Summary

  • Nine fixtures in final round of 2024 County Championship season

  • Lancashire reduce Worcestershire to 119-7 in must-win game for Red Rose

  • One of Warwickshire, Lancashire or Notts will be relegated

  • 15 wickets fall between Somerset & Hampshire

  • No play at Durham, Glamorgan, Sussex, Yorkshire or Leicestershire on day one

  • Yorkshire & Middlesex going for promotion from Div Two

  • Surrey crowned county champions last week

Live Reporting

Chris Harby, Ben Pheazey & Alex Winter

  1. Worcs 22-5 v Lancs

    George Balderson into the attack replacing Anderson Phillip who took 2-21 from his four overs.

    Balderson beats the outside edge of Adam Hose.

    The slip cordon lets loose a strangled yelp as Hose shoulders arms to a ball which zips close to the off-stump.

    Maiden. There's been 20 dots and three wickets since the last run.

  2. 'Low bounce'

    Somerset 98-6 v Hants

    Kevan James
    BBC Radio Solent commentator

    As well as a hint of turn, from both ends we're seeing some low bounce.

    The words to be from a member of the Hampshire coaching staff this morning were "this ain't going four days!"

    But I've definitely seen far worse wickets here!

  3. Close of play at Chelmsford

    Essex 116-1 v Surrey - stumps

    Wet outfield at EssexRex Features

    These showers are really packing a punch.

    The outfield is now sodden at Chelmsford and with more rain to come, day one is done.

    So we're down to three matches left!

  4. Somerset 98-6 v Hants

    Liam Dawson gets another ball to keep low on a length and Lewis Gregory does well to squeeze the ball out.

    This could be a short game.

    Gregory gets a single into the off side and Tom Kohler-Cadmore plays just inside the line outside off stump.

  5. wicket

    WICKET D'Oliveira c Jennings b Bailey 0

    Worcs 22-5 v Lancs

    Make that three wickets for Tom Bailey!!

    A torrid afternoon gets worse for the Pears as Bailey draws yet another outside edge, this time from skipper Brett D'Oliveira.

    It flies at a nice height to his opposite number Keaton Jennings who pouches the chance at second slip. Bailey has three wickets for a single run off five overs.

    Ethan Brookes joins Adam Hose.

  6. Somerset 96-6 v Hants

    Kyle Abbott is back into the attack and Tom Kohler-Cadmore is forward, pushing into the off side for one.

    Single to Lewis Gregory.

    Kohler-Cadmore goes for a very ambitious loft over mid-wicket and misses completely.

    He's hit on the pad by the last ball but just outside the line of off stump as Kohler-Cadmore goes forward to block.

  7. No play at Leicestershire

    Leicestershire v Derbyshire - no play Thursday, rain

    Rain at LeicestershireRex Features

    That's a clean sweep of Division Two games off today.

    Leicestershire against Durham joins the matches at Headingley, Cardiff and Hove in seeing play abandoned without a ball bowled.

  8. wicket

    WICKET Kashif c Bell b Bailey 9

    Worcs 22-4 v Lancs

    Two wickets in three balls!

    Tom Bailey is in and gets one to nip off the pitch and take Kashif Ali's outside edge.

    Little the batter could do with that one.

    Bailey has been superb in helpful conditions. He has 2-1.

    Welcome Brett D'Oliveira.

  9. Somerset 94-6 v Hants

    Two slips are in for Liam Dawson as Tom Kohler-Cadmore goes back and carves the left-arm spinner through point for one.

    Single to Lewis Gregory to leg.

    The fifth ball is worked away to fine leg by Kohler-Cadmore for one.

    The odd ball is turning as dark clouds gather over the Taunton square.

  10. wicket

    WICKET Jones c Hurst b Phillip 8

    Worcs 22-3 v Lancs

    The Pears batters finally get some respite as Anderson Phillip offers some width and Rob Jones flicks it superbly through the offside for his first boundary.

