Live coverage on a day teenager Daniel Lawrence's 161 has helped Essex build towards a big first-innings lead at Surrey while Durham have been set 262 to win at home to Sussex.
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By Rob Barnett, Bibhash Dash & Matt Somerford
5.59pm– ecb.co.uk's Andy Wilson at Hampshire (276) v Nottinghamshire (371 & 251/2). Notts lead Hampshire by 347. 50 stand between Alex Hales and James Taylor, both celebrating their inclusion in England’s one-day squad earlier today. Hales has 92 now, and has already passed 600 first class runs for the season. Taylor has 26 after one glorious straight drive.
5.56pm - The good news keeps on coming. This time we go across the Pennines.
Play will resume at 6.20pm with 4 overs remaining #LanvKen
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 28, 2015
5.51pm - Not a bad way to mark your England call-ups. James Taylor, named captain for the squad to play Ireland, and Alex Hales are motoring along for Notts together. The visitors are 243 for two and leading by 338.
And there's good news from the White Rose.
Set for a resumption here.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) April 28, 2015
5.45pm - WICKETS! Surrey lose their second with Sangakkara taken at slip for 43. Missed his chance to add another potentially big score did Sanga, though it does bring Kevin Pietersen to the crease.
Northants make a breakthrough against Leicestershire as Dan Redfern becomes Willey's first wicket.
And finally, well, this had been coming...
ALL OUT! Overton hit a 6 to take us passed 400 but was bowled next ball by Finn - 310 all out, leading by 401 runs. #SOMvMID
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) April 28, 2015
5.41pm - Inevitable, really! Hildreth runs out of patience and is caught by Voges off the bowling of Finn. A well-made 86 though which puts Somerset in an excellent position.
They may have brand new floodlights at Headingley, but that doesn't stop the bad-light curse from striking.
We're off for bad light here. Warwickshire 93-2 after 32 overs. 225-run lead for the visitors.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) April 28, 2015
5.38pm - Hildreth is in danger of runing out of partners, as Groenewald is run out for Somerset. Eight wickets down with Hildreth then seeing them past 300. He's on 84, with Somerset on 303.
5.32pm - Gloucestershire are slowly creeping up on that Derbyshire first-innings lead, just 49 behind now. Hamish Marshall and Kieran Noema-Barnett at the crease promise an intriguing finish to the day's play.
5.27pm - Somerset have lost wicket number seven now. We wonder if and when there could be a declaration but they do lead Middlesex by 380 at this point.
WICKET - Somerset 289-7, leading by 380. Gregory c (sub at long on) b Rayner 12. Hildreth 77*. #SOMvMID#TeamMiddlesex
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) April 28, 2015
5.22pm - And in the time-honoured tradition of this blog, it has now followed that Taylor should be out. The Zimbabwean is trapped lbw by Liam Dawson for 103 off 120 balls, in what was a 164-run stand with Alex Hales.
5.20pm - Surrey have slowly built their way to 50 for one. That mix-up between Ansari and Rory Burns is behind them, as Kumar Sangakkara takes the reins. The Sri Lankan has already overtaken Burns.
Down at the Ageas Bowl, the Taylor show continues for Notts, as he reaches another century.
Meanwhile, some good news from Old Trafford at last.
Weather is brightening up @EmiratesOT but covers remain on. Play halted at 4.30pm with @kentcricket 2nd inns 142-3, trailing by 50. #LanvKen
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 28, 2015
5.15pm - Northants are all-out for 429. Leicestershire have a stiff target of 376 to win this, but time is on their side.
WICKET | Pinner holds onto a catch at third man, Willey out for 88. Shreck finishes with 4-91. Northants 429 all out
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) April 28, 2015
5.13pm - Perhaps Yorkshire can send some of that light a bit further up north. Durham are off for bad light as reported earlier. They require another 147 for victory though only 10 runs have been added since the tea interval.
