Summary

  • Opening day of 2022 County Championship season

  • Two-division model back for 2022, with 10 teams in Division One and eight in Division Two

  • Div One: Essex v Kent, Hants v Som, Northants v Gloucs & Warks v Surrey

  • Champions Warwickshire have rain-affected first day v Surrey

  • Somerset bowled out for just 180 v Hampshire who close on 109-0 in reply

  • Alastair Cook and Nick Browne make centuries for Essex against Kent

  • Div Two: Glam v Dur, Leics v Worcs, Middlesex v Derbs & Sussex v Notts

  • Middlesex's Stevie Eskinazi first to make 100 this season

  1. rain stops play

    Another deluge at Sofia Gardenspublished at 16:34 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Glamorgan 164-4 v Durham

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  2. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Higgins lbw Sanderson 28 (Gloucestershire 74-5)

    Ryan Higgins is the fifth man out straight after tea - a third wicket for Ben Sanderson.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  3. Hampshire begin replypublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Hampshire 6-0 v Somerset 180

    Joe Weatherley and Ian Holland open up for Hampshire as Peter Siddle takes the new ball for his latest county with a four-strong slip cordon.

    Weatherley gets one past them all along the ground for the first boundary of the innings.

  4. Somerset need early inroads to stay in gamepublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Hampshire v Somerset 180

    Anthony Gibson
    BBC Somerset at the Ageas Bowl

    Hildreth and AldridgeImage source, Rex Features

    The one saving grace for Somerset supporters from this day's cricket so far has been James Hildreth's stylish, counter-attacking 87, which has led them to a total which, whilst undoubtedly disappointing, still just about keeps them in the game.

    After a nervy start, Hildreth grew in assurance as the strokes began to flow from his fluent bat as of old.

    He was well supported by Roelof van der Merwe in a partnership which contributed 73 vital runs. Batting got easier as the ball got softer.

    Somerset will be looking to their seam attack, led by the vastly-experienced Peter Siddle, to make early inroads with the new ball.

  5. 'Patience and skill' from Cook and Brownepublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Essex 166-0 v Kent

    Matt Cole
    BBC Radio Kent at Chelmsford

    Cook and BrowneImage source, Rex Features

    An exercise in patience and skill from Essex openers Nick Browne and Sir Alastair Cook still unbeaten at tea adding 80 runs to their unbeaten opening stand in the second session.

    Kent have done their best to slow the scoring and force a mistake, but with little help from the surface or overhead conditions, it’s been hard work on a blustery day.

    The best chance of the session coming as Cook edged Bell-Drummond wide of slip just before tea, but those opportunities have been thin on the ground in a dominant performance from the Essex pair.

  6. 'A good toss to win'published at 16:19 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Gloucestershire 68-4 v Northants

    Andrew Radd
    BBC Radio Northampton at Wantage Road

    A good toss for Northamptonshire to win - and not just because overhead and pitch conditions are offering plenty of help to the home seamers.

    Frequent interruptions for blustery showers have made it well-nigh impossible for Gloucestershire's batsmen to keep concentration, faced with the task of re-starting their innings with monotonous regularity.

    Ben Sanderson has been outstanding again - and Tom Taylor, not the luckiest of bowlers last year, struck in his first over of the season with the wicket of Miles Hammond. But Ryan Higgins has counterattacked judiciously while James Bracey digs in at the other end.

  7. Tea at Wantage Roadpublished at 16:11 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Gloucestershire 68-4 v Northants

    Tea is taken in Northampton with Gloucestershire on the mend at 68-4.

    Ryan Higgins has so far made 23 out of a 26-run partnership with James Bracey, who is on 18.

  8. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    De Lange b Barker 1 (Hampshire v Somerset 180)

    BarkerImage source, Rex Features

    And it's all over for Somerset's first innings.

    After winning the toss and electing to bat, Somerset skipper Tom Abell may well be regretting that choice as his side are bowled out for just 180.

    Keith Barker bowls Marchant de Lange to complete the innings and take 3-33 in the process.

    James Hildreth's 87 and Roelof van der Merwe with 28 the only scores of note for the visitors.

  9. Tea time scores at a glancepublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Division One:

    Chelmsford: Essex 166-0 v Kent - Kent won toss and elected to bowl

    Ageas Bowl: Hampshire v Somerset 180-9 - Somerset won toss and elected to bat

    Northampton: Gloucestershire 68-4 v Northamptonshire - Northants won toss and elected to bowl

    Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Surrey 123-2 - Surrey won toss and elected to bat

    Division Two:

    Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 158-4 v Durham - Durham won toss and elected to bowl

    Leicester: Leicestershire v Worcestershire. No play before tea due to wet outfield, Due to start at 16:10 BST - Worcestershire won toss and elected to bat

    Lord's: Middlesex 209-2 v Derbyshire - Derbyshire won toss and elected to bowl

    Hove: Sussex 189-4 v Nottinghamshire - Notts won toss and elected to bowl

  10. Postpublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Some matches have already had a tea interval and others are currently having one, but let's take a quick glance at all the scores...