    Then he's gone! The respite is brief.

    Phillip gets his line right and the ball does just enough to take a thin edge through to wicketkeeper Matty Hurst.

    Lancashire tick off their first point and Adam Hose is in.

  11. Somerset 91-6 v Hants

    Lovely shot from Lewis Gregory, driving Kyle Abbott through extra cover for four runs.

    Abbott responds with a straighter delivery just back of a length, bringing a play and miss outside off stump.

    The last ball is leg side and flicked away fine for four leg byes.

  12. 'Hint of turn'

    Somerset 83-6 v Hants

    Anthony Gibson
    BBC Radio Somerset

    A hint of turn for Felix Organ's off spin.

    If Somerset could somehow get up to 150, there'd be a chance their batting first plan could come to fruition.

    But I'm not sure we'll still be here on Sunday.

  13. Bailey in the groove

    Worcs 16-2 v Lancs

    Confident appeal from Tom Bailey and the Lancashire slip cordon as Tom Bailey angles one into Kashif Ali's front pad as the batter looks to turn it onto the leg side.

    Umpire Alex Wharf says no. Going down leg perhaps.

    He's beaten by the next ball then edges low along the ground to Will Williams at fourth slip.

    Bailey is in the groove and exploiting the conditions. A third maiden.

  14. Somerset 83-6 v Hants

    A bowling change. Felix Organ is coming on for Liam Dawson.

    He's bowling his off-spinners from around the wicket to Lewis Gregory, who defends.

    Gregory gets a single to long on and there's one more run for Tom Kohler-Cadmore to long off.

    Liam Dawson has switched ends and bowls round the wicket to Kohler-Cadmore.

    He gets a single off the third ball, steered to third.

    Two more runs to Gregory, driving with a thick edge past gully and the Somerset captain picks up one more, turned to leg.

  15. Worcs 16-2 v Lancs

    Rob Jones works one through the offside and picks up two to get off the mark to his sixth ball.

    Brief excitement as Anderson Phillip nips one back onto Jones' thigh pad.

    Hard work out there. Three from the over.

    There are some meaty-looking clouds lurking overhead but the odd splash of blue sky.

  16. Worcs 13-2 v Lancs

    Tom Bailey finally leaks his first run as Kashif Ali collects a single to bring new batter Rob Jones on to face his first ball.

    Tough situation to face and that's close!

    Jones plays at the final ball which nips away and beats the outside edge through to wicketkeeper Matty Hurst.

    Bailey has 1-1 from three overs.

  17. Somerset 77-6 v Hants

    Kyle AbbottGetty Images

    Lewis Gregory is forward to Kyle Abbott, driving into the off side but there's no run.

    Did we mention Abbott's Championship record against Somerset?

    It's pretty handy. Including this game, he has 62 wickets in 13 games against this opposition at an average of less than 20.

    Quite the nemesis.

  18. wicket

    WICKET Libby c Singh b Phillip 5

    Worcs 12-2 v Lancs

    Anderson Phillip gets a bit of bounce which draws a thick outside edge from Kashif Ali who picks up two.

    He picks up a single and then watches from the non-striker's end as Phillip finds more lift.

    Jake Libby punches off the back foot for four.

    But then he's gone!

    Phillip finds a good length and Libby's attempted drive flies fast to third slip where Harry Singh takes a superb catch.

  19. Somerset 76-6 v Hants

    Tom Kohler-Cadmore is forward to defend into the off side.

    Liam Dawson tosses a ball up outside off stump and TKC drives to cover without passing Fletcha Middleton.

    Maiden over.

  20. Somerset 76-6 v Hants

    Kyle Abbott is back in the attack and a leg side ball is brilliantly stopped by keeper Ben Brown.

    Single to Tom Kohler-Cadmore at mid on.

    Lewis Gregory is off the mark, driving through extra cover past Liam Dawson for four.