Riki Wessels' unbeaten half-century for Worcestershire is holding up promotion hopefuls Gloucestershire at New Road. The Pears have recovered from 71-5 to 134-5.

Northants continue to lose wickets against promotion rivals Durham - they're 119-5 having just lost Richard Levi.

Fifth-placed Sussex are picking up regular wickets at Derbyshire who are now 75-4.

It's gritty stuff from Glamorgan against Leicestershire - West Indian Kraigg Brathwaite has 40 off 140 balls - they're 114-1.

Meanwhile leaders Lancashire are 170-5 against Middlesex, with Liam Livingstone unbeaten on 76.

Dom Bess bowls a very straight line and Liam Dawson picks up a single to square leg.

Barker defends.

Lewis Gregory returns to the attack. This is his third spell.

Kent are going along nicely here after losing five wickets for 39 this morning.

Tim Bresnan is driven down the ground by Stevens and Paterson fields at mid off.

Maiden over.

Keith Barker picks up two runs to fine leg and that brings up a very handy 50 partnership with Liam Dawson in 73 balls.

Four runs for Barker with a clip to square leg off the next ball. Barker is on 30.

Image source, Getty Images

After a delay of almost four hours, they're under way at Essex.

Mark Stoneman and makeshift opener Scott Borthwick are in the middle for Surrey.

Paceman Jamie Porter has the ball for the hosts.

Billings punishes Patelpublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 16 September 2019

14:14 BST 16 September 2019

Yorks v Kent 174-5

Sam Billings dances down the track and lofts the left arm spinner over long off for his first maximum.

Ajaz Patel has gone for 19 runs in three overs to date.

A reminder that Essex are about to get their match against Surrey started at Chelmsford after delays for bad light this morning.

Surrey will bat first.

Meanwhile the Division One leaders Somerset are just starting to get frustrated as Keith Barker gets away with a thick edge off a drive that runs wide of the slips and down to third man for four.

Very annoying for Craig Overton. Seven more singles off Josh Davey at the other end and now the off-spinner Dom Bess will have a bowl.

Image source, Rex Features

Hurrah! The light has improved a touch at Chelmsford and they'll be getting under way in 10 or so minutes.

But what's this? Surrey have won the toss and chosen to bat first! Brave in these conditions.

Essex will be desperate for quick wickets to make up for lost time.

Essex XI: Browne, A Cook, Westley, Lawrence, Bopara, Ten Doeschate, Wheater, Harmer, Beard, S Cook, Porter.

Surrey XI: Stoneman, Jacks, Borthwick, Pope, Smith, Foakes, Punkett, Clarke, Clark, Morkel, Virdi.

A full toss drifts to leg.

Darren Stevens hits the ball safely but straight to backward square leg.

He's missed out there.

The ball is getting a bit softer and less responsive off the pitch so don't rule out a batting point or two for Hampshire despite a grim start.

Craig Overton to Barker - who fends a short ball bumper safely off his hip. No run.

He sways out of the way of a full-on bouncer.

A single to Sam Billings with a nudge to the leg side off Olivier.

The bowler bowls wider and Darren Stevens cuts square but there's no run.

Hello...

for Clarkepublished at 13:55 British Summer Time 16 September 2019

13:55 BST 16 September 2019

Notts 186-2 v Warwickshire

Now Nottinghamshire's batsmen come to the party! But the music is already turned off lads, the buffet is gone.

Joe Clarke goes to his fifty in a stand which is now worth more than a hundred with Steven Mullaney. He's still smashing it to all parts - the skipper is 121 off 114 balls.

The pitch remains decidedly green, it's cloudy at the Ageas Bowl, but Hampshire are beginning to find a bit of form with the bat.

Josh Davey drifts into the pads and Keith Barker tickles the ball round the corner for four.

Craig Overton bowls to Liam Dawson at the other end and he plays and misses outside off.

In the match between the two promotion hopefuls at Wantage Road, Chris Rushworth has just removed Alex Wakely and Rob Keogh in double quick time.

Big wickets for Durham.

Leaders Lancashire have also lost a couple against Middlesex - they're wobbling on 129-5 now, but Liam Livingstone is still there on 41.

50 for Sam Billingspublished at 13:49 British Summer Time 16 September 2019

13:49 BST 16 September 2019

Yorks v Kent 157-5

A deft cut into the off side for one off Duanne Olivier brings Billings his 50 off 81 balls with six fours.

The partnership is worth 118.

Very welcome runs for the Kent captain after winning the toss and choosing to bat first today.

Image source, Getty Images

The floodlights are beaming brightly at Chelmsford, but still no play. Still no let up in the heavy cloud cover.

Liam Livingstone is on the charge for Lancashire. He's up to 40 off just 58 balls to help his title chasers to 126-3 against Middlesex.

Elsewhere in the promotion race, Gloucestershire are doing their chances a favour. They've reduced local rivals Worcestershire to 90-5 at New Road.

They're back on at Northants in the crucial clash against Durham. Northants are 98-1.

Glamorgan are also going along nicely on 98-1 against lowly Leicestershire with Kraigg Brathwaite digging in.

Fellow promotion hopefuls Sussex have Derbyshire 44-2.

50 for Liam Dawsonpublished at 13:43 British Summer Time 16 September 2019

13:43 BST 16 September 2019

Hants 104-7 v Somerset

Lewis Gregory bowls round the wicket and Keith Barker picks up two on the leg side.

Barker drives to mid on for one more and that takes Hampshire to three figures.

Shot! Liam Dawson pulls the next ball to leg for four.

That brings him 50 in 90 balls with seven fours.

That's his third 50 in four Championship innings.

Image source, Getty Images

George D.Wright: As a Somerset fan, currently very worried this match could turn out to be a low score lottery