Annie Chave
BBC Somerset

What a lovely innings from Tom Banton, with 20 fours.

He's been great from the start.

Confident and he plays so beautifully.

He's done this 100 without the ramp shots, without the reverse sweeps and all the clever shots that happen these days.

The home resistance didn't last long as Kent mop up the last three Northants wickets inside 50 minutes.

Kent will start their second innings with an 88-run lead. Sizeable in the circumstances.

Jaskaran Singh did most of the damage, finishing with figures of 4-35, while Grant Stewart picks up a nice little 3-18.

The Northants innings lasted just 42 overs.

This has been a strong start with Tom Banton (101) and James Rew (30) rattling along nicely here in Taunton under blazing sunshine.

Nothing much has got past the edge and the hosts have put on an untroubled 30 since resuming this morning.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

What a splendid innings it has been from Tom Banton.

He's played with assurance, great confidence and he's made it look very easy. Certainly when he first came in it wasn't that easy but he's shown great concentration and power of shot.

He's a batsman reborn since the start of last season.

John Simpson is fine to continue after some attention and his recovery will be helped by watching from the non-striker's end as Jack Carson slaps Ed Barnard to the point boundary.

Next ball Carson picks up Barnard and flicks him away to the mid-wicket rope.

Now there's a third boundary for Carson.

I wonder if Sussex are eyeing up that fifth bonus point?

Postpublished at 11:36 BST 5 April

11:36 BST 5 April

Warks v Sussex 409-5

John Simpson is struck a painful blow by Ethan Bamber and it has shaken the Sussex captain.

The gloves are off and we have a pause while we wait for the physio.

Michael Pepper drives Kemar Roach away to the rope and the champions are looking a little bereft of ideas.

Pepper repeats the dose off the final ball of the over, this time off the back foot.

The Chelmsford pitch has lost the green tinge it had yesterday after a day of sun on it.

Surrey went to spin relatively early yesterday and got a breakthrough - will Rory Burns turn to Dan Lawrence again?

100 for Tom Bantonpublished at 11:31 BST 5 April

11:31 BST 5 April

Somerset 216-4 v Worcs 154

Image source, Rex Features

And that is a first century of the season for Tom Banton – in 124 balls – and a fourth in first class cricket.

There can't be too many example where when a player has four centuries in T20 cricket before catching up in whites but that is one.

Four in each format for Banton now as Somerset pile pressure on Worcestershire.

Spectators give a little ironic cheer as the announcement is made that play will start in 15 minutes.

There will be overs lost today - we think four - which will be added on to day three's allocation.

Keaton Jennings has brought up his 42nd first-class half-century as Lancashire take their overnight 68-0 to 83-0 against Middlesex at Lord's.

It's come off 103 balls with eight fours.

Leicestershire batter Sol Budinger has also reached fifty in the morning session away to Glamorgan.

Budinger's landmark has come off 73 balls with six fours and a six, as the visitors reduce the first innings deficit to 129. They're 100-1

Northants have lost Rob Keogh for 68 against Kent in Canterbury and are now 130-8, replying to 231.

And Derbyshire are progressing nicely and have reached 152-2 in reply to Gloucestershire's first innings total of 222.

Oh Jack Carson take a bow.

Batting up the order to see out the last few overs last night he stands tall and drives Ethan Bamber gloriously to the point boundary.

Warwickshire need a wicket and soon or this may get ugly.

John Simpson goes to to flick one away down the leg side and Ed Barnard thinks there's a touch as Kai Smith takes the ball in his gloves.

Celebrations all around until they are met with a shake of the head from the umpire.

Surrey think they have Matt Critchley LBW, in fact they are adamant such are the celebrations.

Critchley was playing to the leg side and turns away as does the umpire - not out.

Start of a new over and Michael Pepper edges to Ben Foakes but it's on the bounce.

More frustration for the visitors.

John Simpson picks up a single and Sussex go to 400 - there is nothing happening for the bowlers.

Now this is getting a tad farcical.

The ground staff are out working hard to sort out the rogue sprinkler issue at Trent Bridge.

All at once, four sprinklers burst back into life. No sooner are they turned off than another springs into unwanted action.

A few puddles have developed, but they shouldn't take long to dry out in these splendid conditions.

50 for Matt Critchleypublished at 11:12 BST 5 April

11:12 BST 5 April

Essex 366-4 v Surrey

Image source, Rex Features

Matt Critchley goes to his half century with a top edge which flies over wicketkeeper Ben Foakes' head - not the best way to get there but they all count.

It has come from 107 balls with eight boundaries.

John Simpson picks up where he left off yesterday as he drives Ed Barnard gun-barrel straight to the long-on boundary.

Sussex are well on course for maximum batting points at Edgbaston and there is no time pressure to get there either.

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 Essex against Surrey day two.