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. 'A game of fine margins'

    Northants 288, Gloucestershire 223 & 5-1

    Andrew Radd
    BBC Radio Northampton

    If Northamptonshire are to compete on their return to Division One they need senior players to step up - and that's precisely what happened on an absorbing second day against Gloucestershire at Wantage Road.

    Rob Keogh and Gareth Berg came together with Northamptonshire reeling at 129-7 after their top order was dismantled by Ryan Higgins, and their stand of 137 in 33 overs blended enterprise and defiance.

    Rob Keogh hit his 12rth century for NorthantsGetty Images

    Rob Keogh hit his 12th first-class century for Northants

    The wicket of Ben Charlesworth before bad light stopped play rounded off a day for the home side that promised little in the first session - but ended with them firmly on top.

    Higgins was at the centre of arguably the most pivotal moment - having Berg caught off a no-ball with just six to his name. As they say, a game of fine margins.

  2. Hampshire look to wrap up the job

    Somerset (180 & 15-0) trail Hampshire (428) by 233 runs

    Many people's pre-season title favourites Hampshire have shown so far just why they are being given short-odds this season against Somerset.

    While the visitors maybe very much under-strength due to injuries, illness and unavailability, they have been very much under the cosh in this one.

    They resume on the third morning on 15-0 in their second innings still 233 runs behind. That's after Hampshire made 428 in reply to Somerset's first-innings 180 thanks to a career-best 168 from Joe Weatherley.

    He spoke to BBC Radio Solent's Kevan James at stumps last night.

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  3. Bears have to battle back in Brum

    Warwickshire 16-2, Surrey 428-8 dec

    Ged Scott
    BBC Sport at Edgbaston

    Definitely Surrey with the advantage here after a surprisingly full day's cricket in the April sunshine in Birmingham.

    It was a particularly good day for Ben Foakes.

    The current England Test wicketkeeper was dropped twice, both times off the luckless Olly Hannon-Dalby, on the way to hitting an unbeaten 132, allowing Surrey skipper Rory Burns to declare on 428-8.

    Ben Foakes hit his first century since the first Championship game of 2021PA Media

    Ben Foakes hit his first century since the first Championship game of 2021

    Surrey then whipped out a couple of Warwickshire men early, Surrey old boy Dom Sibley for a cruel first-baller, then also Will Rhodes, sharply taken down the legside by Foakes.

    Contrasting days for the Surrey-born England contenders then!

    And it leaves the Bears with an uphill battle when opener Rob Yates and nightwatchman Danny Briggs resume this morning.

    The sun is out again but it actually feels even chillier.

  4. sun

    Weather watch

    Looking like a much brighter day in prospect across the country if not still very chilly.

    Let's see what Tomasz Schafernaker from the BBC Weather Centre can tell us about the full forecast.

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  5. Overnight scores

    Division One:

    Chelmsford: Essex 514 v Kent 122-1

    Ageas Bowl: Hampshire 428 v Somerset 180 & 15-0

    Northampton: Gloucestershire 223 & 5-1 v Northamptonshire 288

    Edgbaston: Warwickshire 16-2 v Surrey 428-8 dec

    Division Two:

    Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 234 v Durham 5-0

    Leicester: Leicestershire 42-3 v Worcestershire 348

    Lord's: Middlesex 401 v Derbyshire 177-4

    Hove: Sussex 375 v Nottinghamshire 214-5

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

  6. Sunshiney day ahead fingers crossed

    dafsRex Features

    Ah, that's more like it!

    Some spring-time Saturday morning sunshine as the opening round of the County Championship season continues.

    Welcome along to the third day of eight fixtures across the two divisions.

    After some on-off action due to the weather in a few for the first couple of days, let's hope for an uninterrupted day across the board and potentially even some early results depending how the action pans out.

    It all resumes in the next 15 minutes...