5.08pm - Gloucestershire have made it 200 in their second innings. Still they trail by 70 and with five wickets remaining. That is a tricky position to be in and one that Derbyshire will look to take full advantage of.
The lights are on for the first time in a @LV_Cricket match at Headingley. @AbacusLighting#YCCCpic.twitter.com/f7auf3zSPW
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) April 28, 2015
5.04pm - Bad light appears to have delayed the Durham chase. Still, they are 115 for two and looking on course for the win should it be a relatively short delay.
Olly Stone is the latest to depart at Grace Road. He becomes Charlie Shreck's third wicket with Northants 418 for nine.
5pm- Yorkshire have snapped up another wicket, as Warwickshire lose Will Porterfield for 30. It was an entertaining innings including a six, but he hits Middlebrook straight to Cheteshwar Pujara at cover.
538 - James Hildreth (56 not out) has scored 538 runs in his last five @LV_Cricket innings against Middlesex. Form.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) April 28, 2015
4.53pm – Not long after James Hildreth raises his half-century, Steven Finn bowls Peter Trego for 25. Middlesex trail by 345 though.
HALF CENTURY! Hildreth reaches his 50 as we move onto 254 for 5 with a lead of 345 runs. Hildreth 56* and Trego 25* #SOMvMID
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) April 28, 2015
4.41pm – Alex Hales can’t stop scoring this season. He has a second-innings fifty to follow his ton in the first dig and double-century in the match before.
Northants move beyond 400, so the now lead Leicestershire 346 runs.
Gloucestershire captain Geraint Jones falls as Derbyshire tighten their grip.
4.33pm - It's not good news from Old Trafford.
Rain has stopped play with @kentcricket 2nd inns 142-3, Nash 18 Northeast 5, trail by 50 runs. #LanvKen
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 28, 2015
4.28pm– ecb.co.uk's Andy Wilson at Hampshire (276) v Nottinghamshire (371 & 122/1) - Notts lead Hampshire by 218. Brendan Taylor has just reached a handy half century, and with Alex Hales going well again on 44, the visitors are taking command. Still 32 overs remaining in the day, so they could be 300 and more ahead by the close, with the Ageas Bowl floodlights on.
4.26pm - Fifty for Brendan Taylor as he continues to show his talents for Nottinghamshire. A lead of 215 developing at the Ageas Bowl.
4.21pm - We are off to the interval at Chester-le-Street where Durham are still trailing Sussex by 157 with eight wickets left. Promises to be a very interesting final session.
Wicket Watch: Denly gone LBW to Jarvis http://t.co/1377ssqDPB
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 28, 2015
4.16pm - Zafar Ansari perhaps a bit too excited about his England call-up, is promptly run out for a four-ball duck as Surrey's second innings ignominiously lies at one for one.
4.14pm - Surrey at last get their chance to bat again and will begin 270 behind after Essex declared at tea on 610 for eight. That's not far off their highest-ever score of 761 for six declared back in 1990.
4.11pm - Tea has been taken at Grace Road where Northants lead Leicestershire by 317 runs, though they have just two wickets remaining.
Meanwhile, Lancashire return from their tea interval to the perfect start, as Jarvis (who else?) despatches Denly for 60. Kent are 128 for three.
4.09pm - Durham have lost their second wicket, as Keaton Jennings is caught by Brown. Ajmal Shahzad is enjoying a fine start with his second wicket. Durham need another 171 for the win. Tense.
3.56pm - Rory Kleinveldt departs but not before bashing 56 from 34 balls. He top-edges Clint McKay, but Northants' lead has now ballooned to 315 runs.
3.51pm - Gloucestershire take tea at 156 for four while Somerset are 211 for five.
Kent are 128 for two while Napier falls for 73 just before the break, to Jason Roy, with Essex 610 for eight.
