A leading edge by Paul Walter is just out of reach of the grasping right hand of Nathan Smith as the Essex opener moves to 114 not out.

He hasn't looked quite as secure of late but collects four more to mid-wicket without doing much more than lean on the ball. Superb timing.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

Fair play to Elgar and Walter, they've played really well and complement each other perfectly.

Essex are shifting themselves into a good position here.

All I would say is with the conditions and the lights on, not as much as happened as you would have expected.

How did that miss the stumps?

Jamie Overton has his hands on his head and no wonder as Dean Elgar is late on the shot and an inside edge just eludes the leg stump.

Bad light stopped play an hour ago and, unsurprisingly, play has been abandoned for the rest of the day at a gloomy New Road.

After Worcestershire had their day yesterday, it was Warwickshire's turn today to shine.

Chris Woakes (3-34) and Chris Rushworth (4-37) were close to unplayable as they took seven of the 10 wickets to fall, forcing the Pears to slide from 63-0 to 181 all out.

It gave them a handy lead of 46, which they've grown to 99 for just the loss of skipper Alex Davies.

With plenty more batting to come, the Bears can really ram home their advantage on day three.

This is a pitch on which no batter will ever feel fully 'in' so the Pears will not lose hope.

David Brett
BBC Essex

At a time when Essex were under pressure, Walter and Elger together have put on 162 without loss.

That's a very decent knock by Walter.

Middlesex really aren't helping themselves here with some very loose shots. Jack Davies pulls a ball from Zain ul-Hassan but doesn't keep on top of it and Thomas Bevan is there for the catch.

for Paul Walterpublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 24 May

18:08 BST 24 May

Surrey 279 v Essex 217 & 162-0

Image source, Rex Features

There it is.

Having failed to beat the field with a full blooded pull, Paul Walter is called through by partner Dean Elgar from an inside edge as he reaches his second red-ball hundred of the season - and fourth of his career - from 131 balls.

It's been a great innings for his side, featuring 16 fours - althopugh there was an anxious moment in Jordan Clark's last over when he clipped aerially to mid-wicket and Dan Worrall, diving forward, couldn't quite scoop up the catch.

for Dean Elgarpublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 24 May

18:05 BST 24 May

Surrey 279 v Essex 217 & 161-0

Dean Elgar has taken some time to 'get into the groove' - as Madonna might say - since his late arrival from South Africa this season.

But the former South Africa Test player reaches his first 50 from 127 by tucking Jamie Overton away for a single to square leg.

A couple of wickets to report from Grace Road as Lancs make some headway despite remaining very much behind the eight ball against Leicestershire.

The visitors have removed the set pair Ian Holland, for 50, and Logan van Beek, for 15, with George Balderson and Tom Bailey taking the wickets.

Paul Walter on drives Sam Curran for four as Essex move past 150 and extend their lead to 90. He has looked far more comfortable than partner Dean Elgar, but Essex won't care about any of that as long as they are both still out there.

Since we last brought you news from the County Ground, Kent have lost skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond.

he played a rather limp shot at a ball from Anuj Dal and keeper Brooke Guest took a good diving catch to dismiss him for 61.

Tawanda Muyeye is now out there with Ben Compton, who is 83 not out.

Ben Geddes looks to heavens as if to say 'why did I do that?'

A loose drive off James Harris is taken in front of his face by Kiran Carlson at third slip and Middlesex batter is on his way for 18.

It's time for Jamie Overton's first bowl of the second innings.

Can he produce the breakthrough that Surrey need?

Paul Walter pulls his first ball for a single, scattering a modest flock of pigeons stationed at backward square

Jonathan Doidge
BBC Radio Leeds cricket commentator

Excellent delivery from Revis. Again, this angle is really successful to left-hand batters - we've seen that all season at Headingley.

As Revis goes around the wicket and angles the ball into Slater, the ball pitches and just deviates slightly and the ball gets a nick to Duke who takes a good catch.

for Gloucestershirepublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 24 May

17:47 BST 24 May

Northants 469 v Glos 150-2

Decent effort this from Gloucestershire.

Cameron Bancroft has 59 and he's joined in the half-ton club by Miles Hammond.

It's Hammond's fourth of the season and come off 60 balls with five fours.

It takes Glos to 150, still a long way back but this is a spirited respone.