was worth what could be a valuable 62. Hannon-Dalby had thumped six fours and a six in his 40 from 51 balls.
Wicket! Thommo wraps up the innings as Hannon-Dalby is caught by Tom Abell. @CricketingBears all out for 367
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) August 16, 2014
11.30am - Agony for Gloucestershire's Gareth Roderick as he falls two runs short of a century, with Chris Morris picking up the wicket. Gloucestershire are still well placed on 206 for three, however.
11.15am - The wickets keep tumbling. Glamorgan resumed on 27 for one in response to Essex's 286 all out but Graham Napier has taken three quick wickets this morning, first dismissing Jacques Rudolph before seeing off Andrew Salter and Chris Cooke in the space of two balls to leave the Welsh side on 36 for four.
11.10am - Durham are all out for 340 at Emirates Old Trafford, with last man Chris Rushworth hitting straight to cover for five to give Tom Smith his five-wicket haul. Meanwhile Hampshire are another wicket down as Matt Coles perishes for five.
Early wicket as Stokes perishes hitting Kerrigan high and deep to Prince at long on. Durham 338-9 (98ov) #LanvDur
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 16, 2014
11.05am - We have our first breakthough of the morning at Canterbury, where Hampshire are now 345 for eight against Kent after Sean Irvine is caught behind off the first ball of the day, bowled by Doug Bollinger, to end a fluent innings of 75 from 112 balls.
11.00am - Leaders in both Division One and Two, Yorkshire and Worcestershire respectively, were made to toil on the opening day. Ed Joyce's century took Sussex to 315 for eight at Scarborough, while Worcestershire succumbed to 194 all out before Gloucestershire closed on 181 for two. It could be along day for Daryl Mitchell's men.
10.45am - Good morning and welcome to our LV= County Championship blog. There is no sign of a delay in any of the eight games - and hopefully it will stay that way!