An update on Billy Godleman...

Kevan James
BBC Radio Solent

Ian Holland (146*) and Sam Northeast (118) duly completed their centuries this morning, the former claiming his highest first-class score.

That makes five separate Hampshire batsmen to score hundreds in the first two Championship games. Many in the know believe that has never happened before at the club.

Hampshire gave Middlesex a tricky 40 minutes to bat before lunch, which they came through unscathed.

The pitch is playing very docile now, and the task of taking another 10 wickets will be a much harder one.

Liam Dawson though got one to spin and fizz just before the break, suggesting the spinners and maybe not Mahammad Abbas this time around will give the visitors some different problems to negotiate.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

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'Same old, same old' the Somerset faithful will have been lamenting, as their fragile top-order batting crumbled again in the face of accurate but by no means unplayable Gloucestershire bowling on a still pretty placid pitch.

Poor Tom Lammonby recorded his third duck in succession and was soon being followed back to the pavilion by his two fellow Toms, Abell and Banton.

When George Bartlett fenced at a short ball from the impressive youngster Dominic Goodman to be caught behind it was 37-4, leaving Somerset staring at defeat against their increasingly noisy northern neighbours.

Nick Gledhill
BBC Radio Essex

Essex are still hanging on to their 12-match unbeaten run at Chelmsford after Paul Walter and Ben Allison combined for an eighth-wicket stand of 58 in which both secured career bests.

After Ben Raine removed Simon Harmer in the first over they looked relatively untroubled as batting looked easier in bright sunshine.

Walter was originally seen as a bowler but he has now demonstrated his ability with the bat both as an opener and in the middle order.

Allison, another product of the Essex academy, has not yet made the impact with the ball that he would have wanted and is likely to make way for Peter Siddle in the next round. But he can be proud of his unbeaten 35 in which he has looked technically sound.

The pair have given the bowlers a chance of forcing an unlikely comeback win. Essex lead by 114 and Durham will be concerned if they add another 50.

Adrian Harms
BBC Radio Sussex

A good morning for Sussex, who have taken three Glamorgan wickets with the hosts still trailing by 115.

No surprise that yet again Ollie Robinson is again among the wickets, claiming both openers and taking his haul to six in the match.

Andrew Balbirnie and Kiran Carlson have steadied the Glamorgan ship adding 35 for the fourth wicket.

So far 14 lbws have been given in the match, which is closing in on the first-class record of 18.

It's not just been Surrey's morning at The Oval, it's been England man Ollie Pope's.

He's 155 not out at lunch, with Surrey now just 12 runs behind Leicestershire.

If they can bat beyond the Foxes between now and the close they could yet set up a tricky last-day chase for the visitors.

And we also break at Old Trafford. Lancashire's Steven Croft is on 42 not out while skipper Dane Vilas is unbeaten on 24.

Lyndon James (31 not out) and Steven Mullaney (20 not out) have put on a 47-run stand in the run-up to lunch.

Nottinghamshire lead Warwickshire by 260 runs at the interval.

Needless to say, Middlesex have started their second innings much, much more solidly than their first.

For starters, Mohammad Abbas has bowled four overs without taking a wicket this time - in the first innings he'd already taken five by this point.

Middlesex trail by 505 at lunch.

Lunch in Canterbury too.

England skipper Joe Root is off the mark. He's made five from 10 deliveries. Opener Adam Lyth is on 75 not out.

It's been Gloucestershire's morning.

Despite conceding a first-innings deficit of three, they've struck four times before lunch to leave Somerset 47-4 at the interval.

Sussex's session with three early wickets although Andrew Balbirnie (20 not out) and Kiran Carlson (21 not out) have strung together the start of a partnership.

Glamorgan trail by 115 runs at lunch.

Derbyshire lost Billy Godleman retired not out but otherwise they have made a decent start to their second innings.

Leus du Plooy (12 not out) and Luis Reece (two not out) will hope to extend their advantage after lunch.

Although they're still only 114 runs ahead, I think Essex will be pretty pleased with their morning's work.

They've added 69 runs for the loss of just two wickets in the first session and gradually are giving themselves a half-decent total to bowl at.

Another breakthrough for Kent as Matthew Milnes traps Tom Loten leg before for 21.

In comes Joe Root at four...

Nottinghamshire's lead has passed 250 as Lyndon James (29 not out) and Steven Mullaney (14 not out) continue to make slow and steady progress.

150 for Ollie Popepublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 17 April 2021

12:50 BST 17 April 2021

Surrey 355-4 v Leicestershire 375

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Superb.

Ollie Pope brings up his 150 off 185 balls as Surrey continue to edge towards Leicestershire's first-innings 375.

The England man has looked in superb touch and will just want to keep going and going.

An early blow for Derbyshire, who've lost Billy Godleman retired not out. We're unsure what the problem is at this stage.

Leus du Plooy joins Luis Reece in the middle.

And another breakthrough for Sussex as Billy Root is trapped leg before by Henry Crocombe for eight.

In comes Kiran Carlson who struck a superb 127 not out in the first innings. Glamorgan still trail by 116 runs.

This could prove a key wicket too.

Paul Walter has been dismissed at last, caught behind by Stuart Poynter off the bowling of Brydon Carse, for 77.

Essex's lead has edged towards 108 - which is, at least, something to bowl at.

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