7pm - See you all tomorrow for your next installment of County Championship coverage but remember the domestic action is not done for today, with Kent and Essex getting this evening's Friends Life t20 encounter under way shortly. Log on to ecb.co.uk later and check out the report.
6:50pm – They’re done at Taunton, with Yardy just six runs shy of a remarkable hundred. He’s only faced 79 balls and slowed up considerably, putting the team first with the close in sight.
Here’s the promised score summary at the end of an intriguing opening day in six championship encounters:
Division One
Derbyshire are 15 for one in response to Durham's 253 all out having lost the toss at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Sussex are 174 for two having bowled out Somerset for 244 at Taunton. The hosts opted to bat first.
Warwickshire, who chose to bat first, are 269 for two against Middlesex at Uxbridge.
Nottinghamshire are 50 without loss after Surrey opted to bat first and were bowled out for 198 at the Kia Oval.
Division Two
Hampshire, who chose to bat first, are 274 for five against Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium.
Northamptonshire are 275 for seven facing Lancashire, who opted to bowl first, at Wantage Road.
6:15pm - Stumps have been drawn everywhere but Taunton. At Uxbridge, Varun Chopra has batted the whole day for a superb 141 not out. We'll have a close of play summary with you shortly.
6:28pm - The end really cannot come soon enough for Somerset's bowlers as Yardy and Machan continue to make hay. The latter also has a half-century, while his team-mate has progressed to 86 in a partnership of 155 for the third wicket that has only just dropped below a scoring rate of seven per over.
6:15pm - Stumps have been drawn everywhere but Taunton. At Uxbridge, Varun Chopra has batted the whole day for a superb 141 not out. We'll have a close of play summary with you very shortly.
6pm - Can Yardy make it to three figures before the close? Unlikely, but let's not rule it out. The former England man has 72 from 54 deliveries, finding the fence on 15 occasions. Sussex are 131 for two.
5:55pm - There have been far too many ducks for the liking of batsmen everywhere this evening and Hampshire's Sean Ervine becomes the latest man to join that unfortunate club.
Nottinghamshire's response to Surrey's 198 all out has been clinical and untroubled so far. Steven Mullaney and and Riki Wessels are are on 21 and 19 respectively and the score is 46 without loss.
5:44pm - Wickets are clearly the order of this afternoon at the Emirates Durham ICG. Rushworth trapped Chesney Hughes in front in the first over before the visitors had disturbed the scorebook.
5:35pm – That’s a wrap on the Durham innings. Footitt cleans up last man Chris Rushworth to finish with a career-best return of 6-53. Derbyshire must negotiate eight overs this evening in response to their hosts’ 253 all out.
Michael Hogan has trapped Vince lbw for an attractive 80, earning a much-needed breakthrough for Glamorgan in Cardiff.
Following the uncertain start to their innings at Taunton, Sussex have evidently decided attack is the best form of defence. Michael Yardy and Matt Machan have plundered an unbroken 78 for the third wicket from just 10.2 overs. Their side are 90 for two in response to 244.
Lancashire’s fielding standards have slipped, with Brown offering David Murphy a life off Glen Chapple. Northamptonshire are 261 for seven and Cameron White has brought up a watchful fifty.
5:20pm - Derbyshire paceman Mark Footitt has reduced the Durham lower order to rubble with an astonishing three-wicket over!!! Half-centurion Phil Mustard fell either side of Gareth Breese and Callum Thorp and the host have tumbled to 245 for nine, less than 45 minutes after sitting reasonably pretty on 222 for four. Footitt has 5-49.
5:01pm - And another! Sussex are 16 for two as the Somerset fightback continues at Taunton. Steve Kirby was the successful bowler, drawing an edge to remove Chris Nash for the same score as his opening partner.
Relief for Middlesex, but Chopra is still there. Neil Dexter, whose five overs of medium pace thus far have cost only three runs had Laurie Evans caught behind on 37.
Dawson has a half-century and Hampshire are 237 for three at Glamorgan.
50 for @colonel19 off 105 balls including 8 boundaries. Durham 230-6, Mustard joined by Breese at the crease.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) July 8, 2013
4:52pm - Having helped the tail to wag, Overton has an early breakthough for Somerset. Luke Wells is out, caught by James Hildreth, for four and Sussex are eight for one after six overs.
4:49pm - Keedy joins the procession, bowled by Ajmal Shahzad, and Surrey are all out for 198, with their final four batsman failing to muster a single run between them. The teatime score was 175 for six. Davies ended unbeaten on 65.
