Image source, Rex Features

Kent paceman George Garrett is ready for hard work with the ball after producing a career-best batting effort on day two against Surrey.

Garrett faced 101 balls as nightwatchman, but was denied a maiden half-century by a brilliant catch by England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.

"I know I can bat. I worked really hard on it over the winter," he told BBC Radio Kent. "It was nice to get 48, shame it wasn't 50 - I was surprised Foakes caught that, it just shows how good he is."

Garrett later dismissed Rory Burns, but admitted: "We need to up our level to be able to combat them. We need to squeeze their boundary options and try and take wickets at regular intervals."

Image source, Rex Features

Modest Marcus Harris said his innings had been "one of the fortunate ones" as he piled up 214 for Leicestershire on day two at Derby.

The Australian opener, back with the club after a stint with Gloucestershire last summer, punished fielding lapses by the home side with two sixes and 26 fours.

"It was nice to spend some time in the middle. I don't think I've made a hundred since November so it was nice to get one," he told BBC Radio Leicester.

"A few things went my way, then (I had) a bit of freedom towards the end....a couple of cowboy shots, but I think when you've been out there a day and a half, you can play a few of those."

Image source, Getty Images

Glamorgan spinner Mason Crane admitted the chilly weather in Northampton made bowling difficult as an unbeaten 166 by Ricardo Vasconcelos carried the home side into the lead on day two.

The Welsh county were satisfied with their first-innings total, having been 27-4, as loan signing Crane contributed a career-best 61.

"It looked like a decent score had the pitch remained what it was, but they put the heavy roller on it and it seemed to change the whole complexion of the game, so we'll do the same before we bat (again)," he told BBC Wales Sport.

"It was tough work at five or six degrees for most of the day, not easy for the guys to keep running in and bowling, but we stuck at it really well."

Image source, Rex Features

Amid reports that Middlesex are contemplating leaving Lord's (!!!!!) after 160 years - read the full story here - we have a very interesting County Championship game going on at the home of cricket.

When Yorkshire were 83-5, following the dismissal of Joe Root for 32, it was looking like plain sailing for the home side.

But an unbroken stand of 52 between George Hill, who is 52 not out, and Ben Coad has given the White Rose just a glimmer of hope.

The lead is currently 129 - how many more do they need to leave Middlesex with an uncomfortable fourth innings chase?

We almost had a full day's play at all nine grounds yesterday and what rain there was didn't linger for long.

Today, it looks like this, according to the BBC Weather site: "Rather cloudy with some patchy rain in the north. Mostly dry with some sunny spells elsewhere."

Not too bad then.

Division One

Essex 377 v Lancashire 146 & 10-1

Lancashire need another 221 to make Essex bat again

Hampshire 140-1 v Warwickshire 455

Hampshire trail by 315 with 9 wickets standing

Kent 244 v Surrey 185-1

Surrey trail by 59 with 9 wickets standing

Somerset 454 v Nottinghamshire 193 & 38-1

Notts need another 223 to make Somerset bat again

Worcestershire 184 v Durham 244 & 319-5

Durham lead by 379 with 5 wickets standing

Division Two

Derbyshire 54-4 v Leicestershire 574-7 dec

Derbyshire trail by 520 with 6 wickets standing

Middlesex 246 v Yorkshire 159 & 216-7

Yorkshire lead by 129 with 3 wickets standing

Northamptonshire 314-2 v Glamorgan 271

Northants lead by 43 with 8 wickets standing

Sussex 267-5 v Gloucestershire 417

Sussex trail by 150 with 5 wickets standing

Image source, Getty Images

Only one team - Essex - managed to win a game in the first two weeks of the County Championship.

But it looks like there is little chance of the draws sequence continuing in the current round of nine matches.

In Division One, Essex have Lancashire in a spot of bother at Chelmsford, while Somerset and Durham must surely fancy their chances against Notts and Worcestershire respectively.

Welcome to our coverage of day three. Play starts at 11:00.