Division One

Yorkshire 231-7 v Hampshire - Tea

Surrey 249-2 v Warwickshire   

Essex v Lancashire 241-7  

Division Two

Northants 86-3 v Glamorgan 101 - Tea

Leicestershire 226-8 v Notts - Tea   

Kent 212-6 v Gloucestershire

Click here  for the full scorecards. 

The other five matches are currently at tea, but the evening session is already under way in south London.

Mark Stoneman (128 not out) and Kumar Sangakkara (11 not out) will want to pile more misery on Warwickshire's bowlers.

Kevan James
Sport Presenter, BBC Radio Solent

Yorkshire were reduced from 110-2 to 152-7. 

But Gary Ballance has hit his first century as Tykes skipper and together with Steve Patterson (22*) have put on 79 unbroken for the eighth wicket.

A good fightback after Fidel Edwards and Kyle Abbott set about the middle order after lunch.

The slightly older ball and some sunshine coming out have helped the home side's cause. Ballance's knock has been chanceless.

Image source, SW Pix

Scott Read
BBC Radio Manchester Sport

Lancashire get to tea at 240-7 on the opening day of the season thankful for their South African signing Dane Vilas, signed to add some steel to the middle order and he's done that in Chelmsford today with a gritty unbeaten 54. 

Essex new boy Neil Wagner did his best to bowl short with the aim of bouncing his former side out, but the club's youngsters have carried the bigger threat with two wickets apiece for Aaron Beard and Jamie Porter.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

A better session from Warwickshire with the ball but Surrey are still in a fine position. Rory Burns fell to Keith Barker for 71 breaking an opening stand of 154 with Mark Stoneman.

Stoneman dominated the afternoon and moved to a century on his Surrey debut with his 17th boundary. Rikki Clarke bowled an excellent spell from the Pavilion End and Warwickshire were rewarded with the wicket of Scott Borthwick for 23, caught by Clarke off Hannon-Dalby.

Kumar Sangakkara joined Stoneman just before tea and Surrey will look to push on during the final session. Warwickshire may still wish they had given themselves the chance to bat first.

Moments after Gary Ballance scores his 30th first-class ton, the players go off for tea.

Ballance and Steven Patterson have put on 79 for the eighth wicket. True grit from the pair.

Ballance scores a centurypublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

16:06 BST 7 April 2017

Yorkshire 231-7 v Hampshire

The breaking story is that new Yorkshire captain Gary Ballance has reached three figures in his first game in charge.

And it's a much-needed one for his side too. The 27-year-old got there off 163 balls with 14 boundaries.

They're still in a bit of strife, although Steven Patterson is doing a fine job at the other end on 22.

Thanks Felix. I arrive with some better news from Headingley for Yorkshire fans...

With Surrey going in for tea in a fine position, Mark Stoneman unbeaten on 127, now seems an opportune moment to hand back over to Gary Smee, who will see you through to close. 

Kent 's Darren Stevens has been dismissed straight after reaching fifty to help the home side recover at 209-6 after three wickets for Gloucestershire 's Liam Norwell. 

Elsewhere in Division Two, Northants have staged a recovery against Glamorgan with Alex Wakeley (26) and Adam Rossington (17) at the crease, with the score at 80-3.  

Finally, Ben Raine and Clint McKay are approaching a fifty partnership for the ninth wicket, moving Leicestershire to 214-8 versus Nottinghamshire .  

Image source, Getty Images

• Surrey's Mark Stoneman hits first County Championship century of summer
• Glamorgan collapse to 101 all out at Northants
• Dane Vilas passes 50 on Lancashire debut
• New Yorkshire skipper Gary Ballance nears 100, but Tykes struggle

Fifty for Dane Vilaspublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

15:50 BST 7 April 2017

Essex v Lancashire 228-7

Dane Vilas may not have been the highest-profile arrival at Lancashire for this season, but the South African wicketkeeper has made a good first impression.

With Ryan McClaren and Shivnarine Chanderpaul joining the ranks, he went somewhat under the radar, but his contribution today has been valuable after Lancashire slipped to 160-6. 

Vilas moves to fifty, which has come from 68 balls and has included eight fours. 

Image source, Rex Features

Elsewhere, I bring you news of Roelof van der Merwe , who has smashed 209 off just 166 balls in a friendly with Oxford MCCU. 

In true style he reached his 200 with a six - his sixth of the day - to accompany his 25 fours, before being dismissed soon after. Utter carnage.  

John: Why is Mason Crane not playing? Biggest hyped player for a long time and want to see how good he is

Adam Whitty
BBC Radio Kent

You would be a brave man to suggest that this has been anything other than Gloucestershire's session.

Kent reached 134-2 in this second session, but some wonderful bowling from Liam Norwell made the hosts toil.

Joe Denly, Sam Northeast and ex-Gloucestershire all-rounder Will Gidman all departed with just 20 runs added to the scoreboard.

The two not-out batsmen, Darren Stevens (30) and Adam Rouse, may well be the hosts only hope of getting a decent score.

With the county cricket season under way today - England and Lancashire opener Haseeb Hameed has been giving his support to a different form of the game....  

If you want to find out more about how to get into cricket, take a look at the  Get Inspired guide.

Hardly surprising for the first day of the season in April, but so far spin has accounted for just one of the 14 wickets taken in Division One.

Simon Harmer's dismissal of Lancashire skipper Steven Croft - via a top edge at short fine-leg - is the only example so far, with Hampshire's exciting young leg-spinner Mason Crane not selected.  

Warwickshire's Jeetan Patel and Hampshire's Liam Dawson are wicketless, with plenty of seam on show in the sun.   

Hamish Hodges: Yorkshire struggling against Hampshire, whose five current bowlers were born in Barbados, Zim or SA, none are the overseas pro!