BBC Sounds

You can follow every ball of every County Championship match with the BBC this summer.

Along with our live text coverage our BBC Local Radio and 5 Live Sports Extra commentary teams will be out in force to ensure you do not miss a thing.

You can listen via the BBC Sport website and app but also on most smart speakers - just ask BBC Sounds to play the game you want but also state the day as well.

For example, ask BBC Sounds to 'Play Warwickshire against Hampshire, day three'.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Despite the greenness of the wicket it's been a good one to bat on so far. Durham resume their first innings, on the third morning, 87 runs behind Notts' first innings total of 407.

Barring a batting collapse, you'd imagine they will edge in front some time before lunch and then look to build a decent lead.

Emilio Gay will resume on 74 and Ollie Robinson 25. Their partnership is worth 42.

It's a chilly morning in CLS. Really windy and cold, with that wind coming directly from the north. There's been a bit of rain about as well, but the sun is expected to make an appearance a little later.

Image source, Getty Images

It's not just the spectators who had a shiver of excitement to see James Anderson's long-awaited return to the county scene.

George Balderson had a big say himself on day two with the bat, scoring 73 to put the Red Rose in a strong position before the sultan of swing opened the bowling from the Sir James Anderson End (naturally).

“I always enjoy it when Jimmy’s bowling, especially when he's stood in the slips," said Balderson.

"It's something that I didn't think I'd probably ever get the chance to do. So it's a pretty special moment seeing him come on from his own end. He bowled really well.

"He came with clear plans and executed really well tonight. That first wicket there was just a bit of extra balance, a bit of zip as well that he's been getting off that pitch.

“He'll find anything in that pitch that there is to get, really."

A total of 16 wickets fell yesterday as Worcestershire's seam bowlers produced their best display of the season to blow away Essex and put the Pears in pole position for a first win of the campaign.

Tom Taylor and Matthew Waite took three wickets, and Ben Allison two, as the home side's bowling attack performed brilliantly to bowl the visitors out for just 157 in 60 overs.

Essex took five wickets themselves late on last night to leave Worcs on 58-5 but with a lead of 259.

The Pears will look to add more runs this morning to build that up somewhere towards 300 while Essex need to strike quickly. It's set up very nicely indeed at New Road.

Despite a Bears fightback late on day two, Hampshire remain in pole position heading into the morning session.

Kyle Abbott was the hosts' chief tormentor as the 37-year-old produced another high-calibre display to take 5-47 and continue his fine form this season.

Trailing by 106 on first innings, Warwickshire fought back with some quick wickets to reduce the visitors to 99-5, but Fletcha Middleton (76) and Toby Albert (29 not out) steadied the ship.

Hants start the day with a 265-run lead and four wickets left to build what could be a daunting lead.

But quick wickets this morning and Warwickshire are right back in this match.

Image source, Getty Images

Few could argue against the fact day two belonged to Surrey as the hosts built up a 129-run lead thanks to Kurtis Patterson's 85 on debut and 86 from the in-form Ben Foakes.

Jordan Clark is unbeaten on 41 alongside Nathan Smith, who is on nine, and with three wickets remaining, Surrey will look to try and stretch out the lead as far as they can.

Barring a three-ball spell in which Dan Lawrence and Patterson fell, Yorkshire have struggled to take wickets with any regularity and they won't want the tail to wag for too long at The Oval if they're to stand a realistic chance of getting a result.

George Hill has been the pick of the bunch with the ball for the visitors and has 4-58 off 22 overs.

It's a potentially decisive morning on day three.

Image source, Getty Images

Somerset inflicted a damaging day on Sussex on Saturday to move themselves within range of their second win of the season and a chance to climb the Division One table.

Despite a disappointing start to the morning, only adding 21 runs to their overnight score for the final four wickets, the hosts took control of proceedings thereafter.

Sussex were skittled for just 152 and enforced to follow-on after tea. Tom Haines and Daniel Hughes came out firing with the bat for the visitors, racing to 100 without loss.

But a flurry of wickets saw Sussex slip to 127-4 and 59 runs behind with just six wickets in hand. If they continue to tumble at a similar rate of knots this morning, it could be done by lunch.

Sussex need to really dig in to take this one into the final day. Somerset will be hoping to get it over the line with minimum fuss.

Division One

• Durham 320-4 v Notts 407
• Somerset 338 v Sussex 152 & 127-4
• Surrey 384-7 v Yorkshire 255
• Warks 194 v Hampshire 300 & 159-6
• Worcs 358 & 58-5 v Essex 157

Division Two

• Glamorgan 424 v Northants 185 & 49-3
• Glos 307-4 v Kent 424
• Lancashire 458 v Derbyshire 112-4
• Middlesex 232 & 10-0 v Leics 274

Three sessions of hard-fought cricket on Saturday as Durham steadily closed to within 87 runs of the Nottinghamshire first-innings total by the close.

Sparks flew on day one when 409 runs flowed and 10 wickets fell, but Durham were content to take things a little steadier yesterday.

Led by Alex Lees (82), a maiden half-century for James Minto (67) and Emilio Gay (74 not out), the hosts added 318 runs, while the Notts bowlers managed to eke out just four wickets on a placid pitch.

If Ollie Robinson (25 not out) gets going this morning, Durham should be leading by lunch and looking to force the Championship leaders to bat out for a draw.

Image source, Getty Images

Hopefully it's a sunny Sunday morning wherever you are and you are enjoying a relaxing start to the day.

It's day three of this round of County Championship fixtures and a few teams will be eyeing a win without needing day four.

But the vast majority are finely poised and promise plenty more excitement for us throughout.

Yesterday we enjoyed the return of James Anderson to Lancashire's bowling attack and the legendary England man promptly picked up two wickets - it was like he had never been away!

Let's take a look at the state of play heading into day three shall we?