Samit racks up the runspublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 19 June 2017

15:31 BST 19 June 2017

Nottinghamshire 178-3 v Leicestershire

Image source, Rex Features

I was pretty dismissive of Samit Patel's England chances earlier but you can't argue with his form at the moment.

82, 257*, 66, 122*.

They're his last four scores across two formats and today he's kept that run going with a fifth consecutive half century.

The 32-year-old is on 51 from 95 balls as Nottinghamshire start to stack up the runs.

Elsewhere in Division Two, Glamorgan are going well - if a little slow - at 142-2 against Durham.

Paul Stirling is motoring.

He's just hit Jack Brooks for his 10th four of the day, shortly after clubbing Adam Lyth's part-time off-spin into the stands for six.

The Middlesex batsman is now on 67 and could catch Sam Robson (81) at this rate.

The pair have also brought up the 100 partnership.

Just 20 minutes to go until the tea interval. Away from Old Trafford and Worcester, wickets have been hard to come by.

It is sweltering out there. If you're out at a ground watching a game or following this from the garden/park, send us a photo at #bbccricket on Twitter.

Kevan James
Sport Presenter, BBC Radio Solent

James Vince and George Bailey put on 69 for the fourth wicket and were bringing Hampshire back into the game.

However the ball was changed for the second time and it immediately brought success for Lancashire.

Luke Procter was the chief benefactor, swinging the ball both ways, when before there was little or none.

Vince was lbw for 22 and Sean Ervine was caught behind for seven.

Kyle Jarvis is also getting the ball to "nip" regularly. Bailey has had to change tack since reaching his first Championship half-century of the season.

There are signs now that things are just calming down a little bit.

Browne digging inpublished at 15:14 British Summer Time 19 June 2017

15:14 BST 19 June 2017

Essex 143-3 v Warwickshire

Image source, Rex Features

The runs are flowing at Lord's but Nick Browne is digging in and grinding it out at Chelmsford.

The left-hander reaches his half century with a three off Jeetan Patel. It has taken him 156 balls but the important thing is he's still at the crease.

Ravi Bopara is looking to be a little more aggressive. He's on 23 from 46.

Half century for Stirlingpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 19 June 2017

15:10 BST 19 June 2017

Middlesex 161-2 v Yorkshire

Bang, bang, bang.

Paul Stirling likes the look of Steven Patterson and hits three fours in the Yorkshire bowler's 12th over to bring up his 50.

It has come off just 73 balls and the Irishman has now hit nine fours. He's playing nicely.

Here's our first look at Yorkshire's Adil Rashid after his exploits for England in the Champions Trophy. Tidy, just the three from the over.

The leggie can't break this Robson-Stirling partnership though which is now worth 79. Robson will have an eye on his century as he moves in to the 70s.

Image source, Rex Features

Nick Webb
BBC Wales Sport

Glamorgan have continued to find scoring difficult in the afternoon session against Durham with Chris Rushworth claiming a second wicket and coming close on several other occasions.

Andrew Salter, promoted to number three, was caught behind for a cautious 25 off 94 deliveries, while Nick Selman reached his half-century in similarly watchful fashion off 133 balls.

Glamorgan's top run-scorer Colin Ingram had a couple of hazardous early wafts, while Durham captain Paul Collingwood thought he had Selman caught behind on 58 only to see his pleas turned down.

It's a battle of attrition out there- who will wilt first?

There'll be no century for Brendan Taylor today.

An 80 partnership with Samit Patel ends with Zimbabwean falling for 61 to Leicestershire's Dieter Klein. That brings to the crease Michael Lumb.

At Worcester, the home side can do no wrong as John Hastings bowls a long hop but Kent's Darren Stevens manages to top edge the ball to Ed Barnard. Kent are now seven wickets down with just 155 on the board.

Nick Browne is starting to get into his stride at Chelmsford.

The Essex opener looked out of touch early on but is now closing on a half-century for the Division One leaders.

He hits Keith Barker for his fifth four of the day to move to 43.

Ravi Bopara doesn't want to be out done so clubs Jeetan Patel for a six in the following over.

Worcestershire are dominating the battle between second and third in Division Two.

They now have Kent six down as Josh Tongue gets his second wicket of the day by dismissing Will Gidman for 12 and Kent are 131-6

Kent need some careful accumulation much like that being shown by Glamorgan's Nicholas Selman against Durham. He has just brought up his 50 from 134 balls to help Glamorgan to 96-2.

Alastair Machray: Samit Patel to bat 4 in Tests? Cook, Jennings, Root for first 3 places.

My personal view is that Samit has had his chance and England should look to youth. But, if he keeps on piling on the runs, can the selectors ignore him?

Half-century for Baileypublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 19 June 2017

14:37 BST 19 June 2017

Lancashire v Hampshire 125-4

With the top four all back in the hutch, George Bailey is doing his best to get Hampshire out of their hole at Old Trafford.

The Aussie brings up his 50 with a single off Luke Procter.

Jimmy Anderson has come to the end of another spell on his return from injury in that one. He is still wicketless but has bowled five maidens from his 12. Measly.

Middlesex are ticking along nicely at Lord's against Yorkshire after those two wickets just before lunch.

Paul Stirling has 28 from just 42 balls and has brought up the 50 partnership with Sam Robson.

A lot rests on these two for Middlesex today with Dawid Malan, Nick Gubbins and Adam Voges all absent from the team.

Thomas Cat: Public service announcement for spectators at Durham - the ice cream van has returned.

Blimey. Hot drinks and scarves are usually the order of the day at Chester-le-Street!

Taylor makes another 50published at 14:23 British Summer Time 19 June 2017

14:23 BST 19 June 2017

Nottinghamshire 140-2 v Leicestershire

Brendan Taylor is a man in form. Fresh from 154 in the One-Day cup last week, he has brought up his half-century at Trent Bridge in his first Championship innings of the season.

Samit Patel is also going along nicely on 37 from 48 balls.

At Chester-le-Street, Chris Rushworth has his second wicket of the day, by dismissing Glamorgan's Andrew Salter. The visitors are now 86-2.

Image source, Rex Features

It is not often a spinner bowls 10 overs within the first 40 overs of a four-day match but Warwickshire's Jeetan Patel has today.

The New Zealander has been largely economical but drops too short and is hit to the boundary by Nick Browne.

The Essex batsman moves onto 33 but the run rate is still well below three runs an over.