Leicestershire have now gone past half Middlesex's score, thanks to Harry Swindells digging in to support skipper Colin Ackermann with a doughty 5 from 39 balls.

The Foxes pair have put on just 19 in 12 overs since tea, during which Ackermann has reached his fourth half-century of the season and has moved on to 63.

But the BBC commentary team of Richard Rae and Kevin Hand are speculating that this might just be the calm before the storm.

Rain is forecast, the skies are darkening and they have received various local weather prognoses that suggest the storm, when it breaks, might be of biblical proportions.

They are commentating from a tent at Merchant Taylors' School. So you can understand their concern.

There's a big cheer and a round of applause from the Hampshire sidelines after Nick Gubbins gets off the mark - 34 balls and 53 minutes after coming to the crease.

It's a bit of a nervy edge but it goes safely for two.

And runs are like buses as he follows it up with a single, getting home just in time because Ollie Price hit the stumps with a fine throw.

Creeping up towards the Gloucestershire total of 229 now.

I know Hampshire are keen to plug the leaks after losing three wickets in a fairly quickfire manner.

But Nick Gubbins is still on nought after 27 balls. So defensive he must have been watching the football last night.

With Hampshire and Gloucestershire battling over the runners-up spot in Group Two, it's been another pleasing day for leaders Somerset.

If your glass was half empty, you were right.

No further play in Cardiff where Marnus Labuschagne is unbeaten on 17 as Glamorgan end the day 52-2.

It's been Glamorgan's day, in truth, with a wonderful spell from Andrew Salter (4-18) earlier prompting a Northants slump from 181-4 to 215 all out, not helped by the loss of all-rounder Gareth Berg through injury.

But after both of the first days lost time to rain, it's difficult to see this one reaching a result.

After that relative flurry of Hampshire wickets, teenager Tom Prest was unsurprisingly content with a watching brief for his first 16 balls, scoring just the one single.

But the 18-year-old is opening up now, a couple of boundaries coming from Daniel Worrall deliveries.

Any more play in south Wales?

Depends if your glass is half full or half empty.

Half-century for Daryl Mitchellpublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 12 July 2021

17:01 BST 12 July 2021

Bears 375, Pears 85-2

Daryl Mitchell completes the 94th half-century of his illustrious career.

It's only his fourth of the season though - and ends a run of low scores, from which he had eked out just 18 runs in his previous five innings.

A timely return to form. It's highly unlikely that the Pears will play their final four games this season anywhere higher than Division Three.

But no Mitchell fifty is ever unappreciated by the locals here at New Road, where 46 of those half-centuries have now come.

Can he make it to fifty Worcester fifties by the end of the season?

And we're also not getting any more action at Canterbury.

Rain has won the day at the Kia Oval where Surrey's reply to Somerset's 429 has been cut short.

The hosts will resume at 24-0 on Tuesday with Rory Burns unbeaten on 18 and Mark Stoneman on 4no.

Somerset firmly in control thanks to an excellent effort with the bat from virtually their entire order.

The weather down south becoming as poor as it has been up north, where we've already had two abandonments for the day.

Teatime at several grounds and rain delays at some others.

But they are back out in Cheltenham, where Gloucestershire and Hampshire are tussling over who will likely join Somerset in qualifying for Division One from Group Two.

As the scores show, the initiative is very much with Hampshire.

Group One:

Derbyshire 146, Essex 86-3 (match abandoned)

Nottinghamshire 312-9 v Durham (no play on Monday)

Warwickshire 395, Worcestershire 68-0

Group Two:

Gloucestershire 229, Hampshire 181-1

Middlesex 324, Leicestershire 149-4

Somerset 429, Surrey 24-0

Group Three:

Northants 219, Glamorgan 52-2

Sussex 181, Kent 122-7

Lancashire 273-2 v Yorkshire (no play on Monday)

Josh Inglis is out for 49 in the final over before tea, bowled by Middlesex paceman Ethan Bamber.

Foxes skipper Colin Ackermann is on 49.

The pair put on 97 for the fourth wicket at Merchant Taylors'.

But Leicestershire still trail by 175 runs with six wickets remaining.

Harry Swindells will be next man in when Bamber completes his over after tea.

A wonderful afternoon session for Division One hopefuls Hampshire against their main rivals for that berth, Gloucestershire.

A superb 174-run opening partnership between Joe Weatherley (77no) and Ian Holland (74) has them in prime position to establish a first-innings lead.

Gloucestershire removed Holland not long before tea but need more wickets - or rain.