WICKET.. Shahzad gets the breakthrough! Stoneman is trapped LBW and Durham are 80 for 1 now requiring another 182 to win #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) April 28, 2015
3.44pm - Greg Smith has just got to his fifty as Essex go past 600.
50! Graham Napier straight drives a ball from Zafar Ansari over the ropes and reaches 50. Greg Smith 42. Essex 587-7, Lead 247. #SurvEss
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) April 28, 2015
3.33pm - ecb.co.uk’s Andy Wilson at Hampshire v (276) v Nottinghamshire (371 & 54/1) – Just coming out here after a brief shower forced an early tea, with Notts looking to build on their first-innings lead. Alex Hales played one lovely legside flick before tea, James Taylor due in next. The lead is 149 runs.
Alex Barrow is snapped up by Rayner off Harris and Somerset are 206 for five.
Gloucestershire's problems deepen as Roderick goes for 75. He's passed 50 in all four Championship innings but he's still waiting for a first century of the summer. Tom Taylor does the damage to his stumps.
3.31pm - Gloucestershire hit some trouble as Peter Handscomb nicks Tony Palladino behind and the hosts are 145 for three. Durham have made a solid start to their pursuit of 262 - they're 63 without loss.
Congratulations @boydrankin on bowling a career best in successive #LVCC matches! #YouBearspic.twitter.com/kngyIyFhBD
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) April 28, 2015
3.23pm - YORKSHIRE BOWLED OUT! Gale falls four runs short of what would have been a deserved century as Rankin finishes with six wickets. The Yorkshire skipper picks out Sam Hain at mid-off, from a full-toss he was not too happy about, and we're going to take tea with the Warwickshire holding a 132-run first-innings lead.
3.19pm - Willey brings up his half-century from 43 balls. His positive approach is paying dividends for Northants as their lead goes past 250.
Rankin has his fifth wicket at Headingley to end a half-century stand between Gale and Jack Brooks. It is the tailender who departs, caught by Laurie Evans for a handy 21 that helped take the champions past the follow-on mark.
James Harris is having a good game at Taunton as he makes Jim Allenby his seventh wicket - lbw for 28.
3.11pm - TEA! With some rain around they are taking tea at the Ageas Bowl with Notts 54 for one which is good enough for a lead of 149 runs. Brendan Taylor 20*, Alex Hales 10*.
Wicket Watch: Key bowled by Siddle http://t.co/6f6iu8BBmz
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 28, 2015
3.02pm - Joe Denly reaches his first Championship half-century since returning to Kent as they continue to make a good fist of it after being asked to follow on. They are 100 for one.
Cobb is out now. He gets a fine edge playing down the leg side to Charlie Shreck for 54. Northants lead by 218 runs with three wickets in hand.
38.3: #WICKET! Palladino has Tavare lbw for 45! Gloucestershire 121-2, trail by 149; Roderick 64 #GLOvDERpic.twitter.com/Bbkv9tEdt5
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) April 28, 2015
2.55pm - Josh Cobb has a half-century against his former employers and with new man David Willey going along at a run-a-ball the Northants lead is building at Grace Road.
Andrew Gale has steered Yorkshire beyond the follow-on target. Teh skipper is unbeaten on 90.
2.43pm - Rayner has a second wicket in the session and it is an important one as he bowls Trescothick for 76.
Gareth Berg is enjoying life at the Ageas Bowl. He has the first wicket of Notts' second dig - Steven Mullaney lbw for 23.
New ball taken by Warwickshire early in the 90th over. 265-8. Gale 77, Brooks 5. Partnership is 16.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) April 28, 2015
2.33pm - Will Tavare and Roderick are chipping away at that large Derbyshire first-innings advantage. They have brought up a century stand and Gloucestershire are 109 for one. They still trail by 161 runs so the tough work remains ahead of them.
Ansari is having a day to remember as he grabs his third wicket since being named in the England squad. Kishen Velani is bowled for 15. Essex's lead is 154 runs with three wickets in hand.
