Image source, Rex Features

What a terrific advert for county cricket that has been over the past four days.

Nine matches, eight results and some very, very close and nervy finishes on the final day.

If you've missed any of the action - read all about it here on the Counties section of the BBC Sport website and app.

We've had to wait the best part of a year for it to return, but the county game definitely has not disappointed on its comeback.

Thank you so much for being with us for this opening round in the Bob Willis Trophy.

As mentioned, we'll be back from Saturday with the next installment.

Until then - thanks for being with us!

Sussex head coach and former Australia bowler Jason Gillespie knows his cricket - if he says it's been enthralling then it certainly has been!

Not long to wait in this Bob Willis Trophy until another game comes around.

Nine more matches begin on Saturday across BBC Sport with live text and radio commentary on every day.

Here's the full fixture list to look forward to:

North group:

Emirates, Chester-le-Street: Durham v Lancashire

Grace Road, Leicester: Leicestershire v Derbyshire

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire

Central group:

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Warwickshire

Northampton: Northamptonshire v Somerset

New Road, Worcester: Worcestershire v Glamorgan

South Group:

Chelmsford: Essex v Surrey

Canterbury: Kent v Sussex

Radlett: Middlesex v Hampshire

Image source, PA Media

Timothy Clack: The bottom five counties from last year's Division Two all win, showing that the quality is there! Maybe it's time to discuss a permanent restructure?

Well observed, Timothy - I think you've just given us our talking point for when the next round of games start on Saturday...

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Wins for Middlesex, Essex and Sussex see them take the early plaudits in the South Group.

Plenty for both Surrey and Hampshire to ponder before the next round.

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Worcestershire take the early lead in the Central Group with their win at Gloucestershire.

Somerset's demolition of Glamorgan has them a point behind.

Warwickshire and Northamptonshire with the only draw of the opening round.

Image source, .

So victories at the death there for Leicestershire and Derbyshire see them take the top two places in the North Group.

Yorkshire's victory at Durham puts them third.

North group:

Emirates, Chester-le-Street: Yorkshire (199 & 172-4) beat Durham (103 & 266) by six wickets

Trent Bridge: Derbyshire (239 & 365-7) beat Nottinghamshire (324 & 279) by three wickets

Worcester: Leicestershire (409-8 dec & 150-3) beat Lancashire (322 & 236) by seven wickets

Central group:

Bristol: Worcestershire (428-5 & 113-2) beat Gloucestershire (267 & 270) by eight wickets

Taunton: Somerset (296 & 290-8 dec) beat Glamorgan (131 & 166) by 289 runs

Edgbaston: Northamptonshire (142 & 507-6) drew with Warwickshire (369-8)

South group:

Chelmsford: Essex (298 & 202-8) beat Kent (387 & 112) by two wickets

The Oval: Middlesex (347-6 dec & 248-6 dec) beat Surrey (282 & 123) by 190 runs

And also not to forget that Sussex beat Hampshire inside three days on Monday.

Well, well!

What a couple of thrilling finishes to round off this opening round of fixtures!

Stay right there, we'll show you what it all means in a few moments.

Image source, PA Media

Leicestershire have chased down 150 with eight balls to spare - thrilling!

They beat Lancashire by seven wickets.

Tom Taylor gets a four through the leg side to do it and despite there being no fans at New Road there is great noise from the players and coaching staff.

Colin Ackermann and Harry Dearden's ability to switch seamlessly to T20 mode paid dividends - Foxes skipper Ackermann finishing not out on 73 off 41 balls.

Lancashire thought they'd batted long enough in reaching 236 and giving their opponents a target of 150 off 17 overs but they've fallen just short.

Leicestershire take 22 points with the Red Rose leaving with four after defeat.

A leg bye off the first ball of the over and then Colin Ackermann edges to the boundary for a fortunate four.

Leicestershire need five runs off 10 balls and it looks bleak for Lancashire now.

Leicestershire need 10 runs from 12 balls to beat Lancashire.

With seven wickets in hand they should do it, and Colin Ackermann is still there on 68 off 39 balls.

But new batsman Tom Taylor is on strike at the start of the penultimate over.

Image source, Getty Images

And Derbyshire have done it with a ball to spare!

Their highest first-class run chase as they get over the line at Trent Bridge with a couple from Michael Cohen on his 22nd birthday to take Derbyshire to 365-7.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice finishes not out on 91 off 169 balls, Cohen on 30 off 38.

Derbyshire beat Nottinghamshire by three wickets in arguably the most-impressive win of this opening round.

Derbyshire with 20 points for their win. Notts take six in defeat.

Two needed from two after a scrambled leg bye from Jake Ball's yorker!

A Nottinghamshire win now out of the equation.

Three needed from three as Michael Cohen tucks one off his legs down to fine leg.

Dot ball, then a single down to long-on for Fynn Hudson-Prentice.

Four runs needed off four balls for Derbyshire!

Leicestershire need only a run a ball now to do it at New Road.

Harry Dearden scores 14 runs in three balls - including a top-edge reverse paddle for six over the short boundary.

The Foxes need 18 from 18 against Lancashire - whose lack of bowling experience is starting to tell.

Jake Ball it will be then to bowl the final over for Nottinghamshire.

Derbyshire need five runs to win. Notts need three wickets!

Nervy stuff in the penultimate over for Derbyshire.

Michael Cohen tries to keep rotating the strike but can't force it away for a couple of balls.

He then gets a couple down to third man off an outside edge and survives a leg before shout off the last ball as he tries a reverse sweep.

Derbyshire will need five to win off the last over!