Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Worcester

You'd have to say it was Worcestershire's day in the Pears-Bears derby.

After being put in by Warwickshire and then reduced to 67-4 just before lunch, the hosts have battled back well.

Half-centuries for home captain Brett D'Oliveira - his fourth in successive innings - and Matthew Waite, on his comeback after seven weeks out injured, hauled Worcestershire into a much improved position, just six shy of a second batting point.

And then came the bonus of a ninth-wicket half-century stand between Tom Taylor and red-ball debutant Jack Home, which crescendoed in the last two overs of the day when each clubbed a six.

And Home's, off fellow former Shropshire man Ed Barnard, would given him particular personal pleasure.

No lights are being used at Hove in the Championship this season so it is unsurprising things have come to a halt.

Only two overs left in the day so it wouldn't be a shock if those were lost to the dark.

Bad light has ended play.

A curtailed day, due to a wet start and gloomy middle, it packed a lot of quality around Mother Nature's interventions.

James Vince was outstanding for much of his 88, with partnerships of 83 and 48 with Nick Gubbins and Liam Dawson.

George Garrett picked up three top-order wickets but the end of the day was a leg-spin masterclass from Matt Parkinson.

He dismissed Vince courtesy of a stunning catch from Joe Denly before deliveries Shane Warne would be proud of saw off two other Hampshire batters. He ends the way with 3-31

Meanwhile, the game of hokey-cokey is back on at Chelmsford as the players return for what, if we're not losing count, is the fourth time this afternoon.

A minimum 11 overs remaining in the day.

A bit of width from Bas de Leede and Tom Hartley squirts the ball to third man off a loose drive for one.

Matty Hurst sees out the over with a defensive push into the off side.

Nine overs left tonight.

It has got rather dark.

The players have headed to the dressing rooms as the umpires and groundstaff take their place in the middle.

There are still 11 overs remaining, but it wouldn't be a surprise if this was then end of day one.

James

Jacob, Plymouth

Six overs left at Lord's tonight.

Zaman Akhter bowls to Luke Hollman in place of Ajeet Singh Dale at the Pavilion End and the batter flicks the first ball leg side for one.

Toby Roland-Jones leaves the bowl outside off stump but latches on to a short, wide ball to slap it through cover for four.

Another wide ball brings a swing and miss as the Middlesex captain tries to flay it through cover.

Apologies to Henry Crocombe, your game was lost on us.

His cover drive off Kiran Carlson wasn't the shot of a nightwatcher. Outrageous.

Four overs remain, but the light is fading on the south coast.

It was billed as a title showdown and this opening day at Taunton has not let us down.

Somerset won the toss, knowing it's match they have to win.

And they made wonderful progress through Tom Banton, who scored 132, his second ton of the season and just his third first-class hundred.

He shared 107 with James Rew, who made 38, and at 305-5, Somerset were set to take the close in a very strong position.

But Dan Worrall produced a superb slower ball to bowl Banton and then two terrible shots and another beauty from Worrall saw four wickets go in 14 balls.

Brett Randell then fell to the penultimate ball of the day and Somerset had lost their last five wickets for just 12 runs. What a chance missed.

Surrey will be delighted having lost the toss and struggled for much of the afternoon.

Shakib 4-97 and Worrall 3-41.

Image source, Rex Features

Hurst lofts for glorypublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 9 September

17:38 BST 9 September

Durham v Lancs 160-6

A quiet over is suddenly electrified by Matty Hurst, who goes down the track to Callum Parkinson to clout the spinner over wide long on for a maximum.

If the light holds, we'll have 12 more overs tonight.

Four runs to Luke Hollman via a loose drive, edging the ball wide of slips to third man.

Toby Roland-Jones works Ajeet Singh Dale round the corner for one.

A flashing drive from Hollman scythes the ball through cover for four to bring up the 350 and a third batting point for Middlesex in the 89th over.

Matt Parkinson is ragging the ball.

James Fuller tries to come down the wicket to counter it and misses it.

But luckily for the batter so does wicketkeeper Harry Finch, otherwise that is a simple stumping. It looks like it might have clipped Fuller's pad to unbalance Finch.

This is a leg spin dream to watch this spell.

There haven't been many talking points for Lancashire's batting today, aside from Josh Bohannon's 49 and an unbeaten half century from Matty Hurst.

But that's a lovely off drive from Hurst nonetheless as Matt Potts is a bit too full

Three runs.The 150 comes in 62.2 overs.

Notts skipper Haseeb Hameed is unhappy with the fading light at Chelmsford - and the umpires agree.

We're off for bad light for a third - and perhaps final - time today.

Essex captain Tom Westley (89no) is within sight of his century and Paul Walter (72no) isn't far behind.