Tom Banton rocks back and looks to whack Adam Finch through the covers but it skews high and drops just out of reach of Brett D'Oliveira at mid-off.

Now a fourth dropped catch as Lewis Gregory hits Tom Hinley high and hard out to wide long-off, but the diving attempt fails to pouch the chance.

Banton rubs more salt in the gaping wound with a reverse sweep over short third man to go to 361. He's having a bit of fun.

The set batter then plunders his second six to go to 368 and brings up a rapid 100 partnership.

Image source, Rex Features

So the Lancashire lead at Lord's is 99.

They only manage to extend their first innings for two and a half overs as spinner Zafar Gohar has Marcus Harris lbw for 138.

It's a good start for the two winter signings - Harris for the Red Rose and spinner Gohar, who finished with 4-79, for Middlesex.

Harris batted for 288 minutes, faced 197 balls and hit 21 boundaries.

One or two play and misses by Dom Leech as Kent strive for their first success of the day.

Lots of chat about the slippers paceman Keith Dudgeon likes to wear when he isn't bowling.

"Don't judge the Dudge" is apparently already a 'thing' at Canterbury.

And on he goes.

Tom Banton picks up where he left off guiding Adam Finch through the gap between square leg and long for his 54th boundary.

He then clips Finch firmly to deep square leg for a single to go to 349.

A nudged single off Kashi Ali takes his innings to its latest landmark.

It's taken just seven balls this morning - and 388 in total. An absolute epic of concentration and skill.

Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire

"To get a hundred in your first game for your new county is always good, and to do it at Lords, the best ground in the world, it's bucket list stuff," said Marcus Harris has he came out of the Pavilion lasy evening for his end of day chat with me by the boundary rope.

The Australian opener also says he welcomed the suggestion to bat at four for Lancashire this season when it was put to him before the season started.

He gives Lancashire a real presence in a key position, with the club overly reliant on youngsters in the middle order last season. Also, with Luke Wells at six, a fellow career-long opening bat, Lancashire's had two ideal candidates well placed when Middlesex took the second new ball yesterday.

The lead is approaching 100, the pitch has been tricky to bat on for most of the match, chasing more than 200 to win batting last could be a tall order. We're set for a fascinating third day.

Jamie Porter starts with a maiden for Essex and did get past the outside edge of Ollie Pope's bat - we haven't seen that happen much in this game.

First task of the day for Sussex is to get rid of the nightwatchman Ethan Bamber and then have a crack at this Warwickshire middle order.

Off-spinner Jack Carson is opening the bowling this morning at Edgbaston and starts with a maiden.

Time for action at the Utilita Bowl.

Unsurprisingly, Kyle Abbott will bowl the first over.

Yorkshire's lead, remember, is 61. Adam Lyth is on strike.

Well, it was 61 - Lyth punches the first ball down the ground for four.

It's Jamie Porter to open up proceedings from the Sir Alastair Cook End and Ollie Pope pushes the first ball back to the bowler.

It's sunny but a touch chilly around Chelmsford this morning - no doubt it'll warm up as we go through the day.

After the start of day two was delayed by rogue sprinklers giving the Trent Bridge pitch an unwanted soaking, we’re up and running on time this morning.

Matthew Potts to bowl the first over of the day as nightwatchman Farhan Ahmed (4) faces the first ball.

Matt Montgomery (19) watches on from the non-striker’s end.

No overnight declaration as Tom Banton makes his way out to continue his epic 496-minute vigil at the crease.

He has Lewis Gregory for company as Somerset have - you’d think - an almost unassailable lead with what we’ve seen so far in this match.

Adam Finch to bowl the first over of the day and the 145th of the innings.

Just 15 overs until the third new ball, chaps.

So how is this one going to go?

Will Northants chase down the target or will it be a three-wicket cakewalk for Kent?

Having trapped Justin Broad lbw with his final ball of day two, Nathan Gilchrist has two left to complete the over.

Dom Leech is the new Northants batter.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Image source, BBC Sport

It's another gorgeous morning in Nottingham and warmer than yesterday, so we have a prompt start - although yesterday we were expecting the same until the sprinklers burst into action at 11:00am and robbed the game of 45 minutes.

They are trying to claw back that time today so we will have 100 overs, with play scheduled to end at 6.15pm. I will believe that when I see it, however. They went off at 6.51pm yesterday.

Day three is often considered "moving day" but this is a good batting track. And with a 50-yard boundary on the Bridgford Road side of the groud, there are plenty of runs to be had.

It will be interesting to see how things develop.

Image source, Rex Features

It looks like it could be another long day for the bowlers in this game.

The Chelmsford track has so far offered nothing to suggest someone might break free and force a positive result.

The early removal of Dom Sibley by Sam Cook may have given Essex supporters hope their attack might fair better than the visitors but, apart from Matt Critchley spurning a chance to catch Ollie Pope, it has looked a cracking batting surface.

Another sun-baked day of run scoring looks on the cards, but never say never...

A declaration must surely come in the not-too-distant after Somerset piled up the runs against a beleaguered Pears attack on day two.

The hosts reached stumps a whopping 483 runs in front thanks to history-making Tom Banton (344*) who has been on the pitch for all but 13.3 overs of this match.

James Rew also played his part with 152 in a 371-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Hard to believe now, but Worcestershire were right in the match on Friday evening when they had Somerset 39-3.

How much will the visitors have left in the tank after a sapping and demoralising day two? After collapsing first time around - losing their last nine wickets for 52 runs - this match may not make a fourth and final day

Image source, BBC Sport

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 in position at the nine grounds 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 Northamptonshire against Kent day three.

We could have an intriguing morning session on our hands as both sides look to wrestle the initiative their way after an even and hard-fought couple of days.

Nottinghamshire looked to be taking control of this match several times on day two, only to be pegged back by soft dismissals as Durham kept on battling away.

The hosts looked well set at 157-1 until Ben Slater picked out the lone legside fielder eight runs short of a century.

Joe Clarke (37) can't be blamed for a snorter from Paul Coughlin which took out his middle stump at 225-2, but Freddie McCann was a frustrated figure as he let a third first-class ton slip away with a loose shot on 79.

Notts start the day 81 runs in arrears and still with five wickets in the bank, but a few quick scalps this morning and Durham could pinch a first innings lead.