A century and two fifties in 2024 becomes a century and three as James Bracey cracks Zak Chappell through the covers for four.

It has taken the left-hander 72 balls and that is his eighth boundary in this innings.

Peter Handscomb appears to batting with a guard outside off stump, it's not surprise therefore that when James Harris strays onto leg, he is able to flick it away fine for four.

A single later in the over takes Leicestershire to 200 and the partnership with Lewis Hill to 135.

Four slips and a gully are in place for Ollie Robinson.

He strays onto Sam Robson's pads and he clips it away for four, just reaching the rope as a Sussex fielder dives despairingly.

Image source, Rex Features

A perfect start for the Bears.

Luke Wells has not really got his season going yet and he has to wait a little longer to try and find some runs in the County Championship.

It gives them an extra bit of energy.

Alec Stewart again goes for a wander around the boundary egde to rally his troops.

Gus Atkinson strays legside and Ben Brown whips it off his legs down to the short fine leg boundary.

A no-ball follows. This is the England paceman's 21st over and he may be feeling the effects on a warmish afternoon.

Stroke of fortune for Kent as Jamie Porter finds the edge of Marcus O'Riordan's bat but the ball flashes between first and third slips and away to the rope for four.

He's into double figures while Ben Compton is 26 not out.

Time is more important than runs, at this point. But neither are as important as wickets in hand.

Dan Lawrence prompts a play and miss from Ben Brown.

It kept very low and evades the bottom edge of Brown's bat on its way through to Jamie Smith.

He then looks to hook a quick lifter from Gus Atkinson but fails to connect.

The Hants lead continues to tick along. There is so much time in this match, why hurry?

And they may not fancy much of a fourth innings target should the match get that far.

Joe Leach bustles in for his ninth over to Haseeb Hameed who is happy to defend.

A second consecutive maiden for the Pears bowler.

Ben Gibbon comes on for Adam Finch and keeps Joe Clarke honest.

The Notts man started the season like a train with centuries in each of his first three matches, but the express has slowed a little in recent weeks and has yet to get going today.

Clarke plays out a maiden and has five from 22 balls, having been dropped on nought before tea.

Keaton Jennings and Luke Wells head out to begin the reply in glorious sunshine in Manchester.

Yes, you read that correctly...

Ben Brown unfurls a super cut shot as Dan Worrall offers a little width.

It beats the dive of Cam Steel backward of point for four.

He then takes a single off the last to keep the strike and take the hosts to 350.

No bonus point, however. We're in the 119th over.

The lead is 223.

Two back-foot cuts from Ben Compton in as many balls off Simon Harmer, ignoring the close fielders packed all around him, find the rope on the long boundary side of the ground.

Compton moves to 25* and, as so often, a lot is riding on his shoulders.

Adam Finch bowls to Haseeb Hameed who cuts through the offside for four to bring up his 50.

Only a second half-century of the season for the Notts skipper, from 111 balls with six fours.

But he did move on to make an unbeaten 247 on that occasion.

A really good innings from James Vince, it's given this Hampshire innings a bit of vibrancy, a bit of impetus.

Luke Procter is fortunate. That's a thick edge but it kills the pace of the ball and falls well short of first slip, who is unable to prevent it running away for four.

Ben Sanderson throws everything at the first ball of the next, bowled by Matthew Revis, and it flies over the slips and down to third man for four.