Summary

Live Reporting

Ben Pheazey, Chris Harby, Alex Smith & Michael Beardmore

  1. wicket

    WICKET Davies run out (Bracey) 7

    Middlesex 377 & 141-5 v Gloucs 309-9 dec

    Jack Davies is off the mark with four runs whipped away behind square leg off the bowling of Tom Price.

    Just three singles come off Zaman Akhter's next over but Middlesex nonetheless have a run rate of better than a run a ball and a lead north of 200.

    Run out!

    Leus du Plooy swats a short ball from Tom Price away square and Jack Davies is is late to respond to a call for a second run.

    That's a brilliant throw from Ollie Price to keeper James Bracey, who throws down the stumps at the non striker's end!

    Time for Josh de Caires to bat.

  2. Rock on Tommy

    Somerset 317 & 171-9 v Surrey 321

    If this was a football ground...

    "His bat is a crutch, his bat is a crutch, that Tommy Banton, his bat is a crutch".

    Tom BantonGetty Images

  3. Somerset 317 & 171-9 v Surrey 321

    Tom Banton stands and delivers again, whipping Tom Curran through the legside for what looks all the world like his second four.

    Not much footwork to speak of, but we'll forgive him in the circumstances.

    But superb work on the rope backward of square keeps them down to two.

    He then pulls the final ball off the end of his nose and it races through the legside for four. Amazing.

    Banton is up to 13 and Somerset lead by 167.

  4. Essex 457 v Notts 93 & 163-2

    Essex think they're finished for the day as Simon Harmer ticks the overs remaining down to 0.

    But they have forgotten that they have bowled so much spin they're ahead of time.

    The over rate is +10!

  5. Banton on one leg

    Somerset 317 & 164-9 v Surrey 321

    Tom Banton raises the biggest cheer of the day as he crashes Shakib Al Hasan through the offside for four.

    He may be batting on one leg but he's up to seven from six balls.

    Nine from the over and the Somerset lead is now 160.

  6. Durham 573-9 dec v Lancs 288 & 132-4

    Matt Potts gets a ball to keep surprisingly low and Matty Hurst does well to dig the ball out.

    The fourth ball is short and pulled to leg for four.

    10 overs left tonight.

  7. Get Involved - Essex points deduction

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Which company is selling a bat that is wider than permitted and why are Essex letting him use it?!

    Alistair - London

    Borrow a ruler from one of your kids. Check the dimensions of the bat. If it is greater than what is allowed in the laws then plead guilty. If it is the same or less then plead not guilty. Simples!

    Chris, via WhatsApp

    Here's the Essex points deduction story if you missed it folks...

  8. wicket

    WICKET Gorvin b Robinson 0

    Sussex 491 v Glamorgan 186 & 211-9

    Nearly there.

    Ollie Robinson picks up his third wicket in quick time as he continues to mop up the Glamorgan tail, this time cleaning up Andy Gorvin.

    The visitors have lost five wickets for 23. Ned Leonard is last man in.

  9. 50 runs

    50 for Joe Clarke

    Essex 457 v Notts 93 & 161-2

    Onto the back foot and cracked to the boundary on the cut.

    That's a wonderful way to reach a seventh fifty of the season for Joe Clarke.

  10. wicket

    WICKET Higgins b T Price 6

    Middlesex 377 & 131-4 v Gloucs 309-9 dec

    And now he's out. It's a soft dismissal.

    Ryan Higgins has unfurled an ugly swipe off the bowling of Tom Price and somehow managed to bottom edge an innocuous short, wide ball into his stumps from well outside off.

    Jack Davies, who scored crucial first innings runs, is next in to bat.

  11. Back on at Middlesex

    Middlesex 377 & 131-3 v Gloucs 309-9 dec

    13 overs left after this one from Zaman Akhter.

    Ryan Higgins will keep the strike with one pulled to leg.

