Twenty-two overs for Essex to have a dart at Derbyshire tonight.

How will the visitors respond after being flogged all day in the field?

The clouds have rolled in at Cardiff and they can't use the floodlights due to the planning permission.

Joe Root has played very smartly for an unbeaten 34 to keep Yorkshire going.

Probably an even game at the moment.

There's your answer - Essex have declared!

Fantastic progress throughout the day has given them maximum batting points.

They know time is against them with the weekend forecast so trying to leave as much time as possible to bowl Derbyshire out twice.

James Vince is playing a bit of a lone hand for Hampshire here, with Lewis McManus the next wicket to fall for one. That's three wickets for Ethan Bamber now too.

Keith Barker is the new man in, joining Vince (37 not out) in the middle.

And this is why Essex are getting on with it.

A whole day lost, a dodgy forecast for the weekend and now bad light could take out a good chunk of this evening's play.

for Dan Lawrencepublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 14 May 2021

17:11 BST 14 May 2021

Essex 407-3 v Derbyshire

Third ball of Matt Critchley's over also goes the distance.

Then four to raise Lawrence's 150!

Incredible batting and Lawrence closing in on a career-best now too.

Are Essex eyeing a declaration before the close?

The wicket of Tom Westley has done nothing to stem the flow of runs at Chelmsford.

Consecutive sixes from Dan Lawrence off Matt Critchley raise maximum batting points.

Essex have been on a mission today to get the game moving and that's exactly what they've done.

Super stuff.

A second wicket for Tim Murtagh and Liam Dawson has been dismissed for 13.

Middlesex's 172 is starting to look ominously far away for Hampshire.

A good lead for Sussex to work with in the third innings - once again.

Can they capitalise this time?

Jofra Archer has made the first blow of Kent's second innings.

Given the conditions, Sussex will hope to be well on their way to victory tonight.

for Tom Westleypublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 14 May 2021

16:51 BST 14 May 2021

Essex 355-2 v Derbyshire

Captain Tom Westley follows Dan Lawrence to a century.

He spoke yesterday about Essex needing to find some form in these five remaining games of the group stage.

And what a response this has been today with runs flowing merrily.

Westley cuts Matt Critchley for his 14th four to reach his hundred in 109 deliveries.

Boy, did Somerset need that. Two wickets in the space of six balls have halted Surrey's momentum at Taunton.

First Lewis Gregory sees Hashim Amla off for 29, and then Rory Burns chops a Marchant de Lange delivery onto his own stumps to walk for 55.

Two new batsmen are at the crease in Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes.

for Dan Lawrencepublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 14 May 2021

16:44 BST 14 May 2021

Essex 332-2 v Derbyshire

What an innings this is in the run-fest at Chelmsford.

Very timely as well for Dan Lawrence with the England squad announcement on the horizon. His first ton of the summer.

He's lifted Billy Stanlake for six over long leg and then ran a single of Matt Critchley to reach a century in 112 balls with 13 fours and two sixes.

Derbyshire are being walloped all over the park.

Another for Michel Neser.

Harry Brook is plumb in front driving at a full ball.

The 14th wicket of the day and this is another helter-skelter affair like that last game at Cardiff.

Chris Rushworth returns and finishes Worcestershire off to complete a five-wicket bag.

But not after some excellent lower-order progress has brought the deficit down to only 33.

Joe Leach ends up 42 not out, a vital innings to keep his side in the game.

At 126-8, Worcestershire were on the verge of being blown out of the game.

But Joe Leach is playing a cracking hand from number nine and the visitors are creeping towards a batting point at Chester-le-Street.

More importantly for the game, they've halved the deficit.

Game on in the north east.

It's also tea at Lord's, where the Middlesex bowlers have made a real game of this since lunch.

Ethan Bamber has taken two of the four Hampshire wickets to fall, with the visitors still 125 behind.

for Rory Burnspublished at 16:07 British Summer Time 14 May 2021

16:07 BST 14 May 2021

Somerset v Surrey 105-1

When Surrey were put in earlier this afternoon I'm sure they'd have taken just being one wicket down for 107 at tea.

Rory Burns has reached his half-century, while former South Africa batsman Hashim Amla is with him unbeaten on 21.

They've reached tea at Taunton.

Essex have been making up for lost time at Chelmsford.

They're rattling along at over four and over.

Derbyshire have simply had no answer and at the moment, the hosts are cruising towards a sizeable total.

Just on the stroke of tea, Gary Ballance carves Michael Neser to third man!

Three early blows and Glamorgan are right in the game at Cardiff as they walk off for tea.

That's a good lead for Sussex - not out of sight but it's gloomy at Hove, the floodlights are on, and a three-figure lead is very significant.

Ollie Robinson with a useful 25 down the order.