4:45pm - Oh and that's a cruel blow for Durham's Keaton Jennings. The 21-year-old looked set for a maiden championship century but goes, trapped in front by Wes Durston for 93. The old adage of "one brings two" holds firm for Derbyshire, who are now right back in the contest after off-spinner Durston dismissed Ben Stokes with the final ball of the same over for nought. Double Nelson perhaps having its influence as Durham slip to 222 for six.
4:41pm - Lancashire are on fire in the field right now. Following on from Agathangelou's excellent close-range effort, Karl Brown holds a sharp chance at second slip to remove David Willey. Wayne White is the bowler to benefit.
4:36pm - Hampshire are enjoying serene progress at Glamorgan courtesy of James Vince and Liam Dawson. The former has brought up a half-century and his partner is just three runs shy of the same landmark. Hants are 214 for three, with 96 of those added for the fourth wicket so far.
4:33pm - There are enough ducks at the moment to leave the Surrey dressing room spitting feathers! Jade Dernbach is the latest man to go, Graeme White the successful bowler. Davies, 60 not out for his troubles, will hope for a little more support from last man Gary Keedy.
4:30pm - HUNDRED FOR WARWICKSHIRE'S VARUN CHOPRA!!! He might have ridden his luck early on, but Warwickshire opener Chopra has his reward for an object lesson in concentration. A 12th four from his 235th delivery faced brought up the milestone and the visitors are 204 for one against Middlesex at Uxbridge.
4:28pm - Lancashire's England Lions spinner Simon Kerrigan has got through a significant volume of economical work today and he finally has his reward. Andrea Agathangelou took a fine catch at short-leg to remove Matthew Spriegel for 20. Northants are 201 for six in the Division Two top-of-the-table clash.
4:23pm - Davies is past fifty now but Surrey have lost another. Chris Tremlett also failed to trouble the scorers after Gurney threw his stumps down.
4:12pm - Refreshments can finally be enjoyed at Taunton. Chris Jordan has removed Jamie Overton for 21 and Somerset are all out for 244 having won the toss this morning.
4:08pm - The first wicket of the evening session comes at the Kia Oval, where Gareth Batty is caught at the wicket for nought, giving Harry Gurney his second wicket. Surrey are 177 for seven, with much of the onus resting on Steven Davies, who is two shy of a half-century with the tail for company.
3:50pm - All the games are at tea except at Taunton where an extra half hour is being played with Somerset nine
Division One
Durham are 192 for four versus Derbyshire, who won the toss, at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Warwickshire, who chose to bat first, are 171 for one against Middlesex at Uxbridge.
Surrey, who opted to bat first, are 175 for six versus Nottinghamshire at the Kia Oval.
Division Two
Hampshire, who chose to bat first, are 183 for three against Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium.
Northamptonshire are 178 for five facing Lancashire, who opted to bowl first, at Wantage Road.
3:40pm - Magoffin has a fourth victim, Alfonso Thomas for 33, to make Somerset 221 for nine on the brink of tea.
Jennings, who is closing on three figures, and Phil Mustard share a half-century alliance for Durham’s fifth wicket.
Notts’ Graeme White cheaply snares Zafar Ansari, leaving Surrey six down.
Liam Dawson has passed 3000 County Championship runs. He's on 38, whilst Vince is unbeaten on 33. Hants 172-3
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) July 8, 2013
3:15pm - Somerset’s Craig Kieswetter is run out for a counter-attacking 55, containing eight fours, which has helped his side recover somewhat to 204 for eight.
Chapple follows up his first wicket by striking twice in an over, bowling Ben Duckett for 29 and sending Andrew Hall on his way for nought.
2:50pm - Varun Chopra, dropped twice early on, brings up a fifty, which has been a demonstration in patience coming from 158 balls, with a four off Gareth Berg.
Ajmal Shahzad has Zander de Bruyn caught behind for 16 as Surrey slip to 138 for five.
2:40pm - Groenewald makes it two wickets in two overs as Michael Richardson is caught behind.
Michael Hogan hits Neil McKenzie’s off stump, making Hampshire 118 for three.
Glen Chapple gets David Sales’ wicket for 18, via another catch behind, to leave Northants 148 for three.
2:30pm - Another update and another Somerset wicket. Steve Magoffin accounts for Craig Meschede to leave the hosts 152 for seven.
Tim Groenewald strikes for Derbyshire, having Will Smith held at second slip. Durham are 122 for three.
