Summary

  • Third day of four in the eight opening-round fixtures

  • Two division structure back in use for 2022 season with eight teams in Division One and 10 in Division Two

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

  • Hampshire beat Somerset by an innings and 113 runs

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

  • England Test opener Alex Lees makes unbeaten 163 for Durham

Live Reporting

Adam Williams and Ged Scott

  1. Thanks and good night

    #bbccricket

    MullaneyRex Features

    And after an elongated third day, that's where we'll wrap things up for the night.

    Thanks very much for being with us on a very busy sporting Saturday.

    We've seen an early finish but also lots of personal milestones accumulated alongside it.

    Several matches nicely poised you feel for their conclusions tomorrow.

    We'll be back to bring you all the action on Sunday from 10:45 BST on the BBC Sport website and app.

    Until then - check out close of play reports from today on the counties page.

    Go well!

  2. Close of play at a glance

    Division One:

    Chelmsford: Essex 514 v Kent 405-5

    Ageas Bowl: Hampshire (428) beat Somerset (180 & 135) by an innings and 113 runs

    Northampton: Gloucestershire (223 & 326-6) lead Northamptonshire (288) by 261 runs

    Edgbaston: Warwickshire 293-7 v Surrey 428-8 dec

    Division Two:

    Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 234 v Durham 348-3

    Leicester: Worcestershire (348 & 234-5) lead Leicestershire (213) by 369 runs

    Lord's: Middlesex (401 & 201-3) lead Derbyshire (304) by 298 runs

    Hove: Sussex (375 & 29-1) trail Nottinghamshire (534-9 dec) by 130 runs

    And to see those scores in more detail - head to our scorecards page right here.

  3. Time for a quick look at the scores before we wrap up for the night...

  4. Close of play at Grace Road

    Worcestershire (348 & 234-5) lead Leicestershire (213) by 369 runs

    Ed PollockRex Features

    And bad light has brought proceedings to a close in Leicester four overs earlier than scheduled.

    Worcestershire have put themselves in the box seat thanks to Ed Pollock's 112 on his Pears debut.

    May well be an overnight declaration there.

  5. Close of play at Sophia Gardens

    Glamorgan 234 v Durham 348-3

    And with the sunshine still just about casting long shadows across the outfield, that's stumps in Cardiff.

    Alex Lees is unbeaten on 163 from 328 balls in a mammoth effort for Durham with David Bedingham (74 not out) having put on 106 for the fourth wicket so far alongside him.

    Durham with a lead of 114 as they head into tomorrow's last day.

  6. Close of play at Wantage Road

    Northants 288, Gloucestershire 223 & 326-6

    Gloucestershire's day in Northampton, largely thanks to an unbeaten 134 from Ryan Higgins, the second largest score of the Zimbabwean all-rounder's career.

    The visitors lead Northamptonshire by 261 overnight with four wickets remaining.

    Could there be any sort of bold declaration set in the morning?

    It's possible - but the BBC radio commentary team are as one that there won't be.

    We shall see!

  7. Close of play at Edgbaston

    Warwickshire 293-7 Surrey 428-8 dec

    All over for the day in Birmingham.

    A third day dominated by Matt Lamb's first century in three seasons including 17 fours and a six off just 138 balls.

    Sam Hain (78) and Dan Mousley (43) also helped the Bears avoid any threat of a follow-on.

    Tomorrow should be a formality for a game almost certain to end in a draw.

  8. 50 runs

    50 stand for Higgins and Zafar

    Northants 288, Gloucestershire 223 & 309-6

    From 21-4, still 44 runs in arrears, Gloucestershire have enjoyed three successive good partnerships.

    And Ryan Higgins has been involved in all three of them - 77 for the fifth wicket with Chris Dent, 165 with Tom Lace and now a further 50 with Zafar Gohar.

  9. wicket

    WICKET

    Mousley c Pope b Clark 43 (Warwickshire 280-7 v Surrey 428-8 dec)

    Just a run after avoiding the threat of being asked to follow on, Warwickshire lose their seventh wicket.

    Dan Mousley is gone for 43, edging to Ollie Pope at slip, a second wicket for Jordan Clark

  10. 150 runs

    150 for Alex Lees

    Glamorgan 234 v Durham 311-3

    Alex Lees continues his fine return to Durham colours as he reaches 150 at Sophia Gardens.

    It's come from 307 balls and included 18 fours.

    David Bedingham down the other end with him has also reached 50 as Durham's lead pushes towards 100.

  11. Close of play at Lord's

    Middlesex (401 & 201-3) lead Derbyshire (304) by 298 runs

    Stumps at Lord's.