Chris Rushworth leads the side off after his five wicket haul #DURvSUShttps://t.co/6airs2035t
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) April 28, 2015
2.23pm - SUSSEX BOWLED OUT! Hastings needs just one ball to beat Matt Hobden's defences. There's no repeat of the record-breaking last-wicket stand from the first innings with Oliver Robinson remaining unbeaten on four. Sussex are bowled out for 265. Durham need 262 to win.
And now Ansari gets Lawrence for 161, caught behind trying to run him to third man...
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) April 28, 2015
2.17pm - Yorkshire are in danger of failing to avoid the follow on against Warwickshire at Headingley. Boyd Rankin has his fourth wicket as Steven Patterson edges to wicketkeeper Pete McKay. Yorkshire are eight down and need 37 more runs or face the prospect of batting again.
2.13pm - Zafar Ansari has had a good hour. After being named in England's ODI squad to play Ireland he has now taken the key wicket of Ryder for 57 after a 121-run stand with Lawrence.
Rushworth has a five-for. Luke Wright is bowled for 39 and then John Hastings removes fellow Aussie Steve Magoffin to leave Sussex 265 for nine - a lead of 261 runs.
Marcus Trescothick has passed 50 at Taunton.
WICKET | Newton b Raine 58, Northants effectively 166-6
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) April 28, 2015
2.07pm - MILESTONES! Daniel Lawrence is going big at the Kia Oval. He gets to his 150 shortly after Jesse Ryder reaches his half-century. Just to round off matters their century stand has also been posted.
Gareth Roderick has his fourth successive half-century to start the new campaign. The Gloucestershire wicketkeeper has not yet got to three figures, though. Perhaps today...
Tom Cooper has been bowled at Taunton for 42 by Ollie Rayner. Somerset are 199 runs ahead at 108 for two.
A really useful innings from Andre Adams (31) comes to an end - he's been bowled & Hampshire are 276 all-out, 95 runs behind. #LVCC
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) April 28, 2015
2.03pm - Chris Rushworth takes his fourth wicket as Ajmal Shahzad is trapped lbw for 17 with Sussex 251 runs ahead.
Wicket Watch: Bell Drummond is caught behind off the bowling of Clark http://t.co/BdwDsBVSyI
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 28, 2015
1.55pm - Debutant Jordan Clark grabs the first Kent wicket after Lancashire asked them to follow on. Daniel Bell-Drummond offers a regulation edge for Alex Davies.
Sean Ervine has fallen at the Ages Bowl to a good Steven Mullaney catch at slip. Samit Patel gets the wicket and Hampshire are 276 for nine.
Taylor honoured to lead England in the one-off ODI against Ireland. PRESS RELEASE: http://t.co/Oj6FcoXLy6pic.twitter.com/RXZsl0OJHe
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) April 28, 2015
1.48pm – Yorkshire lose two quick wickets after lunch, Tim Bresnan bowled by Jeetan Patel and James Middlebrook run out.
Rob Newton goes to a fifty to bolster Northants.
1.19pm– As promised, here’s the lunch scores:
Division One
Captain Andrew Gale is unbeaten on 53 for Yorkshire, who are 222 for five in reply to Warwickshire’s 435 at Headingley.
Matt Machan made 80 for Sussex, who are 235 for six in their second innings, 231 ahead of Durham at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Lewis Gregory took 6-101 as Middlesex were dismissed for 317 at Taunton. Somerset are 77 for one, 168 ahead.
Nottinghamshire have pegged Hampshire back to 248 for eight, responding to their 371 at the Ageas Bowl.
Division Two
Derbyshire, boosted by 61 from Harvey Hosein, declared on 545 for nine, to which Gloucestershire are replying with 47 for one in their second innings, 223 behind at the Bristol County Ground.
Daniel Lawrence, aged just 17, has 132 not out, his maiden first-class ton, of Essex’s 416 for four in reply to Surrey’s 340 at the Kia Oval.
