Image source, Getty Images

Friday saw a compelling first day of county cricket at New Road this year.

Just the 217 runs were scored but 14 wickets with Worcestershire just about sneaking into the ascendancy.

After the visitors won the toss and elected to bat, Jake Ball took 5-47 on debut for Durham following his 14-day loan from Somerset the previous day, in part to make up for the absence of Matty Potts this week at the request of the England camp.

Henry Nicholls, the Kiwi Test batter on debut for Worcestershire made a painstaking 42 and shared a fourth-wicket stand of 55 with Adam Hose which was more than double any other partnership on the opening day.

Durham opener Ben McKinney (24 from 19 balls) was the only other player to show any real class at the crease on a slow track with inconsistent bounce and a very slow outfield.

The visitors will resume with Will Rhodes unbeaten on 17 from 65 balls and nightwatcher Jack Blatherwick on two from 21.

If the fired-up Pears attack can find a couple of early breakthroughs this morning they might take firm charge of this one...

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Green (pictured) claimed five wickets as Leicestershire eventually polished-off Gloucestershire for 252 on the opening day at Bristol, though James Bracey's fine unbeaten 93 stymied them after the hosts were reduced to 88-7 at one stage.

The Division Two leaders were reeling at 38-4 in reply but Lewis Hill (38*) and Ian Holland saw them through to 91-4 at stumps and will resume this morning looking to chip away at that 161-run lead.

If the hosts can, however, seize the initiative with a couple more scalps then they might give themselves of ending a 12-match winless run at their HQ dating back to September 2022.

Derbyshire batted themselves into a strong position on the opening day at home to Middlesex before a comeback with the ball.

David Lloyd's 93 and 73 from Harry Came, in a second-wicket stand which passed 150, plus 49 from Wayne Madsen ensured a first batting point at Derby and they will be on the hunt for more this morning when they resume on 267-5.

Image source, Rex Features

Not a single over was lost to the elements on day one, which was nice...

Hoping for more of the same across the next three days too.

You can check the forecast from our colleagues at BBC Weather here.

Today

Cloudy, warmer, sunny spells and the slight chance of a light afternoon shower at Bristol or Worcester, but we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Sunday

Sunnier, warmer still. Hopefully nothing to worry about at any of our grounds.

Monday

Glorious, pretty much everywhere. The perfect weather for a day on the golf course, as some of these players will no doubt have in the back of their mind if they can pick up a result inside three days...

Division One

Surrey v Somerset 283 - Lammonby 76, Gregory 62, Clark 5-68

Notts 164-3 - Hameed 67* v Sussex 169 - Tongue 5-44, Hutton 4-53

Worcestershire 162 - Ball 5-47 v Durham 55-4

Division Two

Gloucestershire 252 - Bracey 93*, Green 5-63 v Leicestershire 91-4

Derbyshire 267-5 v Middlesex - Lloyd 93, Came 73

Image source, Rex Features

Welcome to your weekend...

On a jam-packed Saturday of sport we have five County Championship games across two divisions to bring you, and they are all bubbling up nicely.

Friday saw 56 wickets fall and nearly 1,500 runs scored, if day two is anything like the first we're in for a treat.

There's 15 minutes until the pavilion bell sounds so grab yourself a cuppa and a snack, find a comfy seat and settle down for a full day of action, but first, let's bring you up to speed with what's happened so far...