  11. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Aldridge b Dawson 7 (Hampshire v Somerset 179-9)

    And another one down for Somerset as the afternoon session goes into an extension.

    Liam Dawson gets one to spin past Kasey Aldridge's outside edge and clip his off stump.

    Just the one wicket remaining for the visitors now.

  12. Four seasons (almost) in one day in Cardiffpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Glamorgan 153-4 v Durham

    Martin Emmerson
    BBC Radio Newcastle at Sophia Gardens

    We haven't seen much action here this afternoon because of a number of heavy hail showers which have passed through the area, some of them bringing lightning with them.

    Tea was taken after the latest dusruption and play is set to resume shortly.

    But the next big band of dark cloud is about to be blown in on the back of gale-force winds.

    Glamorgan were 153-4 after 52.2 overs, with Colin Ingram on 61 and Chris Cooke on 29.

    It looks like we've lost another 10 overs to the weather, to add to one from earlier.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  13. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Siddle c sub b Barker 16 (Hampshire v Somerset 179-8)

    Hampshire in the wickets again as tea approaches at the Ageas Bowl.

    Keith Barker collects his second of the innings to dismiss new Somerset addition Peter Siddle for 16.

    Sub fielder Scott Currie takes a low catch at firsr slip to send him on his way.

  14. Higgins hits high spotspublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Gloucestershire 66-4 v Northants

    Ryan Higgins has only faced 18 deliveries, but four of them have gone for four and he is already the visitors' top scorer on 21.

    Getting close to tea,

    39 overs left in the day.

  15. Eskinazi all smiles with season's first tonpublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Middlesex 205-2 v Derbyshire

    Sam Dalling
    BBC Radio London at Lord's

    Eskinazi tonImage source, Getty Images

    Stevie Eskinazi is the first to three figures in the 2022 season. And my does he deserve it. Supreme and serene. It took 176 balls and included 13 boundaries.

    But Derbyshire have another breakthrough. Finally Josh de Caires goes for a career-best 80, nicking Sam Conners to Brooke Guest behind the stumps.

    They needed that. It has been tough going thus far. Guest, by the way, has kept beautifully. Not easy going at Lord's for members of the wicketkeeping club.

  16. Notts claw their way back in afternoonpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Sussex 189-4 v Nottinghamshire

    Dave Bracegirdle
    BBC Radio Nottingham at Hove

    Liam Patterson-White (3-43) bowled unchanged from the Sea End between lunch and tea to drag Nottinghamshire back into this contest.

    The slow left-armer was introduced to stem the flow of runs from an opening partnership between Tom Haines and Ali Orr that had added 101 during the first session.

    Patterson-White wasted little time in justifying his role, getting one to turn into the middle stump to bowl Haines for 59. One over later, he pinned Tom Alsop lbw for one on his Sussex debut.

    Before tea Orr, who made 68, was smartly taken at slip by Steven Mullaney after driving at the spinner.

    The 23-year-old also had a hand in the other wicket to fall, clutching on to a pull at mid-wicket off Oli Carter for 14, to give Brett Hutton his first wicket of the season.

  17. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 15:37 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Hammond c Gay b Taylor 15 (Gloucestershire v Northants)

    Northants claim their fourth wicket as Tom Taylor gets in on the act,

    Miles Hammond is the latest to go, giving Emilio Gay his second catch at third slip.

    But new man Ryan Higgins is immediately off the mark with a fourth-ball boundary.

  18. 100 runs

    100 for Stevie Eskinazipublished at 15:37 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Middlesex 195-1 v Derbyshire

    Eskinazi tonImage source, PA Media

    First century of the season goes to Middlesex's Stevie Eskinazi!

    Cuts one away to backward point for a single off Alex Thomson to reach the landmark off 176 balls with 13 fours.

  19. Latest weather news at Edgbastonpublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Surrey 123-2 v Warwickshire

    Early tea being taken at Edgbaston.

    Restart now scheduled for 4.00.

    Five overs lost. Now 18 in total. 42.5 overs left in the day.

    Judging by the fierceness of the rain which has now started up again, you can confidently expect a further announcement shortly!!!

  20. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 7 April 2022

    Hildreth b Dawson 87 (Hampshire v Somerset 158-7)

    Dawson dismisses HildrethImage source, Rex Features

    What a start to the season with the ball for Liam Dawson!

    He comes on for a bowl for the first time in this match and with his first delivery, claims the big wicket of James Hildreth, clipping his off stump as the Somerset right-hander misjudges the flight.

    That ends Hildreth's 129-ball stay at the crease as he looked to rescue his side from a perilous position.