2pm - A flurry of wickets to report: James Anyon has a third scalp for Sussex, that of Peter Trego, putting Somerset deeper in the mire at 133 for six.
Ricky Ponting, playing his last first-class game, falls to Samit Patel for 29.
Toby Roland-Jones ousts Ian Westwood for 65, giving Middlesex a first breakthrough versus Warwickshire.
James Middlebrook raises a half-century for Northants but soon after is run out for 57.
Will Owen snares Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams for 47.
There is good news for one batsman as Durham opener Keaton Jennings registers a fifty.
1:45pm - A wicket almost immediately follows lunch at Wantage Road as Kyle Hogg knocks out Kyle Coetzer’s middle stump with the batsman not adding to this morning’s 38.
1:05pm - Following tense morning sessions round England and Wales, here are the lunch scores:
Division One
Durham are 97 for two versus Derbyshire , who won the toss, at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Warwickshire , who chose to bat first, are 103 for none against Middlesex at Uxbridge.
Somerset , who won the toss, are 122 for five facing Sussex at Taunton.
Surrey , who opted to bat first, are 93 for three versus Nottinghamshire at the Kia Oval.
Division Two
Hampshire , who chose to bat first, are 80 for one against Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium.
Northamptonshire are 90 for none facing Lancashire , who opted to bowl first, at Wantage Road.
12:53pm - Brown has his fourth catch to make Somerset 113 for five. Jos Buttler inside-edged Anyon behind.
Carberry's gone for 31 off Dean Cosker. Hampshire are 76 for one.
12:39pm - Rory Burns brings up a half-century for Surrey, who are 75 for two.
Warwickshire’s Ian Westwood, who still has Chopra for company, reaches the same milestone as Burns.
12:30pm - Hildreth’s fightback ends as he aims a drive at Jordan only to nick to wicketkeeper Ben Brown, leaving Somerset 95 for four.
12:12pm - James Hildreth leads a Somerset recovery with a 51-ball fifty, soon after which they are 80 for three.
Hampshire’s first-wicket pair, Jimmy Adams and Michael Carberry, are going well against Glamorgan.
Ricky Ponting, in his last first-class game, is at the crease for Surrey.
11:57am - Andre Adams traps Solanki in front and Footitt likewise snares Scott Borthwick to leave Surrey and Durham two down.
Warwickshire and Northamptonshire’s openers are in situ respectively versus Middlesex and Lancashire.
11:37am - Somerset, who won the toss, are three down with Alviro Petersen edging Magoffin behind.
11:31am - Varun Chopra has been shelled again, this time from a high chance to Adam Voges at third slip.
11:21am - Ajmal Shahzad ousts Surrey’s Arun Harinath for four, bringing Vikram Solanki to the crease.
Chopra dropped at slip by Malan Bears 9-0
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) July 8, 2013
11:10am - It’s two in two overs for Sussex as Steve Magoffin has England batsman Nick Compton held at first slip for a duck by Chris Jordan.
Derbyshire have an early breakthrough with Mark Footitt removing Durham stand-in captain Mark Stoneman via a catch at mid-on.
11:03am - Sussex strike second ball at Taunton, James Anyon having Somerset skipper Marcus Trescothick caught behind for nought.
10:50am - Kyle Hogg, who is in Lancashire’s XI to face Northants at Wantage Road in the meeting of Division Two’s top two, has produced his latest exclusive blog for ecb.co.uk .
10:45am - Here’s the news from the tosses round the grounds:
Division One
Derbyshire choose to bowl first against Durham at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Warwickshire ask Middlesex to field first at Uxbridge.
Somerset opt to bat first versus Sussex at Taunton.
Surrey invite Nottinghamshire to bowl first at the Kia Oval.
Division Two
Hampshire choose to bat first versus Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium.
Lancashire invite Northamptonshire to bat first at Wantage Road.
10:30am - While waiting for news on who is batting or bowling first, why not read our team news preview ?
10:25am - Good morning and welcome to ecb.co.uk’s live text commentary on the six LV= County Championship games starting today.
Even with the Investec Ashes beginning on Wednesday, we will keep up our thorough county coverage during the eagerly-anticipated Test series.
Here are the championship fixtures:
Division One
Durham v Derbyshire
Middlesex v Warwickshire
Somerset v Sussex
Surrey v Nottinghamshire
Division Two
Glamorgan v Hampshire
Northamptonshire v Lancashire