Kent, bowled out for 252 as Kyle Jarvis took 4-50, have been forced to follow on by Lancashire and are 34 without loss, 158 behind.
Leicestershire are pressing for their first Championship win since 2012, reducing Northamptonshire to 191 for five in their second innings, 137 ahead of the Grace Road hosts.
12.59pm - Not long to go until the interval, so stick around as we bring you all the updates soon.
12.51pm - It's all going well for Durham now as Sussex lose their sixth wicket. Ben Brown goes to a good catch by Scott Borthwick at slip. The Sussex lead is now precariously poised at 219.
Essex have taken their total past 400 with a lead of 60 as Surrey struggle to contain Jesse Ryder and, more importantly, Lawrence who has moved on to 125.
12.49pm - It's 50 to Gale, the Yorkshire skipper moves to the landmark off 117 balls. And, in fact, it's lunch at Headingley due to the rain.
12.45pm - It's a close battle between Somerset and Middlesex in the lead-up to lunch. James Harris the only successful Middlesex bowler so far, as Trescothick and Cooper steady the ship at 63 for one. A healthy lead of 154 is developing.
Meanwhile, Northants are also well past Leicestershire's first-innings lead, but are having to slowly build via Rob Newton and Josh Cobb.
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) April 28, 2015
12.37pm - Hampshire have just lost their eighth batsman while Yorkshire their fifth. Briggs departs at the Ageas Bowl trying to take the aerial route, and at Headingley, it's Hodd who is caught at backward point off the bowling of Rankin. Tim Bresnan is next in, and we await some fireworks!
Sussex have also suffered a setback against Durham with Machan trapped lbw after his valuable contribution of 80 off 122 balls. Usman Arshad gets his second victim.
12.28pm - Both Yorkshire and Sussex have made it past 200. Sussex are 203 for four in their second innings with a lead of 199. Yorkshire, on the other hand, have lost the same number of wickets but are being led by captain Gale who is keeping them within sight of Warwickshire's 435.
And here is the moment Daniel Lawrence moved to his maiden F/C hundred at 17 years and 290 days https://t.co/02A8ZAYuuE@EssexCricket
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) April 28, 2015
12.23pm - Hampshire are gritting it out bit by bit, with Ervine and Danny Briggs taking them past the follow-on mark against Notts. Hampshire are currently 224 for seven, though Notts do have the new ball now. Things could change dramatically before lunch.
The 17-year-old Essex batsman Daniel Lawrence has just moved to three figures with a lovely cover-drive for four off Zafar Ansari
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) April 28, 2015
12.18pm –Lawrence, aged just 17, goes to a maiden first-class century for Essex, who have just lost James Foster.
They’re back on at Yorkshire where Boyd Rankin snares Jack Leaning for 41.
Elsewhere Clint McKay has Josh Cobb lbw for nought as Leicestershire continue to give themselves a shot at that first Championship win since 2012.
Meanwhile Somerset lose Tom Abell and Gloucestershire Chris Dent.
Confirmation that @LancsCCC have enforced the follow-on. Kent are 192 runs behind. #LanvKen
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 28, 2015
12.08pm - Lancashire's excellent innings with the ball continues as Kent are bowled out for 252. Simon Kerrigan takes the final scalp, that of Riley, and the Red Rose then look to take further command by enforcing the folllow-on.
12pm – ecb.co.uk’s Andy Wilson at Hampshire v (203/7) v Nottinghamshire (371) – A terrific first hour for Nottinghamshire at the Ageas Bowl, as Hampshire have slipped to 197 for seven and still need 25 runs to avoid the danger of the follow-on. Will Gidman made the first breakthrough, trapping Adam Wheater lbw, then Luke Wood, a young left-arm quick who made a highly positive impression yesterday, bowled Will Smith with what looked like a beauty from our vantage point at deep midwicket. Gareth Berg fell driving at Steven Mullaney, and well caught by Chris Read, and things could easily be even worse for Hampshire, as Sean Ervine has just been bowled by a Mullaney no-ball.
