Live blog from the opening day of the latest round of LV= County Championship fixtures, including the potential title-decider between Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire at Trent Bridge.
By Matt Somerford
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12.03pm - Moeen Ali brings up his half-century, from 71 balls, but moments later Dunn cuts his innings short lbw for 54. Dunn has been a tad expensive this morning but that is a key wicket for Surrey in a match that could go along way to deciding who goes up.
11.56am - Lyth follows Lees to his half-century - his sixth of a profitable campaign - and the Yorkshire pair also bring up their 100-run stand. That is their fourth triple-figure opening partnership of the season.
11.50am - Matt Dunn, fresh from signing a new contract with Surrey, has picked up the wicket of Tom Fell lbw for a duck. Worcestershire are 70 for three.
Kent have now slumped top 37 for five. James Porter removes Darren Stevens in his first over to another lbw decision.
There has been another drop at Trent Bridge with Wessels shelling another tough chance at short-leg when Lees turned Gary Keedy away. Lees pushes away a single, via a mis-field, later in the over to reach his half-century.
WICKET - Peters 35 caught behind by Tim Ambrose off Ollie Hannon-Dalby. Northants 63/1 after 16.4 overs.
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) September 9, 2014
11.30am - The first hour is over and we have had 15 wickets in the eight games around the country. The latest is at Bristol where Chris Dent has been caught at second slip. Nearly all the wickets to fall have been caught in the cordon or lbw.
Just as I finish typing Lancashire lose another. Jordan's switch of ends at Hove works as he has Kark Brown caught - you guessed it - in the slips.
Worcs 59-2...Oliver c Batty b Dernbach 23
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 9, 2014
Chance! Keedy's first ball turns, and nips off Lees' edge but Riki Wessels can't hold on. #NottsvYorks
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 9, 2014
11.15am - The wickets keep falling around the country and it gets worse for Kent as they are now 14 for four. Ben Harmison had made nine of those before Masters has him caught by Tom Westley at first slip. Masters' figures read 5-3-5-3.
Ashwell Prince exits for a duck, caught in the cordon too, to leave Lancashire 33 for two while Rudolph has been trapped lbw by Tony Palladino in Cardiff.
In amongst all the wickets one game stands out - at Trent Bridge, where Yorkshire are 52 for none. Notts are already being made to pay for dropping Lyth second ball.
11.12am - Kent's early problems deepen as they slip to 13 for three as Brendan Nash is trapped lbw by David Masters.
Paul Horton hit successive boundaries off Chris Jordan only to then fall lbw to Steve Magoffin at Hove while Atif Sheikh strikes with his first ball at Bristol after finding Will Tavare's edge.
WICKET. Murtagh now has figures of 3-16 as Richardson is caught by Malan at second slip. 28-3 now, Richardson made 4. Borthwick 16*.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) September 9, 2014
10.50am - Tim Murtagh has a second wicket at Lord's where Mark Stoneman has edged behind to the wicketkeeper. Durham are 20 for two.
Rob Key quickly follows Daniel Bell-Drummond and he may well be ruing his decision to bat first. Kent are one for two.
The consensus was to bat first around the country, but there is clearly a bit in the wickets with this earlier start. The key will be to get through the first session and then, as the glorious sunshine beats down, cash in this afternoon. The best laid plans though.
WICKET Daniel Bell-Drummond edges Jesse Ryder to Tom Westley at first slip. He scored 1 and Kent are 1-1. #EssvKen
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) September 9, 2014
10.33am - A couple of wickets in the opening overs to go with that Lyth drop. With Keaton Jennings falling at Lord's there has been a key wicket at New Road where Daryl Mitchell has been pouched off Jade Dernbach in their promotion battle.
No such problems for Jacques Rudolph and William Bragg in Cardiff. They've taken 10 from the opening over.
WICKET - Durham 1-1. Jennings b Murtagh for 0 in the opening over. pic.twitter.com/dNonIwNcHk
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 9, 2014
10.30am - Immediate reprieve for Adam Lyth. He gets a regulation edge to Luke Fletcher from just his second ball but Chris Read fails to hold on diving low to his left. The Notts skipper will feel he should have had that.
10.20am - Gale is on Sky Sports at the moment and has admitted he was "absolutely gutted" when he found out he would be banned for the final two games of the season following his altercation with Ashwell Prince and Usman Khawaja during the Roses clash last week. After five years as Yorkshire skipper he says it will be hard to sit out for their "two most important games in that time".
Middlesex and @DurhamCricket skippers Chris Rogers and Paul Collingwood at the toss for today's @LV_Cricket clash! pic.twitter.com/YYPUYxwFaN
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 9, 2014
10.15am - So in Division One Yorkshire and Durham - both away teams - have won the toss and elected to bat. Interestingly the two home teams to win the toss, Warwickshire and Sussex, have sent in Northants and Lancashire respectively. Will there be a bit in the picthes for a 10.30am start?
They don't seem to think so in the second division. Home sides Worcestershire, Glamorgan and Gloucestershire have all opted to bat. Kent are away at Essex, but they bat too after Rob Key calls correctly.
10.03am - Joe Root is captain for Yorkshire in the absence of Andrew Gale due to suspension. He has won the toss and elected to bat in a game where victory ensures the White Rose county a first top-flight title since 2001.
Root and Gary Ballance come into Yorkshire's line-up while Tim Bresnan is fit despite missing England's NatWest Twenty20 win over India on Sunday. Notts welcome back Alex Hales and Harry Gurney from that side.
Good morning from Edgbaston where Warwickshire have won the toss and will bowl #YouBearspic.twitter.com/NAOIECxxHW
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) September 9, 2014
10am - Welcome to a round of LV= County Championship fixtures that will be highlighted by the Division One table-topping clash between Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. There's also a key relegation battle between Middlesex and Durham while at the top of Division Two Worcestershire host Surrey.
Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire at Trent Bridge
Middlesex v Durham at Lord's
Sussex v Lancashire at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground
Warwickshire v Northamptonshire at Edgbaston
Worcestershire v Surrey at New Road
Glamorgan v Derbyshire at the SWALEC Stadium
Gloucestershire v Leicestershire at Bristol
Essex v Kent at the Essex County Ground
A perfect day for Cricket at Hove @SussexCCCpic.twitter.com/B6GVvOXphD
— The Inner Circle (@SxInnerCircle) September 9, 2014