Clive Eakin
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Sport

There should have been emotional applause for Ian Bell when the former England test star walked out to bat in his final first class match.

Instead, due to the lack of a crowd, silence greeted the 38-year-old as he marched out to the middle.

On a difficult pitch Bell has taken a few knocks to the body as if to remind him of why he’s decided to retire.

But he’s also played a series of exquisite, trademark off side drives to reach 50 for the 160th time in first class cricket.

Finally some sunshine at Sophia Gardens.

Hopefully we'll get to see another 33 overs in that game today.

Ian Bell resumes on 50 in his final first-class game. Alex Thompson has five.

In case you've just joined us, more details in our breaking story below on the decision to abandon the match between Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire after a non-playing member of the Northants squad tested positive for coronavirus.

The 50 partnership comes up between Lewis Gregory and Eddie Byrom for Somerset.

Gregory especially has played a superb counter-attacking innings, smashing his way to 37 off 47 balls.

And now the pendulum swings back to the visitors.

Confirmation has just come through from both Gloucestershire CCC and the ECB that the match between Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire was abandoned after lunch due to Covid-19 related reasons.

A statement on the Gloucestershire website says: "It has come to light that a member of the Northamptonshire playing squad has tested positive for Covid-19.

"Although the player was not part of the group that travelled with the squad to Bristol (and has been self-isolating at home), further members of the Northamptonshire squad have been in contact with the player within 48 hours of the player developing Covid-19 symptoms.

"Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire and the ECB are unified in the belief that player welfare is paramount and that no risks should be taken with the health and safety of the players, officials and administrators involved in this match.

"The match has now been abandoned and the Northamptonshire squad will return home to Northamptonshire today."

It's now tea at Liverpool. Luis Reece and Dustin Melton claim a wicket each in the afternoon session, as the hosts end the session on 148-5.

Josh Bohannon is on 80 not out, while George Balderson has 13.

Derbyshire will feel if they get Bohannon, they'll be able to wrap up Lancashire's tale fairly quickly.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Somerset

Twists and turns at New Road. In the 90 minutes after lunch, Somerset lost five wickets in adding 51 as the pitch showed its true colours, and were in danger of missing out on even a single batting point.

But then Lewis Gregory decided that attack was the best form of defence and hit three huge sixes, as he and Eddie Byrom added 43 rapid and important runs for the 7th wicket.

Brett D’Oliveira’s been getting some turn with his leg breaks, which will encourage Jack Leach. Still all to play for.

We're also still playing in Liverpool and it looks to be Lancashire's session.

Josh Bohannon is now up to 72 off 158 balls while George Bladerson is on five from 31.

You'd have thought Derbyshire will need to win this game to top the north group after Yorkshire skittled out Leicestershire for 124 earlier.

Image source, Getty Images

They'll be resuming at Chelmsford shortly for the evening session where Essex have so far put themselves in a strong position.

Sir Alastair Cook and Paul Walter the opening partnership in their first innings as they reached 17-0 at tea in reply to Middlesex's 138.

Meanwhile Essex have just confirmed that their young middle-order batsman Feroze Khushi has agreed an extension to his contract until the end of next season.

Khushi has impressed in this competition so far after making his first-class debut in the opening round.

No end to the wickets falling at Headingley it seems!

Yorkshire's reply to Leicestershire's 124 has got off to a sticky start with both openers already back in the pavilion.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore fell for a third-ball duck first up and now Adam Lyth has fallen for just 4 to leave the hosts on 4-2.

A wicket apiece for Alex Evans and Dieter Klein for the Foxes.

North Group:

Aigburth: Lancashire 120-5 v Derbyshire - Lancashire won toss and elected to bat

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Durham 180-5 - Durham won the toss and elected to bat

Headingley: Yorkshire 4-1 v Leicestershire 124 - Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bowl

Central Group:

Cardiff: Glamorgan v Warwickshire 127-5 - Glamorgan won the toss and elected to bowl

Bristol: Gloucestershire 66-6 v Northamptonshire - Northants won the toss and elected to bowl

Worcester: Worcestershire v Somerset 176-6 - Somerset won the toss and elected to bat

South Group:

The Oval: Surrey v Sussex 119-2 - Sussex won toss and elected to bat

Chelmsford: Essex 17-0 v Middlesex 138 - Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat

Canterbury: Kent v Hampshire 154-8 - Kent won the toss and elected to bowl

Meanwhile it will be time for tea shortly in the majority of the other games.

Keep your eyes posted and we'll show you the scores from all of them in a short while.

It's stumps at Bristol.

The players haven't returned to the field since lunch.

Gloucestershire were 66-6 at the break.

We've been told that an ECB statement explaining the early close will be issued shortly.

Postpublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 6 September 2020

15:03 BST 6 September 2020

Worc v Somerset 157-6

Consecutive maximums for Lewis Gregory.

The new man in races to 13 in style. It looks like attack is the best form of defence for Somerset.

We've hardly mentioned the game between Nottinghamshire and Durham.

Both sides are unable to qualify for the final although Notts are chasing a first red ball win in almost two years.

Skipper Steven Mullaney has just dismissed Gareth Harte for 72.

Two wickets in four balls for Matt Milnes as Mason Crane doesn't last long out there for Hampshire.

He also edges behind and Ollie Robinson now has four catches behind the stumps for the hosts while Milnes' figures are suddenly 3-31.