Martin Andersson spanks the final ball of the morning session four, with Middlesex exactly 100 behind with five wickets standing.

Kemar Roach has taken three of the wickets tio fall, but has taken a bit of stick from Andersson, who has 22 not out at a run-a-ball.

The calm head of John Simpson is serving Middlesex well at the other end and he is on 33.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Somerset

The story of the day so far? A belated start, a fine morning, a smattering of spectators and some attritional cricket, which has seen Somerset lose just one wicket on a tricky pitch against some accurate, probing Gloucestershire seam bowling.

Tom Abell and Eddie Byrom took their partnership to 81 before Byrom edged a good one from the belatedly introduced David Payne to Kraigg Brathwaite at first slip, leaving captain Tom, as so often this season, to carry the main burden of Somerset's hopes of batting points.

Notts make it through the first session without losing a wicket.

Ben Duckett and Lyndon James' stand is worth 99.

Derbyshire reach lunch in a healthy position thanks to an unbroken stand of 77 between Matt Critchley and Wayne Madsen.

for Critchleypublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 22 May 2021

13:09 BST 22 May 2021

Derbys 140-3 v Durham

Matt Critchley hits Durham paceman Mark Wood for two sixes in the over!

The first is a big top edge over the keeper, the second, a bit more controlled over deep fine leg.

Good fightback this from Critchley and Wayne Madsen in a stand worth 68.

Kemar Roach is back for a pre-lunch dart at Middlesex after taking three wickets with the new ball.

Martin Andersson spanks a wide one past backward point for four and two balls later helps himself to another boundary off the back foot.

Andersson has 17 from 15 balls and John Simpson is on 30.

David Payne strays onto Tom Abell's pads and the ball is put away for four as Somerset's total reaches three figures. Abell is now just four short of a half-century and James Hildreth is on one.

Somerset have lost their first wicket of the day at Bristol, with Eddie Byrom departing for 38 after a stand of 81 with Tom Abell.

In truth, he just dangled his bat at a respectable delivery by David Payne and first slip Kraigg Brathwaite took the catch at the second, third, or was it the fourth attempt?

James Hildreth is the new batsman.

Vince Shirley: Great English cricket watching weather cold breezy and slightly damp in light drizzle ...wearing about 6 layers and still cold....

It looks like Vince is at Derbyshire. A similar tale up and down the country!

They've gone off for bad light at Chelmsford and I wouldn't be surprised if they take an early lunch.

There's been a double change too at Bristol where Ryan Higgins and David Payne are now striving for the first breakthrough of the day for Gloucestershire. Higgins' opening over is a maiden to Eddie Byrom and Payne follows suit, with Tom Abell also rendered scoreless.

Matt Critchley and Wayne Madsen have settled things down for Derbyshire since that burst of three wickets in nine balls.

In form pace pair Brydon Carse and Ben Raine are into the attack for Durham.

A double change by Surrey and Jordan Clark is now into attack and looking to add to his 14 victims so far this season.

A wide full length delivery is sliced away for four by John Simpson, who finds the long-off boundary from the next one.

That's 23 off 26 balls for the left-hander so far.

Nick Webb
BBC Radio Wales

It’s been feast or famine in terms of action at the Spitfire Ground since after the 'Stevo Spectacular' of day two, we’re back to the first day experience of watching the umpires trundle out every hour while conditions dry slowly.

There’ll be no play before 13:50 BST at the earliest after rain at breakfast time, even if Canterbury misses any further showers.

Umpire Richard Illingworth may be nursing a sore posterior after being struck yesterday by one of Darren Stevens’ mighty blows at square leg, while Glamorgan could be nursing some wounded pride after being taken apart by the Kent veteran, who scored 150 of his 190 in fours and sixes.

Conditions are far more pleasant without yesterday’s howling gale - but for the smattering of spectators, Stevens in full flow was worth the bleak and blustery setting.

Time for a bowling change at the Kia Oval as Rikki Clarke takes over from Reece Topley. Clarke's line is off for his second delivery and that's an easy four for Robbie White, who just helps the ball on its way to fine leg.

Alastair Cook is looking in good touch for Essex this morning.

The former England captain has just moved into the 30s with a neat flick off his pad to the rope off Oliver Hannon-Dalby. His fourth four.

He then tickles the paceman fine for another boundary.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man? John Simpson arrived at the crease in a crisis for Middlesex, but he is batting very sensibly thus far.

After steering a couple of boundaries through the off-side, he has now driven Kemar Roach just to the on-side of the stumps for another four.

A minimum of risk taken for all three.