At Tunbridge Wells, Warwickshire have prized out Sean Dickson for 133, but Kent remain in the driving seat on 272-3, leading by 344 runs.

Derbyshire are progressing well at Swansea on 144-2 trailing by Glamorgan by 139 runs.

Will Smith has passed 50 for Durham who are 153-3 at Arundel. He will hope to make it a huge score against Sussex, who are still 400 runs in front.

Middlesex are clawing their way back into the contest against at Grace Road, but remain well behind Leicestershire's 427 on 155-4.

Gloucestershire are in danger of defeat with time to spare at Northampton, where Northants have reduced the visitors to 62-3 as they follow on in their second innings. They trail by 158.

Image source, Rex Features

I indicated earlier that Neil Wagner is no mug with the bat.

Well the New Zealander has just plundered 21 off a Harry Gurney over including back-to-back sixes.

He's raced to 29 off 18 balls.

Warwickshire will be relieved to see the back of him.

Jeetan Patel pins him lbw in his 17th over.

That was a fine innings from Sean Dickson, which has helped to steer Kent into a commanding position.

The lead is a daunting 323 runs.

William Smith: Joe Denly must be in the reckoning for an England call up?

He's in decent form William, but I think that ship has sailed.

Here's the state of play so far this afternoon...

Gloucestershire are in deep trouble at Northampton, where they're 42-2 following on after being shot out for 62 in their first innings. They trail Northants by 178 runs.

Durham have stabilized to 132-3 since slipping to 43-2 against Sussex at Arundel, but remain 420 runs behind.

Leicestershire remain in charge at Grace Road, where the fourth Middlesex wicket has fallen for 140, 287 runs behind. Paul Stirling was the last man out, caught by Harry Dearden off Ben Raine for 52.

Wickets have been harder to come by at Tunbridge Wells today - after 20 fell on day one! Kent are 247-2 in their second innings, leading Warwickshire by 318 runs.

Derbyshire are 115-2 against Glamorgan, trailing by 168 runs.

The evening session gets under way at New Road with Worcestershire in total command.

You would think a declaration might come tonight with the lead already at 366 - but they're still only in the second day.

And the weather is set fair.

for Boparapublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 21 June 2018

16:28 BST 21 June 2018

Essex 140-7 v Notts 380

Ravi Bopara isn't going to hang around here.

The Essex all-rounder launches Matt Carter for a maximum to move into the 60s.

Neil Wagner can also strike a decent ball - the county champions could still make a big dent in this Notts total.

Play has also resumed after tea at Guildford.

And Ed Byrom is back up and running with a boundary off Amar Virdi to go to 40.

Big session for the visitors.

They're back under way at Chelmsford.

Essex are in a bit of strife - a bit of Matt Coles bottom-hand action would be handy for the hosts right now.

He's with Ravi Bopara in the middle.

Image source, Rex Features

Keep your thoughts on the county cricket coming using #bbccricket on Twitter.

We've had plenty of good ones over the last couple of days.

They keep me amused during the quieter periods - and form an important part of this live text commentary of course.

Kevin Hand
BBC Radio London

Middlesex fought back in the second half of the session with a little help from Leicestershire, who dropped four catches.

The visiting captain Dawid Malan is unbeaten on 39 but was twice put down, while Paul Stirling is not out on 48 having been given a life on one.

Mohammad Abass led the attack with some excellent seam bowling but was ably backed up by Ben Raine at the other end.

The inconsistent bounce continues to trouble the batsmen but the visitors will hope with the sun out that they can keep the hosts at bay in the evening.

The opening burst after tea from Abbas is likely to be decisive to both side's aspirations for the session.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

Rikki Clarke is now an exceptional bowler. Since his return to Surrey he has always made an impact with the ball and this afternoon was no different.

An eight-over spell saw him take the three wickets to fall through a combination of skill and cricketing knowledge.

Eddie Byrom has played solidly buts runs have been hard to come by for Somerset. The final session today could be the pivotal one of this game.

Nick Webb
BBC Wales Sport

Off-spinner Andrew Salter struck twice to halt Derbyshire’s progress after the visitors’ openers Ben Slater and Harvey Hosein started with a fine stand of 90.

Hosein, playing his first senior match of the season, battled to 35 before Salter got one through his defences, and Salter then had Slater caught at point for an impressive 52.

Teenage left-arm spinner Prem Sisodiya bowled a tight opening spell, but Glamorgan’s bowling resources were depleted when third seamer David Lloyd limped off.

Derbyshire found runs difficult to come by in the afternoon session as they battled on in search of a first-innings lead, with the hundred posted just before tea.

Kent are building a huge lead (316 runs and counting) over Warwickshire as we go into the final session of play on day two.

But with nothing like the clatter of wickets we saw yesterday and loads of time left in the game, what target do the home side have in mind?

Dominance. Utter dominance by Worcestershire in the afternoon session.

Martin Guptill (111) and Daryl Mitchell shared 215 for the first wicket in less than 33 overs.

Mitchell has gone on to record his second century of the match. The hosts are 366 ahead and Lancashire are staring down the barrel.