  12. wicket

    WICKET Leach c Foakes b Curran 13

    Somerset 317 & 153-9 v Surrey 321

    A ninth wicket falls, but what's this - Tom Banton is heading to the middle!

    The Somerset man can barely walk and is almost using his bat as a crutch but emerges to bat despite picking up a nasty injury in the warm-up this morning.

    He has a runner, naturally, but this looks a strange, strange decision.

    Back to the wicket. Jack Leach steps down the pitch looking to whack Tom Curran, but only gets a top edge through to Ben Foakes.

    A bizarre end to a patient 36-ball knock.

    Tom Banton with his runnerGetty Images

    Tom Banton with his runner

  13. Close of play at Canterbury

    Kent 207 & 70-0 v Hampshire 403

    There is zero chance of getting back on this evening so the umpires have waved things off for day three.

    Kent's job tomorrow is simple: bat the day to get a draw.

    Hampshire need 10 wickets for victory.

  14. wicket

    WICKET Bohannon c Borthwick b Potts 56

    Durham 573-9 dec v Lancs 288 & 127-4

    A bowling change pays dividends straight away for Durham.

    Matt Potts had just been brought back into the attack and strikes with his fourth ball.

    Josh Bohannon has chased a wide one and edged to Scott Bortheick at first slip.

    Bohannon throws his bat in the air and catches it on his way off the field.

    Goerge Balderson will bat next.

  15. NORTHANTS BEAT DERBYSHIRE BY 133 RUNS
    Breaking

    Northants 219 & 211 v Derbys 165 & 132

    EVERY TEAM HAVE NOW WON A COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH IN 2024!

    Northants were the last to taste a red ball victory.

    349 days since beating Essex in the last round of last season.

    Rob Keogh picks up the last wicket by sliding one past Jack Morley for 132. Keogh picks up 5-45.

    This afternoon has been a clinic in spin bowling. Only Justin Broad interrupted the Keogh and Yuzvendra Chahal (4-54 and match figures of 9-99) spin-fest.

  16. 150 runs

    150 up for Somerset

    Somerset 317 & 150-8 v Surrey 321

    It may be stretching the point to say that Surrey will be concerned, but this partnership may well be beginning to frustrate them.

    Jack Leach takes a single off Tom Curran, newly introduced to the attack, to move to 11 and take Somerset to the 150 mark.

    It takes what is effectively the last-wicket partnership to 28 and the lead to 146.

    We know that Mr Leach has a bit of form where last-wicket stands are concerned, don't we?

  17. Bad light stops play at Lord's (again)

    Middlesex 377 & 129-3 v Gloucs 309-9 dec

    Middlesex are batting at such a blistering pace that this delay probably won't hurt the hosts that much.

    They're scoring at more than seven runs an over.

    There's a bit of hazy sunshine in between blankets of dark cloud so don't give up on Day Three here just yet.

  18. Bad light stops play

    Essex 457 v Notts 93 & 149-2

    Hilarious. The batters cannot get off the field quick enough after the umpires consult their light meters at Chelmsford. It's almost a sprint.

    Essex's players, meanwhile, hang around, hoping for a quick resumption before eventually trotting off.

  19. Northants 219 & 211 v Derbys 165 & 131-9 (target: 266)

    If you are in the vicinity of Wantage Road you'd be forgiven for worrying about the sounds from inside the cricket ground.

    Every other ball seems to be met with a yelp or scream for lbw.

    None are given as Jack Morley survives an over of Yuzvendra Chahal.

    One wicket is needed but dark clouds are starting to form above - can Derbyshire get to close?

  20. wicket

    WICKET Harris b Robinson 0

    Sussex 491 v Glamorgan 186 & 201-8

    Wickets in successive overs for Ollie Robinson.

    The England seamer finds a superb length with too much pace for a tail-ender and beats the defensive prod of James Harris and clips his off stump.

    Andy Gorvin is next man in.

    Sussex need two wickets for an innings victory.