De Grandhomme almost had another victim.

Tom Price swipes at a delivery but, luckily for him, it flies over Joe Weatherley at second slip and away for four fortunate runs.

Here are those two wickets in successive deliveries from Hampshire's Colin de Grandhomme.

The Kiwi has recorded fantastic figures of 4-26 from 17 overs.

He's helped give his side a real chance of snatching one of those two Group Two qualification spots.

It's worth a quick recap of what's happened at Cheltenham where Gloucestershire have somewhat collapsed.

They began the day on 214-6 but lost three wickets for no runs as overnight pair Jack Taylor and Ollie Price departed, followed by Matt Taylor for a golden duck, all in the space of four balls.

Last man Daniel Worrall have since hit a nice boundary to move on to 8no but Gloucestershire still have a long way to 250 for a second bonus batting point.

The only game off on time in Group One is at New Road in the Pears-Bears derby between Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

Bears skipper Will Rhodes has already moved on to 22.

Matt Lamb is on 7 - and a healthy 19 runs have come in the first four overs.

As if that wasn't a bad enough start for Glos, it's got worse. Much worse. And quickly.

Derbyshire's County Championship Group One game with Essex has been abandoned because of a Covid outbreak.

An ECB statement said: "The decision was made after it was confirmed this morning that an unnamed member of the Derbyshire playing squad tested positive for Covid-19 and has begun to self isolate.

"Further members of the Derbyshire squad have been identified as close contacts.

Image source, Getty Images

"Due to the isolation protocol and impact on Derbyshire’s available playing squad the umpires have abandoned the match.

"The ECB has worked closely with Public Heath England and both Derbyshire and Essex County Cricket Clubs with the health and safety of players, staff and officials the first priority.

"Confirmation on the awarding of points from the match will be announced in due course."

The main significance is that it will mean that, mathematically, Essex cannot now qualify for the top two slots to reach Division One and get the chance to claim a third successive red-ball title.

We're under way in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Middlesex and Surrey.

Delays in Cardiff, Yorkshire, Durham and Kent.

No play as of yet between Derbyshire and Essex.

We're waiting for an explanation on that one and will hopefully bring you news shortly.

Even if rain falls heavily today, still a decent chance of a result in this one after 15 wickets fell on day one.

It's raining heavily in the North East.

And BBC Radio Newcastle's Martin Emmerson is not too hopeful of today's prospects in Group One's key game between leaders Notts and third-placed Durham.

The hosts must win to stand any chance of making the top two. That will only add to the frustration after a day when they rather let Notts get off the hook to reach 312-9.

Not good news on the weather front in Leeds.

Yorkshire could do little to stop Lancashire yesterday. Just two wickets taken in 96 overs.

But the Red Rose have been halted today by one foe they cannot do much about . . . the weather at Emerald Headingley.

Further news later as to when Luke Wells (35 not out) and Josh Bohannon (7 not out) will be given the green light to resume, on 273-2.

We had a couple of early finishes in Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire yesterday - and that pesky rain is likely to be around today too.

It's going to be patchy but changeable - so we are likely to be subjected to delays and interruptions sadly.

There are already a handful of late starts confirmed...

Image source, BBC Sport

With it being the final round of fixtures, it's worth a reminder of how things stand in the three groups ahead of the start of the second day.

In Group One, leaders Nottinghamshire look well placed at 312-9 against Durham, who must win to break into the top two.

The trouble for Durham is that second-placed Warwickshire also appear well-positioned to claim one of the two Division One qualification spots, having strolled to 245-4 against Worcestershire.

Essex kept alive their slim hopes of qualification by skittling Derbyshire for 146 yesterday but they need both Warwickshire and Durham to lose.

Image source, BBC Sport

In Group Two, leaders Somerset sailed to 280-6 on the first day against Surrey to strengthen their position - avoid defeat and they are virtually guaranteed progression to Division One.

The winner-take-all clash between second-placed Gloucestershire and third-placed Hampshire has been shaded by the hosts at Cheltenham - they also need really only to avoid defeat and are 214-6 after a first day prematurely by rain.

Most matters in Group Three, meanwhile, are already decided with Yorkshire and Lancashire progressing - although the Roses match will determine who finishes top so there is more than pride still to play for. Kent and Sussex are battling each other to avoid the wooden spoon.

Image source, BBC Sport

Here's a reminder of what happened on the opening day's play on Sunday.

Group One:

Derbyshire 146 v Essex 86-3

Durham v Nottinghamshire 312-9

Worcestershire v Warwickshire 245-4

Group Two:

Gloucestershire 214-6 v Hampshire

Middlesex 280-3 v Leicestershire

Surrey v Somerset 280-6

Group Three:

Glamorgan v Northants 128-4

Kent 69-5 v Sussex 181

Yorkshire v Lancashire 273-2

Ciao everyone.

It's the morning after the night before - and for a nation that's pretty fed up with football right now, it's time to switch our attention back to the greatest of summer sports.

Sunday's play on all nine County Championship grounds was pretty entertaining.

Lancashire dominated the first day of the Roses match in Leeds, thanks largely to centurion Keaton Jennings' second Roses ton of the summer after a 163-run opening stand with Alex Davies.

That probably just shaded the 220-run stand between Warwickshire pair Pieter Malan and Dom Sibley in the Pears-Bears derby with Worcestershire at New Road.

Image source, Rex Features

There was also a ton for Sam Robson on Middlesex's out ground at Merchant Taylors' and also for Somerset's stand-in skipper James Hildreth, the man largely revered in domestic cricket as the best current player never to have played for England. Even at 36, the same age as Giorgio Chiellini, surely England's cricket team could do a lot worse right now.

Perhaps the day's biggest drama was the late Covid-related start in Canterbury, where Kent were forced to strip out almost an entire team. And the biggest disappointment was the band of rain that swept up the M5 corridor through the Cotswolds forcing early finishes first at Cardiff, then Cheltenham and finally Worcester.

Sadly, there's more rain around today, forcing a late start in Leeds at the Roses match and possibly elsewhere too. But we're now bedded in for the next eight hours or so to bring you the highlights.