Rain stops play at Wantage Roadpublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 9 April 2022

14:56 BST 9 April 2022

Gloucestershire 223 & 140-5, Northants 288

After being held up by the Gloucestershire batsmen, Northants are now being delayed by a bit of drizzle.

Ryan Higgins is on 48 and Tom Lace on 19, having so far put on 42 together.

The BBC commentary are not expecting them to be off too long.

For the moment, off-duty Gloucestershire all-rounder Josh Shaw has joined the commentary team regulars as a guest and is proving very entertaining company, with some previously unheard dressing room tales.

100 for Matt Lambpublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 9 April 2022

14:41 BST 9 April 2022

Warwickshire 192-4, Surrey 428-8 dec

Matt Lamb completes only the second century of his Warwickshire career - and his first in three summers.

He gets to his ton with the help of a misfield on the long leg boundary from Will Jacks. But it has been a superb innings.

17 fours and a big six pulled into the Eric Hollies off Kemar Roach.

Image source, Rex Features

The biggest score of his career, 173 against Essex here in September 2019, also came after a century stand with Sam Hain - he must enjoy his company.

Hain, meanwhile, has reached his half-century. He is now on 51 - and their stand has reached 144.

Image source, PA Media

All over red rover at the Ageas Bowl.

Mohammad Abbas bowls Marchant de Lange to complete victory for Hampshire by an innings and 113 runs against Somerset.

They are dismissed for just 135 in their second innings after collapsing in a heap following some resistance in the first hour of the day by Ben Green and Tom Lammonby.

Abbas finishes with 4-22 while James Fuller also claimed 3-23.

Hampshire come away with 23 points and Somerset just the one from this opening fixture.

Worcestershire and Warwickshire old boy Dave Banks is expected to be confirmed as the Pears' new groundsman, following Tim Packwood's decision to pack in.

The long-serving Packwood, who has been part of the New Road groundstaff since 1989, is due to leave halfway through the first home game of the season against Sussex, which begins on 21 April.

Banks, 61, has been a prominent figure in local cricket circles since his decade-long professional career, which began at Worcester, ended with the Bears in 1989.

He also played for Staffordshire, as well as local league cricket with Old Hill and Smethwick. He has been groundsman and part of the coaching staff at Stourbridge and has most recently been coaching with the Worcestershire Academy.

Meanwhile, in their season opener at Leicester, the Pears are having a good day. On top of yesterday's excellent effort in totalling 348, marshalled by new county captain Brett D'Oliveira, they now have Leicestershire 142-7. The hosts still need another 50 to avoid the risk of being asked to follow on.

Jem Green
BBC Radio Solent at the Ageas Bowl

When a period of stabilisation was needed by the visitors, Steven Davies edged the first ball of the afternoon session to the safe hands of Liam Dawson at second slip off the bowling of Mohammad Abbas.

This has set the tone for the start of this session as Van der Merwe and Lewis Goldsworthy fell shortly after to Abbas and Keith Barker respectively.

Hampshire are closing in on an almost inevitable victory after Abbas picked up his third wicket when Peter Siddle edged to Liam Dawson.

Somerset now eight wickets down with just their tail left to wag.

100 stand for Hain and Lambpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time 9 April 2022

14:15 BST 9 April 2022

Warwickshire 160-4, Surrey 428-8 dec

Matt Lamb and Sam Hain are really starting to plunder some runs at Edgbaston as they step up the pace after lunch.

Hain has now hit five boundaries in his 43, playing the supporting role to Lamb, who has crossed the ropes 13 times on his way to 77 out of a stand of 119.

Back underway with a Kemar Roach maiden at Edgbaston.

Just what was required after a baked potato, baked beans, cheese and tuna, with a nice side salad.

100 for Ben Comptonpublished at 13:55 British Summer Time 9 April 2022

13:55 BST 9 April 2022

Essex 514 v Kent 222-2

Image source, Rex Features

Nice moment for Ben Compton on his Kent debut as he reaches a century at Chelmsford.

Becomes the fourth centurion in this match so far with a couple tickled fine off Matt Critchley to get there off 220 balls with 14 fours.

Nick Webb
BBC Radio Wales at Sophia Gardens

England opener Alex Lees has made a strong start to the season as he goes into the afternoon session on 60 not out against Glamorgan.

Lees, taking guard on or outside off-stump, survived two concerted lbw appeals from Glamorgan veteran Michael Hogan, which looked convincing on the replays.

He reached his half-century off 99 balls as he and Sean Dickson gradually accelerated after a largely watchful start to the visitors’ innings.

Timm van der Gugten claimed the only wicket of the first session as the cautious Michael Jones, on nine, played down the wrong line.

Durham will look to build a lead today to put some pressure on Glamorgan despite almost four sessions being lost to hailstorms over the first two days.

Adrian Harms
BBC Sussex at Hove

Image source, Rex Features

An excellent morning for Notts who added 118 runs at over four-an-over to reach lunch just 43 runs behind.

Skipper Stephen Mullaney has led the way with a captain's innings, steering his side from 52-4 when he came into bat, and has hit four towering sixes.

The Sussex cause has not been helped with the news that 17-year-old Danial Ibrahim will play no further part in the rest of the match with a shoulder injury.

Apart from those matches who had a slightly delayed lunch break - we're getting back under way for the afternoon sessions...

Don't forget to keep in touch during this bumper Saturday afternoon of sporting action.

I reeled off a load of events that are on before the morning session and forgot all about the Grand National also being on later at Aintree!

Send us any of your tips for the big race or suggestions of racing-themed cricketers to make an XI to #bbccricket

Some breaking news to bring you from elsewhere around the cricket circuit during this lunch interval.

As widely speculated in recent weeks, Chris Silverwood is off to pastures new as new men's head coach of Sri Lanka.