Not the finest day of the summer so far, either weather wise or cricket wise.

But there has still been much to commend.

Hampshire's thrilling six-scalp morning burst against Yorkshire, Nick Browne's admirable century for Essex, Warwickshire's show of grit at The Oval, 15 wickets tumbling at Worcester - and simply the joy of cricket still being played at two of England's favourite out-grounds, Scarborough and Cheltenham.

Image source, Rex Features

But surely the biggest cause for rapture was the 6.00 finish bang on time at Chelmsford. 96 overs bowled on time!!!

Marvellous news for long-suffering, hard-working scorers, umpires and cricket writers, everywhere.

So it can be done! The bar has now been set!

We will certainly sleep easier tonight. Hope you all do too.

Join us again at around 10: 45 in the morning for more of the same.

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex 281-3 (96 overs) v Somerset

Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 317, Northamptonshire 30-0

Old Trafford: Lancashire 112-4 (34.2 overs) v Kent

The Oval: Warwickshire 240-8 (95.5 overs) v Surrey

Scarborough: Yorkshire 158-8 (54.2 overs) v Hampshire

DIVISION TWO

Riverside: Durham 132-0 (44.5 overs) v Middlesex

New Road: Derbyshire 130, Worcestershire 141-5

Close of play now confirmed at Old Trafford too.

This game is nicely set up for day two, with Gloucestershire perhaps sensing they should have cashed in more effectively on the platform built by James Bracey (79) and Ryan Higgins (50).

The sixth-wicket pair put on 110 at a good pace before the home side's tail fell away rapidly and they were bowled out for 317.

Northamptonshire openers Will Young and Emilio Gay saw off a tricky 12-over session without many concerns to reduce the deficit to 287.

Something approaching a chuckle in the Cheltenham announcer's voice as he informs us: "From the Chapel End... Zak Chappell."

He's been looking forward to that all day, you feel.

The shaven-headed seamer will have the honour of delivering the last over before stumps.

Bad end to the day for Warwickshire as they lose loan man Brad Wheal in the last over.

Still a good effort that from the Bears.

After the sorry show they put in sliding to defeat against Kent at Edgbaston on Friday, this was a real test for the reigning champions.

And, even though it has been painfully slow, they have at least batted the day out against the league leaders.

Shadows are lengthening at the beautiful College Ground as we approach the end of the first day's play and it's hard to say which team has had the better of it.

Gloucestershire certainly looked well set at tea, on 250-5, but Northamptonshire pulled it back with a cluster of wickets in this final session.

Provided they can survive these last three overs without losing a wicket, Northants will feel confident of mounting a strong reply to the home side's 317 all out.

Two overs left in the day - and the close can't come soon enough for BBC Radio London's Mark Church.

"It's getting pretty gloomy," he points out.

So far, so good for the Northamptonshire openers as they begin their reply to the home side's 317 all out.

Will Young is nine not out, with Emilio Gay at the other end on three as David Payne and Ryan Higgins strive to make a morale-boosting breakthrough before stumps.

Six overs remaining on the first day.

That's it for day one at New Road - a thoroughly eventful one after Dillon Pennington reduced Derbyshire to 14-5 in the morning.

Anuj Dal hit 55 to lead a mini-recovery and steer the visitors to 130 all out before Worcestershire struggled to 23-3 in reply.

But Kashif Ali (52) and Jack Haynes (48) hauled the Pears out of trouble and, although both departed before stumps, they go into the second day with an 11-run advantage.

Solid day's work from Essex as play ends almost bang on time at Chelmsford.

The clouds are dark and heavy and it sounds like they might now be in for a downpour - but they have got through the entire day's play, spearheaded by centurion Nick Browne's first ton since the opening game of the season, 107 against Kent.

He is on 129, his highest score in three years, and Paul Walter on 57, having so far put on 115, batting throughout that final session.

Somerset, urgently needing points to ensure Division One survival this season, have work to do in this fixture.

The rain returns in Manchesterpublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 25 July 2022

17:58 BST 25 July 2022

Lancashire 112-4 v Kent

This could be the end of play for the day at Old Trafford.

Dan Wheeler
BBC Hereford & Worcester

Bad light has stopped play with the game taking another twist.

After wobbling on 23-3 replying to 130, Jack Haynes and debutant Kashif Ali added 97 of the prettiest runs to put Derbyshire’s effort in context.

But a lapse from both as they chased wide ones - Haynes on 48 - and Kashif moments after notching a maiden half century have just inched the visitors back in with a sniff of conceding a manageable first innings deficit.

15 overs still remain. Unlikely we’ll get many more of those with the cover on and the clouds carrying dark bellies.

In fact, you can now upgrade that to drizzle.

Image source, Dan Wheeler - BBC Sport

Century stand for Browne & Walterpublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 25 July 2022

17:44 BST 25 July 2022

Essex 266-3 v Yorkshire

Essex are now well on top.

They have now put on 100 since tea, which makes it also the hundred partnership between Nick Browne and Paul Walter.

Image source, Rex Features

Half-century for Paul Walterpublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 25 July 2022

17:35 BST 25 July 2022

Essex 263-3 (90 overs) v Somerset

Essex got past 250 to earn a second batting point - and Paul Walter then goes to his half-century.

Not going well this for struggling Somerset, who took the new ball on cue, but had no luck with it.

Nick Browne looks intent on batting through the day.

The only consolation for the visitors is that there won't be much overtime - if any.

With spinners Joe Leach and Matt Resnahw having bowled 33 overs between them, Somerset are up with the rate.

Six overs left in the day.