Pakistan paceman Mir Hamza has taken his first Championship wicket for Sussex, having Leicestershire opener Ateeq Javid caught and bowled. The visitors are 13-1 in reply to Sussex's 173 all out.

Alex Wakely (74) and Rob Keogh (37) are just three runs short of a century partnership against Middlesex, guiding their side to 180-3 after 58 overs.

Harvey Hosein is continuing to defy the Durham attack at Derby, moving on to 57 not out in a score of 156-6.

Great news for Lancashire batsman Haseeb Hameed, who has registered a century against Loughborough MCCU. The right-hander made one for the second XI last summer, but has had very little to smile about at first-team level - until now. Perhaps the corner has finally been turned.

Rossouw in aggressive moodpublished at 15:29 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

15:29 BST 5 April 2019

Hampshire 179-3 v Essex

Image source, Rex Features

Rilee Rossouw certainly isn't in the mood to hang about at the Ageas Bowl.

His first three scoring shots were all fours, and the Hampshire left-hander has now clouted a ball from Sam Cook over mid-wicket for the first six of the game.

It took him to 26 not out and if he keeps this up, he'll be overtaking partner Sam Northeast (34) in the very near future.

Nick Gledhill
BBC Essex

Essex will be relieved to have broken the 75-run partnership between Aiden Markram and Sam Northeast which was beginning to become significant.

Dan Lawrence took the catch, standing in as wicketkeeper for Adam Wheater, who injured a thumb when standing up to Sam Cook.

Markram was particularly impressive on his debut knock and looks a good signing for Hampshire. This looks a slow and benign wicket. The toss rule meant Hampshire would have assumed they would be batting first today and they have prepared a pitch to last the four days.

Nottinghamshire have their first batting point of the new County Championship season as they pass 200 with a beautifully timed cover drive from Joe Clarke off a slightly over-pitched Matthew Waite delivery.

That's 1-1 (in points), to go with Yorkshire's point for taking three wickets.

So in a way, they've equalised?

Image source, Rex Features

for Harvey Hoseinpublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

15:18 BST 5 April 2019

Derbyshire 140-6 v Durham

Martin Emmerson
BBC Newcastle

Harvey Hosein has reached the 12th first-class half-century of his career and how Derbyshire needed it.

It came in 106 balls and included seven fours. He also put on 56 for the sixth wicket partnership with Matt Critchley. And so far Critchley’s wicket, lbw to Gareth Harte for 24, is the only one since lunch.

After a tough start in which the hosts lost two wickets in the first three balls, they are now fighting back under grey skies in Derby.

This is only the second time these two have met each other in the opening game of the season. The 1994 encounter in Chesterfield brought a Durham win.

Of the 25 occasions, Derbyshire have been 0-2 in the first over they have managed just one win. That was against Gloucestershire in 1991.

A feature of this opening day has been Notts' quickly moving on from the loss of a wicket.

Ben Slater's departure for 76 has been brushed off by the new man at the crease, captain Steven Mullaney.

Since joining Joe Clarke, Mullaney has punched a shot through the covers for four and then crashed a longhop into the leg-side ropes to get his innings under way.

Clarke didn't want to be left out so played a beautiful straight drive to the boundary himself.

They've all come off Duanne Olivier by the way, who may have dismissed Slater but he's taking some tap.

Image source, Getty Images

Paceman Tom Taylor returns career-best figures of 6-47 as Leicestershire polish off the Sussex first innings in just 44.2 overs. The final wicket, though, goes to Gavin Griffiths, who takes a return catch from the leading edge of Danny Briggs' bat.

Taylor was well supported by Chris Wright (3-35) and only David Wiese made a substantial contribution for Sussex, with 10 fours in his 51.

It is now up to the home attack to try and bowl their side back into the game. They have zero bonus points, Leicestershire have three.

Dave Bracegirdle
BBC Radio Nottingham commentator

Duanne Olivier, the former South Africa fast bowler who has signed a Kolpak deal with Yorkshire, has his first wicket of the new season.

Returning for a third spell, the first ball his eighth over brushes the outside edge of Ben Slater’s bat and the opener is caught behind for 76.

for Alex Wakelypublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

14:54 BST 5 April 2019

Northants 141-3 v Middlesex

Alex Winter
BBC Radio Northampton sport

Some most welcome warming sunshine is trying to squeeze through this afternoon, on an otherwise chilly opening day at Wantage Road where a good crowd is enjoying absorbing cricket.

Northants have rallied with a fifty stand for the fourth wicket, led by captain Alex Wakely who has got his season off to a good start with a 102-ball half-century - but he was badly dropped by Stevie Eskinazi on 41 that should have rewarded an excellent spell from Toby Roland-Jones.

Any seat you like, coat on, blanket covering legs, optimistic sunglasses, rucksack (let's assume containing packed lunch) - County Championship cricket in April folks.

If this is you, please let us know by tweeting at #bbccricket as it would be great to find out what's so good about that seat right there at Trent Bridge?

Personally, with all of that choice I'd really struggle. It's a problem.

Notts moving towards 200 by the way.

Image source, Rex Features

for Aiden Markrampublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 5 April 2019

14:41 BST 5 April 2019

Hampshire 133-2 (38 overs) v Essex

Image source, Rex Features

Aiden Markram flays an over-pitched delivery down past mid-on for his seventh four as he reaches a 77-ball half-century. The South African, who played for Durham last summer, has made a confident start for his new county and Essex need to break his partnership with Sam Northeast.

The visitors are persisting with their frontline seamers, with off-spinner Simon Harmer having sent down just a single maiden over before lunch so far.

Aiden Markram drives a ball from Sam Cook wide of mid-off for four to bring up a half-century partnership with Sam Northeast for Hampshire from 68 balls.

Markram only needs six more to mark his Championship debut for the home side with a fifty, while Northeast is on 20 after clipping Jamie Porter away through mid-wicket for four in the previous over.

Ben Slater (64 not out) is ticking along nicely for Notts with Joe Clarke (16 not out) alongside him.

Yorkshire would've hoped Matthew Waite's quick wicket of Chris Nash after lunch may have triggered a few more departures, but the hosts are making good progress.

Sussex are hanging on at Hove, just about, after Leicestershire paceman Tom Taylor's five-for helped reduce them to 128-8. Ollie Robinson is 15 not out and they have moved on to 145-8.

Harvey Hosein (31) and Matt Critchley (24) are nearing a 50 partnership against Durham, with Derbyshire 110-5 in the 39th over.

Northants skipper Alex Wakely has progressed to 41 not out at Wantage Road, with his side 115-3 against Middlesex. Ireland's Tim Murtagh has taken all three wickets to fall.

If you haven't been following the comings and goings at the various counties over the winter, here's a page that will bring you up to date.

Dave Bracegirdle
BBC Radio Nottingham commentator

On his Championship debut after joining from Worcestershire, Joe Clarke has made a promising start to life as a Nottinghamshire batsman.

Arriving at the crease soon after lunch, at the fall of Chris Nash’s wicket, he stroked Matthew Waite through midwicket for the most elegant of fours.

Ben Slater remains unbeaten, having reached his half century from 112 balls, with eight fours.

In case you missed the news from Taunton, there will be no play today because of rain.

You can see from the face of Brian the Somerset cat* just how frustrating it is for everyone at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

Miaowbe the weather will be purrfect tomorrow.

*@SCCCBrianTheCat if you'd like to get in touch with him.

Image source, Somerset CCC