WICKET! @usman_arshad65 tempts Finch to have a nibble at a delivery and Mustard takes the catch. 160-4, lead 156. #DURvSUS
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) April 28, 2015
11.55am – Matt Machan raises a battling fifty for Sussex while wickets tumble elsewhere, Kent’s Northeast going for 55, Hampshire’s Will Smith for 35 and Gareth Berg for the south-coast county too, plus Northants’ Adam Rossington departing.
11.45am – Harvey Hosein falls for 61, prompting Derbyshire to declare on 545 for nine, a score chiefly aided by Martin Guptill’s double-ton yesterday, a first-innings lead of 270 over Gloucestershire.
Meanwhile Northants lose captain Alex Wakely for 40 and Rob Keogh in consecutive overs to be 134 for four, 80 ahead of Leicestershire in their second innings.
Wicket! Claydon on 21 steers a short ball from @petersiddle403 to @ashyp_5 at gully, @kentcricket 1st inns 240-8, Northeast 53* #LanvKen
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) April 28, 2015
#STAT - Lewis Gregory's final bowling figures: 23.0-1-101-6 #SOMvMIDpic.twitter.com/zY5hAslhGh
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) April 28, 2015
11.22am – They’re delayed by rain at Headingley but back on at Taunton where Lewis Gregory traps James Franklin lbw for 46 to complete a five-for! Later in the over he likewise ousts Steven Finn for figures of 6-101 that leave Middlesex 317 all out with Tim Murtagh unable to bat due to a side injury and is unlikely to bowl. Somerset lead by 91 on first innings.
Sam Northeast moves to a half-century for Kent while Hampshire lose Adam Wheater, lbw to Will Gidman.
11.10am – Essex’s 17-year-old Daniel Lawrence, on 48 overnight, completes his maiden first-class fifty with a single to midwicket. Could he be another talent off the Essex production line? Lawrence soon loses batting partner James Porter, lbw to Zafar Ansari.
Somerset versus Middlesex, disrupted by the elements yesterday, is delayed by rain.
102.5: #FIFTY! Congrats to @HarveyHosein16 who scores his maiden first-class fifty! Derbyshire 518-8, lead of 243 #GLOvDER#P2bD
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) April 28, 2015
10.45am – Good morning and welcome to what promises to be an enthralling day of LV= County Championship action. Here’s how the games stand after two days:
Division One
Defending champions Yorkshire are under pressure at Headingley on 128 for three in reply to Warwickshire’s 435, in which Ian Westwood made 196 and Tim Bresnan took 5-85.
Hampshire reached 167 for four, responding to Nottinghamshire’s 371 at the Ageas Bowl where Alex Hales could add only five to his overnight 136.
A fine all-round effort from John Hastings pulled Durham back into the game, with his knock of 72 helping his side take a narrow lead before Sussex finished the day 115 for three after a fine spell of bowling from the Australian.
Nick Gubbins and Adam Voges both fell in the nineties and Lewis Gregory claimed 4-93 in Middlesex’s 306 for seven, which came in reply to Somerset’s 408 at Taunton.
Division Two
Martin Guptill played the day’s standout innings, flaying 11 sixes and 29 fours in his 227 from 176 balls as Derbyshire amassed up 511 for eight in response to Gloucestershire’s 275 at the Bristol County Ground.
Nick Browne led the way for Essex with 143 of their 266 for two after Surrey scored 340 at the Kia Oval.
Alex Davies agonisingly perished for 99 in Lancashire’s 444 at Emirates Old Trafford, but Kent struggled to 214 for seven in reply.
There were three wickets apiece for Olly Stone and Muhammad Azhar Ullah to limit Leicestershire to 305, and Northamptonshire then reached 105 for two in their second innings for a lead of 51 at Grace Road.