    Middlesex put themselves into a great position to set up a charge for victory on the last day against Derbyshire.

    Maybe an overnight declaration if they're feeling bold? But maybe a few more overs to bat in the morning.

    A 141-run partnership so far for the fourth wicket has made it possible with their lead just two shy of 300.

    Max Holden (68 not out) and Robbie White (79 not out) go to the Pavilion unbeaten.

  12. Five overs left at Edgbaston

    Warwickshire 276-6 Surrey 428-8 dec

    Five overs left in the day now, if the light holds at Edgbaston.

    No visible reason to suggest that it won't.

    The sun is shining on the near distant Birmingham city centre skyline. If not on its football clubs.

    Blues and Albion both lost today and Villa are losing!!!

  13. 300 runs

    300 up for Gloucestershire

    Northants 288, Gloucestershire 223 & 304-6

    Gloucestershire bring up the 300 and they now lead Northamptonshire by 239 runs with four wickets remaining.

    It is not yet a definitive match-winning lead but it is already starting to enter into 'that will take some getting' territory on a final-day pitch.

  14. Cox rewarded for hard graft and concentration

    Essex 514 v Kent 405-5

    Nick Gledhill
    BBC Essex at Chelmsford

    It was hard work for Jordan Cox, but with an over of the day to spare he reached his second Championship hundred to cap a fine day for Kent.

    It won’t be as memorable as the first, his remarkable unbeaten 238 against Sussex in the Bob Willis Trophy.

    But alongside Ben Compton, who made 129 on debut, he has ensured that Kent will surely leave Chelmsford with a hard-fought draw.

    Kent will look to bat as long as possible tomorrow on a pitch that hasn’t offered the bowlers enough to make any positive result likely.

  15. wicket

    WICKET

    Hain b Clark 78 (Warwickshire 263-6, Surrey 428-8)

    A disappointed Sam Hain trudges back after getting out for 78, with a ton beckoning.

    He played no shot to a ball delivered by Jordan Clark from wide on the crease and it moved sufficiently to come back and bowl him.

    The Bears still need a further 15 to avoid a follow-on, so there is slight concern in the home ranks as Michael Burgess enters the arena.

  16. Close of play at Hove

    Sussex (375 & 29-1) trail Nottinghamshire (534-9 dec) by 130 runs

    EvisonRex Features

    Also done for the day down at Hove.

    This one is in an interesting place going into the last day where Nottinghamshire have given themselves a strong chance after declaring their first innings on 534-9 earlier.

    Sussex reach 29-1 at stumps after Tom Haines fell for 14.

    They are still 130 runs behind after big tons earlier on from Steven Mullaney (192) and Joey Evison (109 not out).

  17. Gloucestershire grind on at Northampton

    Northants 288, Gloucestershire 223 & 294-6

    Gloucestershire now lead Northamptonshire by 229 runs as the end of day three approaches at Wantage Road.

    Ryan Higgins (118) has now hit the highest score in this match, having surpassed the previous two centurions James Bracey (117) and Rob Keogh (113).

    Zafar Gohar is on 20.

  18. Close of play at Chelmsford

    Essex 514 v Kent 405-5

    Stumps after another run-drenched day at Chelmsford.

    Kent just over 100 in arrears as they close on 405-5.

    How early will they shake hands on a draw tomorrow you wonder?

  19. 100 runs

    100 for Jordan Cox

    Essex 514 v Kent 404-5

    A fifth century of this match goes to Kent's Jordan Cox.

    He scampers through for a quick single off Dan Lawrence to reach three figures from 226 balls in a knock that's included 12 fours.

    Fine innings so far.

  20. Possibilities aplenty for Middlesex

    Middlesex (401 & 153-3) lead Derbyshire (304) by 250 runs

    Sam Dalling
    BBC Radio London at Lord's

    This could get interesting. "Could" being the operative word.

    Middlesex’s lead is 250 now and Max Holden (58 not out) is starting to push the rate.

    He has reached fifty and is seeing it well. Wayne Madsen’s lesser spotted off-spin has disappeared into the Grand Stand, while Leus du Plooy was reverse swept from outside leg-stump for four.

    There were two spinners operating in the relative gloom, but Suranga Lakmal has just returned. It had the whiff of declaration bowling but who knows now.

    The question is how many will Middlesex want?

    Quite a few one imagines. They were, after all, stung this time last year when Somerset chased down 285 on the fourth day.

    There was no declaration that time but still.

    Nudge past 300 tonight, and see? All 'ifs', 'buts' and 'maybes' still.