Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle at Sophia Gardens

Alex Lees is giving everyone a reminder of why he was called into the England side for the recent tour of the West Indies.

He has 90 of Durham's 163 runs and has put on 50+ partnerships for the second wicket, with Sean Dickson (23) and for the third so far with Scott Borthwick (30 not out).

Lees has adopted a stance which sees him regularly standing at off-stump or indeed beyond it.

He did survive a couple of shouts earlier for lbw from Michael Hogan. The second looked a really decent call, but with Hogan coming round the wicket, the umpire Russell Warren favoured the batsman.

There's been a slight scare for Borthwick who saw a leading edge drift out to Kiran Carlson in the covers. It was high and looping and the fielder couldn't hold on.

Sam Dalling
BBC Radio London at Lord's

What an odd session that was. Much calm with a little storm in the middle.

Anyone who popped out to pick up an early tea from a nearby food outlet will have returned baffled.

Middlesex have reached 42-1, Mark Stoneman looking lovely with bat in hand.

He pulled Suranga Lakmal into the Grand Stand for a the first six of the innings. Not quick enough to bowl that short, pal.

But that followed Josh de Caires becoming the fifth wicket in a Baker's dozen of balls.

Having survived a huge caught behind appeal from Sam Connners, De Caires - with nothing on the board - left one that jagged back down the slope. Bails flew; Conners bellowed.

The bowler enjoyed that one.

Gloucestershire lead Northamptonshire by 141 runs at the tea interval with five second-innings wickets remaining.

Little sign of the next home breakthrough either after a 108-run unbroken partnership between Ryan Higgins (77) and Tom Lace (50).

Four sessions to go in this game, which, as they say, is pleasantly poised.

Division One:

Chelmsford: Essex 514 v Kent 300-3

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

Northampton: Gloucestershire (223 & 206-5) lead Northamptonshire (288) by 141 runs

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 223-5 v Surrey 428-8 dec

Division Two:

Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 234 v Durham 163-2

Leicester: Leicestershire 213 v Worcestershire 348 & 0-0

Lord's: Middlesex (401 & 42-1) lead Derbyshire (304) by 139 runs

Hove: Sussex 375 v Nottinghamshire 468-7

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

Warwickshire go to tea at Edgbaston still trailing Surrey by 205 runs with five wickets remaining.

Sam Hain (64) and Dan Mousley (13) have so far put on 25 for the sixth wicket.

200 - and a 100 stand for Lace and Higginspublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 9 April 2022

16:02 BST 9 April 2022

Northants 288, Gloucestershire 223 & 202-5

200 up for Gloucestershire - and a century stand for Tom Lace and Ryan Higgins.

That is followed by Lace's half century. A lot of hand-warming in quick succession.

The pace has noticeably dropped since Matt Lamb got himself out as Sam Hain and Dan Mousley bed in during the run-up to tea, which looks set to be at four o'clock on the dot.

That could mean a long evening session!

Dave Bracegirdle
BBC Radio Nottingham at Hove

A magnificent afternoon session for Nottinghamshire, who reach tea at Hove on 468-7, a lead of 93.

Steven Mullaney has advanced his score to a career-best 192 not out, while Joey Evison, in just his seventh match, is also on a personal best of 75 not out.

The pair have added 142 since coming together just before lunch.

Sussex, who had the better of the opening two days, struggled for opportunities and will need to bat well when their chance comes around later.

Nick Gledhill
BBC Essex at Chelmsford

This may be the flattest of Chelmsford pitches, but that should take nothing away from Ben Compton, cousin of Nick, who made 129 on his Kent debut to, almost certainly, guarantee his side a draw in their opening game.

After initially taking the attack to the Essex bowlers yesterday evening he settled in to patient century standards with Tawanda Muyeye and Jordan Cox that took Kent to within 85 of avoiding the follow-on when he was bowled by Sam Cook with the second new ball.

Kent will be greatly encouraged that Compton could be the key to bolstering a batting line-up that failed too often in last year’s conference group.

In contrast, the placid surface has meant a frustrating debut for Australian Mark Steketee who has still shown enough to suggest that he could be a handful on a pitch offering something of the pace and bounce of his home ground in Brisbane.

300 up for Kentpublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 9 April 2022

15:44 BST 9 April 2022

Essex 514 v Kent 300-3

A third batting bonus point up for Kent as Jordan Cox (61 not out) and Ollie Robinson (9 not out) continue the run-fest at Chelmsford.

Kent's next target will be another 55 runs to avoid the follow-on as we move towards the tea interval.

The Gloucestershire lead passes 100 at Wantage Road.

Ryan Higgins and Tom Lace are going well.

All-rounder Higgins has hit five fours in the 13th first-class half-century of his career, while fellow former Middlesex man Lace is also starting to move nicely.

Gareth Berg is recalled to the home attack to see if he can have a magical effect.

After hitting 66 and earlier taking 3-20, he has so far had a very good match.

50 for Jordan Coxpublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 9 April 2022

15:21 BST 9 April 2022

Essex 514 v Kent 280-2

Image source, Rex Features

Another half-century notched up by a batter at Chelmsford.

Jordan Cox gets there off 120 balls for Kent and he's hit six fours in the process.

Very talented prospect is the right-hander.

Image source, Rex Features

Meanwhile at Hove, Nottinghamshire are showing some strong lower-order resistance as they build a handy lead over Sussex.

Skipper Steven Mullaney on to 178 not out while Joey Evison (62 not out) also has a half-century.

More wickets falling at Lord's all of a sudden.

Josh de Caires can't back up his first-innings half-century as he is dismissed for a duck in the first over of Middlesex's second innings.

Offers no shot to a ball from Sam Conners that nips back down the slope and clips his bails.

Back on again at Northamptonpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 9 April 2022

15:15 BST 9 April 2022

Northants 288, Gloucestershire 223 & 143-5

Play resumes at Wantage Road - and Ryan Higgins marks his return to the crease by reaching his 50.

The visitors now lead by 78. If they could double that, it could make things interesting.

Clouding over in Brumpublished at 15:13 British Summer Time 9 April 2022

15:13 BST 9 April 2022

Warwickshire 201-6, Surrey 428-8 dec

Getting a bit cloudy now at Edgbaston as Warwickshire go past 200 to earn their first batting bonus point of the season.

Looks slightly ominous.

Sam Dalling
BBC Radio London at Lord's

Something from nothing. Derbyshire were looking in no real trouble for an hour or so post lunch.

Nowt at all for Middlesex to cheer as Anuj Dal reached 50 and the deficit was sub-three figures.

And then came four wickets in nine balls. 304-6 to 310 all out.

Dal went first, pinned lbw by the excellent Tom Helm. The batter’s reaction suggested he thinks there was wood involved. Penny for his thoughts.

Helm was then on a hat-trick, Sam Conners suffering the same fate; Suranga Lakmal survived.

Toby Roland-Jones picked up the final two in the following over. Like London buses eh?! Game on as Middlesex start their second dig with a 97-run lead.