The 400 has been brought up by Nottinghamshire in a fine batting performance.

Meanwhile outside the home dressing room is sat all-rounder Lewis Gregory. The England One-Day International and Somerset T20 captain won't play again in the Championship this season.

However, they hope he will be able to play as a batter in T20 finals day at Edgbaston on 18 September.

Adrian Harms
BBC Sussex commentator

Honours are about even at the start of the afternoon session at an overcast New Road, but Sussex will be pleased to have posted a decent total having at one stage been 97-6.

Jack Carson fell just 13 short of what would have been a maiden first-class hundred, but then picked up the important wicket of Tom Fell before lunch, courtesy of a brilliant catch at short leg by Harrison Ward

Warwickshire acknowledge the retirement of South Africa great Dale Steyn after an 18-year career and 439 Test wickets.

He also played county cricket for Essex, Hampshire and Glamorgan.

Kevin Hand
BBC Radio London commentator

What looked like Derbyshire's morning swung to Middlesex just before lunch on Day Two as cloudy skies assisted the bowlers once again.

The last five wickets were wrapped up in relatively short order by the visitors, highlighted by a stunning catch from Tom Wood at deep square to dismiss Ethan Bamber.

But Bamber grabbed two for the hosts - including Billy Godleman on the ground where his career began - in a three-over spell that could easily have brought at least another.

If the overheads persist, which they are likely to do, the near 300 score by Middlesex will look a decent return on a pitch that has offered a bit to all - including the spinners.

A belated lunch is taken in Bristol after Tom Taylor attempts to drive a ball from Jared Warner and is caught behind by James Bracey for 24.

His dismissal brings the Northants innings to an end, with Jack White left unbeaten on 15.

Adam Rossington top scored with 94 before being bowled by Tom Price, who finished with figures of 4-72.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Somerset commentator

Image source, Rex Features

This was as frustrating a morning for Somerset's bowlers and fielders as it will have been a memorable one for Nottinghamshire's Liam Patterson-White, who completed a stylish, accomplished maiden first-class century which carried his side to four batting points.

Somerset's bowling was uninspired and the fielding was, most unusually, scrappy with two catches going down and any number of misfields. Only one side can win from here, and it's not Somerset.

Nick Webb
BBC Radio Wales

Image source, Rex Features

Essex have taken control in Cardiff with their fourth-wicket pair of Nick Browne and Michael Pepper adding 108 to give them a healthy lead over Glamorgan on another grey day in Cardiff.

Browne made a very cautious start against the accurate attack of Michael Hogan and spinner Andrew Salter, who tempted England Test squad member Dan Lawrence into a mis-hit to mid-off on 34.

But Pepper got the scoreboard moving in the second hour with some sumptuous cover drives as Glamorgan could not keep up the pressure.

Browne reached his first century of the season off 219 balls with 14 boundaries, before holing out at square-leg for 102 in the first Championship over for spinner Steve Reingold.

Debutant Josh Rymell then fell first ball leg-before to Dan Douthwaite, who had been hit around the park by Pepper (62 not out), as Glamorgan recovered some pride from the session.

Division One

Ageas Bowl: Hampshire 29-3 v Yorkshire 243

Old Trafford: Lancashire v Warwickshire 317-5

Taunton: Somerset v Nottinghamshire 397-8

Division Two

Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 134 v Essex 215-5

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire 322-9 - still in play

Division Three

Leicester: Leicestershire 109 v Kent 232 & 25-0

Lord's: Middlesex 282 v Derbyshire 22-2

Worcester: Worcestershire 82-3 v Sussex 264

You can see more details on all those matches on our scorecards page.

If anyone can score fluently on this stodgy pitch, it'll be James Vince, and the first two balls he faces both disappear to the square leg boundary.

Four leg byes are the final addition before the end of a session which saw Yorkshire add only 37 to their overnight 197-6 - with all-rounder Dom Bess departing for 54.

Three wickets at the start of Hampshire's reply will make their lunch that much more digestable and if they can dislodge Vince before he settles, they will fancy their chances of some sort of first-innings lead.

Nick Gubbins opens his account with two off-side boundaries in the space of three balls from the bowling of Matthew Fisher, one off the front foot and one off the back.

We are going to have a slightly delayed lunch here as they try to make up some of the 10 overs lost to bad light in Monday's final session.

Two hours in which time has almost stood still and the game has inched forward.

The accumulation of 58 runs from 32 overs for the loss of two wickets doesn't really suit either team.

Michael Burgess with 25 runs off 82 balls and Matthew Lamb with 18 off 80 have dropped anchor. A big total is there, but they will have to speed up after lunch.

The new ball again did the trick for Lancs with a wicket apiece for Tom Bailey and Saqib Mahmood, but the rest of the attack has been blunted.

An outstanding session for the visitors in the West Country as the tail has well and truly wagged.

Liam Patterson-White takes the headlines for his debut ton, but there has been able support from Tom Moores, Brett Hutton and Luke Fletcher, adding 115 runs in a great morning for Nottinghamshire.

Usually when the tail wags, the bowlers take that confidence when they get the ball in hand. Watch out Somerset after lunch!

for Nick Brownepublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 31 August 2021

12:59 BST 31 August 2021

Division Two: Glamorgan 134 v Essex 200-3

Four runs off Lukas Carey, flicked down to fine leg, and Essex opener Nick Browne reaches his first Championship century of the summer - and 16th in first-class cricket. It has taken him 219 balls and that boundary was the 14th of his innings so far. It has also earned Essex a batting point.

A rare burst of excitement in a sedate morning. With one over to go before bonus points are ended, Warwickshire need ten to secure a third batting point. They manage eight off Danny Lamb's over and end with two to Lancashire's solitary bowling point.

In typical fashion, Michael Burgess guides two off the first ball of the 111th over to bring up the 300, but it is one ball too late.