Make that seven down!

Now Dan Lawrence, the only batsman to make it past 20, has fallen for 32, bowled by Matthew Salisbury.

A really poor opening day for Essex.

We're back under way in Chelmsford after an early lunch because of rain.

And things have just gone from bad to worse for Essex, who have now lost a sixth wicket as Adam Wheater goes for one, edging behind off the bowling of Ben Raine.

Remember, Essex won the toss and chose to bat in cloudy conditions.

Adrian Harms
BBC Radio Sussex

A very good morning for Glamorgan, who having lost the toss slumped to 22-3 before reaching lunch 120-3

Opener David Lloyd has led the fightback, and with Kiran Carlson has added an unbroken 98 for the 4th wicket.

The Sussex bowling, with the exception of Ollie Robinson, who has taken two of the wickets to fall, has been too wayward and skipper Ben Brown has used six bowlers in an attempt to stem the flow of runs.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

It was Gloucestershire's morning, as their seam bowlers have chipped away at Somerset's styllsh but mostly inexperienced batting line-up on a pitch that has provided a modicum of both bounce and seam movement.

Tom Abell shaped well before offering no shot to a ball from Matt Taylor that cut back sharply from outside off, while James Hildreth's search for form goes on, as he was brilliantly caught by Tom Lace, low down at square leg.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London

Leicestershire will be delighted with their morning. Winning the toss, batting and both openers still there as they tuck into their sandwiches.

Azad and Evans got their heads down and played sensibly, laying a foundation to the Leicestershire innings.

Surrey will say to themselves a couple of quick wickets after lunch will change things but the visitors will be happy with their opening effort, six years after their last visit to South London.

Kevan James
BBC Radio Solent

A classic opening morning of a championship game.

Hampshire being made to work hard for thier runs against an accurate attack.

A greenish tinge to the wicket hasn’t perhaps produced the amount of movement the seam bowlers would have expected but nevertheless Hampshire batted well.

Ian Holland has got well forward, so too did Weatherley. But he leant forward a bit to much when prodding at Ethan Bamber. He overbalanced and even before beginning to think about getting back behind the line, Simpson had the bails off in a flash and he was stumped.

Middlesex will feel they haven’t been rewarded for thier discipline with the ball, but that may change this afternoon

Image source, Rex Features

Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire

The run out of Alex Davies on the stroke of lunch was a breakthrough Northamptonshire really needed.

Davies looked in fine touch, reaching a second successive half-century to start the season with a couple of glorious on drives.

Five spinners are playing in this match and the sight of Simon Kerrigan bowling once again at Emirates Old Trafford was a pleasure to see.

Three tidy overs before lunch would have settled any pre-match nerves.

While we, like the players, also pause for a sandwich during the interval here's some lunchtime listening for you...

It's been Yorkshire and Adam Lyth's morning.

The former England opener is 18 away from a century going at almost a run per ball.

He's joined in the middle by Joe Root who's survived 13 balls and made four runs so far.

And steady has probably been the word of the morning at The Oval, too.

Sam Evans (36 not out) and Hassan Azad (37 not out) have gone along very nicely on a decent track. A really good first session for the Foxes.

Ian Holland (35 not out) and Tom Alsop (19 not out) have made steady progress this morning, guiding Hampshire to 77-1.

How frustrating will Alex Davies' run out just before lunch prove to be?

The opener had done all the hard work to get to 57 off 79, only to throw it all away chancing a quick single.

Lancashire will have to rebuild again in the afternoon session.

It's been a morning of two halves at Trent Bridge, where Nottinghamshire had the better of the first hour and Warwickshire had the better of the second.

Leus du Plooy has been the star of the show at Derby, making an unbeaten 68 from 117 deliveries as the hosts have enjoyed a really good morning session.

Will Godleman is there with him on 30 not out, with the pair having so far put on 113.

But it's in the balance in Cardiff.

David Lloyd (77 not out) and Kiran Carlson (34 not out) have built up a nice partnership after a great early spell from Sussex's bowlers.

That's been Gloucestershire's morning having won the toss and elected to bowl.

Somerset, as is so often the case, will need their middle and lower order to do the business in order to get a competitive total.

Bullseye.

Northamptonshire have a run out as mid on Tom Taylor throws down the stumps and Alex Davies has to go for 57 from 79 balls.

Not a great way to get out. The run was never there.

Partnership broken. After 96 runs at the crease with Adam Lyth (82 not out) Tom Loten falls for 27, caught by keeper Ollie Robinson off the bowling of Harry Podmore.

England skipper Joe Root is the new man in.

Rain stops play & lunchpublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 15 April 2021

12:54 BST 15 April 2021

Essex 74-5 v Durham

Some rain has arrived at Chelmsford and the players have been forced off with Essex 74-5.

Dan Lawrence and Adam Wheater have rebuilt well for the hosts, putting on 38 so far for the sixth wicket.

And it looks like they've taken lunch too.

Warwickshire have fought back really well since Nottinghamshire reached 44-1 and have undoubtedly now enjoyed the better of the morning session.

Lyndon James is the latest man to go for 11, brilliantly run out by Bears captain Will Rhodes.

Image source, Rex Features