Rob Hayes' fourth half-century of the season, and third against Sussex, was the highlight of a positive morning for the Bears by the seaside.

He put on 79 with Alex Davies who departed for 37, caught in the deep after an unorthodox swat at a short ball.

Sussex have bowled earnestly but Gurinder Sandhu has not had much luck, beating the bat, and the off stump of Tom Latham, who also survived an lbw shout from the Australian.

Looks like it might be a long afternoon for the hosts with the softening Kookaburra ball and the sun now out.

Mike Taylor
BBC WM commentator

A lovely way to bring up the half-century.

That's the shot that Rob Yates has played most efficiently today. Just stroking the ball through the offside rather than just hitting it. Using the pace on the ball, there is a short boundary that side so not trying to hit the ball too hard, there's no need.

It was overcast before the start of play, but since Durham won the toss and decided to bowl the conditions have been perfect for batting.

That's reflected in the story of the morning session, with Rory Burns hitting 55 and Dom Sibley unbeaten on 38 in an opening stand of 95.

Burns' was the only wicket to fall - a maiden Championship victim for Jimmy Neesham.

Image source, Rex Features

for Rob Yatespublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 29 June

12:58 BST 29 June

Sussex v Warwickshire 113-1

Lovely shot from Rob Yates, timing one perfectly through the covers to the short boundary off Fynn Hudson-Prentice to register his eighth boundary and bring up his half-century from 73 balls.

He's played very nicely, showing good balance and poise, he's not tried to overhit anything, and there's plenty more runs for him here if he wants them...

Following his orthodox sweep earlier in the over (see 12:51 entry), James Rew unveils a reverse and again finds the boundary off Liam P-W. It brings up a half-century stand with Tom Abell.

Michael Carberry
Former Hampshire and England batter on BBC Radio Solent

I like what Kyle Abbott is cooking here, I really like this field. He's got his two catchers in, it's a slow pitch and he hasn't got the zip of maybe years before but you feel that there is enough of a threat.

Jake Libby is almost leaving that enticing gap open to try and work across the ball.

Too wide by Lyndon James at the end of his latest over and James Rew steers it through backward point for four. The left-hander is now 32 not out and looking much more settled than earlier in his innings.

He finds the boundary again in the next over, sweeping Liam Patterson- White's left-arm spin backward of square.

Adam Hose and Jake Libby have helped the Pears recover with a patient 30+ stand, but have to contend with Liam Dawson, who looks like bowling five overs before lunch on the opening day. Libby has 29* from 71 deliveries with Hose on 17* from 36.

A mini-recovery developing at Chesterfield now, where Keaton Jennings and Michael Jones have guided Lancashire to 73-4 with a partnership of 29 against Derbyshire.

But we still await the first wicket at Cardiff, where Gloucestershire have advanced to 77-0 against Glamorgan - and Leicester, with Sam Robson three short of a half-century as Middlesex reach 97-0 against Leicestershire.

At Canterbury, Ben Compton and Ekansh Singh have put together a 50 partnership to steer Kent to 100-1 against Northamptonshire.

Not a particularly pleasant spell for Tom Latham, who is yet to get going.

After surviving the big lbw shout from Gurinder Sandhu, the Australian has beaten the bat, and the outside of off stump by millimetres.

The 32-year-old's first eight overs have cost 41, and not produced a wicket, as he has swapped ends and struggled with consistency, four no-balls in the mix, but he's bent his back to try and get something out of the pitch, and the ball, and has asked more questions than most.

BIG appeal for lbw from Gurinder Sandhu as he angles one in at Tom Latham, who is struck on the pad offering no shot.

Might actually have been doing too much, as umpire Steve O'Shaughnessy is unmoved.

Sandhu stays on his knees halfway down the track with his hands on his mouth for a good few seconds, pondering existence.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

It's been a lovely innings from Rory Burns.

All the shots that have got him to this point in his career have been in this innings so far.

Liam Patterson-White asking a lot of questions of the Somerset batters at Taunton.

He's already spun one sharply in from outside off stump to the left-handed James Rew, and he's right on target from round the wicket in that over to Tom Abell, who has to settle for defence.

Never mind the obligatory pre-lunch over of spin, Yorkshire have brought Dom Bess into the attack well before then.

Three overs so far for the former England off-spinner and the pitch hasn't done a lot for him to far, but by the same token Essex are hardly scoring freely.

Tom Westley has 25, with Dean Elgar on 21.

Gurinder Sandhu returns to the attack for Sussex and bangs in a short one, which doesn't get as high as he wanted, maybe a sign the ball is softening up already...

Rob Yates sees it coming and pirouettes with the poise of an Olympic ice dancer to pull the ball away to the rope at deep backward square. He is now onto 40.

50 for Rory Burnspublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 29 June

12:25 BST 29 June

Surrey 89-0 v Durham

Image source, Getty Images

Jimmy Neesham is involved in red-ball cricket for the first time in three years and so far it's not been a particularly enjoyable experience for the New Zealander.

Neesham is bowling as Durham strive for a breakthrough and he's just been pummelled to third man for four by Rory Burns - bringing up the left-hander's half-century from 61 balls.

It's Burns' third 50 of the season - and Neesham's first two overs have cost him 17 runs.

His frustration shows as he hurls the ball back at the striker's wicket at the end of his second over, uprooting two of the stumps. How Durham would love him to do that when the ball is active...

Mo Abbas - 1-23 from nine overs - is now out of the attack at Taunton.

Lyndon James is the relief column and James Rew square drives him for four.

Another one gone at Chesterfield where Matty Hurst has been caught behind off Zak Chappell - Lancashire are 44-4 in the 19th over against Derbyshire.

The Gloucestershire openers are still together in Cardiff - Cameron Bancroft is 28 not out and Joe Phillips has 30 - and they are 58-0 in the 21st over against Glamorgan.

It's a similar story at Leicester, where Middlesex have advanced to 75-0 in the 21st - Josh de Caires 31 not out and Sam Robson on 36.

Kent are 74-1 in the 18th against Northants, for whom leg-spinner Yuzi Chahal has just completed his first over of the game.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Image source, Rex Features

It's already hot at The Oval and likely to get much hotter as the day goes on. We are looking at highs of 33C later this afternoon.

So, the last thing you don't want to do is put a side in and have them go along at four an over in the first hour of play. Rory Burns and Dom Sibley have got off to a flyer. They added 50 inside 16 overs.

Some of the bowling has been too loose, particularly that of Daniel Hogg. The tall, fast bowler has gone for 22 runs in four overs, with 12 of those coming in consecutive balls.

He's now been replaced at the Pavilion End by debutant Jimmy Neesham. The New Zealander's two previous Championship matches were in 2021 and 2022.