This is gallant stuff from Dan Lawrence, who steers Will Rhodes square for four despite being unable to move his feet at the crease because of a damaged hamstring.

The England batter is 21 not out and Essex are now only 28 behind.

Lancashire have indeed pulled out at tea.

A huge lead of 304 and now four sessions to try and bowl Gloucestershire out again.

A mighty rearguard needed by the Glosters.

There are overs still to go before tea at some grounds, but they are already back out there for the final session at the Oval and Tom Abell square cuts the final ball of a Will Jacks over for four as Somerset reach three figures in their second innings. The lead is 130.

Image source, Rex Features

Sam Evans and Louis Kimber survived three overs to tea for Leicestershire.

The home side are 253 behind following two wickets for Alex Thomson and one by Anuj Dal.

Mattie McKiernan made 101 earlier in the day, his maiden first-class century for Derbyshire.

Hampshire have decided enough is enough while munching their sandwiches and have declared with a lead of 347.

Keith Barker and Felix Organ are both 44 not out and Kent will begin their second innings after the tea interval.

Oliver Hannon-Dalby has bowled 17 overs in this Essex second innings - 12 of them maidens.

His latest is another accurate one, but there is a single for Simon Harmer.

He is three not out, and Dan Lawrence who dabbed Danny Briggs fine for four a few overs ago despite his hamstring injury, is on 17.

It's looking like things will be wrapped up this evening at New Road where Sussex are 76-5 after following on against Worcestershire - still 146 behind.

Durham have lost Keegan Petersen, lbw to James Pattinson for 21, and are 61-2, 197 in arrears against Nottinghamshire.

Leicestershire are also in trouble on 65-3 against Derbyshire, still trailing by 253, and skipper Colin Ackermann was caught off Anuj Dal for three.

Might Lancashire, with a lead of over 300, also consider a tea-time declaration?

Danny Lamb has had a little dip just before tea to press them on past 550.

A career-best 231 for Josh Bohannon earlier. 467 balls, 30 fours and a six. Wonderful stuff.

Dane Vilas with 109 as well, the 24th hundred of his career.

166 overs of pain for Gloucestershire.

Eight off Tawanda Muyeye's final over before tea and Keith Barker and Felix Organ are both 44 not out for Hampshire following another productive session at Canterbury.

Muyeye removed Liam Dawson and Ben Brown, but they made 171 and 157 respectively and put on 273 for the fifth wicket.

Hampshire's lead is now 347 and it's all about the timing of the declaration for them now.

A whole heap of spin sent down in Northampton - like days of old - so they're bang on time for tea.

George Hill takes the break 131 not out and his maiden ton has helped his side to a huge lead.

Harry Brook has also made a run-a-ball fifty after his first-innings 84.

Just a question now of how long Yorkshire feel they need to bowl Northants out again in very benign conditions.

A minimum of 125 overs left in the game.

I wonder if they may consider declaring now?

Tom Abell straight drives a Jordan Clark full toss for four, and Tom Banton finds the point boundary with a square cut later in the over.

Quite a few overs still to go before tea but Somerset's lead is 105.

Kent's torment continues at the Spitfire Ground where Keith Barker and Felix Organ have shared a half-century partnership.

Barker is 42 not out, Organ has 38 - is there to be a fourth century in this innings following those by James Vince, Liam Dawson and Ben Brown?

Expect a declaration before the close, though.

Lancashire have comfortably gone past their previous highest total against Gloucestershire.

It was a surprisingly low 474-3d at Aigburth back in 1903 - the game where Archie MacLaren made his 204.

The full set complete, Lancashire have now made at least 500 in an innings against every first-class county

for Adam Rossingtonpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 23 April 2022

15:31 BST 23 April 2022

Warwickshire 385 v Essex 168 & 170-5

Adam Rossington sweeps a Danny Briggs full toss for four to reach his first half-century for Essex, but tries to cut the final ball of the over and is well caught by wicketkeeper Dan Lawrence.

Simon Harmer comes out to join the injured Dan Lawrence, who has eight not out, and Essex are still 45 behind with half their wickets gone.

Worcestershire have the vital wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara, bowled by Dillion Pennington for 12, and Sussex are 52-3 after following on, needing another 170 to avoid an innings defeat.

Leicestershire are 58-1 against Derbyshire, 260 behind, after Hassan Azad fell to Alex Thomson for 32.

Durham are 36-1 against Nottinghamshire and trail by 222, with Michael Jones lbw to Luke Fletcher for four.

Keith Barker reverse sweeps Hamidullah Qadri for four and Hampshire move past 600. Their highest score against Kent was 671 in 2002 - a match in which new England supremo Rob Key made 160 and John Crawley scored 272.

Image source, Rex Features

Injured Dan Lawrence is stationary at the crease as he plays at Henry Brookes' first ball of a new over but it runs away fine for four off the inside edge.Essex are just 62 in arrears now.

for George Hillpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 23 April 2022

15:01 BST 23 April 2022

Northants v Yorks 295-3 lead by 387

A maiden first-class century for 21-year-old George Hill.

200 balls, eight fours and a six.

What a lovely moment for the young lad.

Yorkshire just picking their time to declare now.