Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

The Durham bowlers have kept it really tight this morning.

Only three runs were scored in the first 45 minutes - and the pressure eventually told.

With Middlesex on 46, former Durham opener Mark Stomeman was on 19 when he looked to cut a delivery from Ben Raine which was wide of off stump and he was caught behind.

England's Matty Potts has bowled 12 overs, nine of which were maidens. Having said all of that, taking 20 wickets here will be a major task on a slow and flat track.

for James Salespublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 27 July 2022

12:24 BST 27 July 2022

Glos 317 v Northants 407-8

That Northants advantage is creeping up towards three figures and James Sales has contributed exactly 50 now, hammering Zafar Gohar to the boundary to reach the landmark.

It's a second half-century in red-ball cricket for the teenager, who's making his fourth County Championship appearance.

Ben Sanderson is hanging around with him and frustrating the Gloucestershire bowlers.

Half-centures for Matt Renshaw & Tom Abellpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 27 July 2022

12:12 BST 27 July 2022

Essex 505-9 dec, Somerset 138-1

Somerset opener Matt Renshaw and skipper Tom Abell both get to their 50 in quick succession as the visitors bed in, having so far negotiated the Simon Harmer threat successfully.

Harmer struck with his third ball yesteday - but nothing since.

Remarkable really, having taken 28 in his previous two Essex home games.

Finally, Gloucestershire pick up their first wicket of the day - and it's a somewhat tame dismissal as Simon Kerrigan steers Zafar Gohar straight into the hands of cover.

That's a fifth wicket for the Gloucestershire spinner, but James Sales is still there for Northamptonshire, who have extended their lead to 69.

'Anything you can do, I can do just as well' says Dane Paterson, who joins Nottinghamshire team-mate James Pattinson by completing a five-wicket haul to bowl Sussex out for 143.

Paterson finishes with 5-43 and Pattinson 5-56 as Notts take a first-innings lead of 97 at Trent Bridge.

At New Road, Anuj Dal has registered his third century of the season - and second against Worcestershire - to steer Derbyshire to 325-8, a lead of 270.

Ben Raine has captured the first Middlesex wicket at the Riverside, with Mark Stoneman caught behind for 19 as the visitors reach 52-1, replying to Durham's 421-7 declared.

Jamie Overton injured at the Ovalpublished at 11:59 British Summer Time 27 July 2022

11:59 BST 27 July 2022

Surrey 316 v Warwicks 253 & 32-2

Concern for Surrey as Jamie Overton pulls up during his delivery stride. The seamer's now being helped off the field with an apparent injury to his left leg.

Meanwhile, there have been no further wickets since Warwickshire lost both of their overnight batters, although Chris Benjamin is living a little dangerously.

Benjamin is 19 not out and has two boundaries to his name, although two of them were rather fortunate edges through the slips off Kemar Roach that were either too high or just short to result in a catch.

50 up for Lancashire toopublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 27 July 2022

11:55 BST 27 July 2022

Lancashire 50-0 v Kent

Luke Wells so far going the better of the two Lancashire openers second time around, on 38, to just 14 in 55 balls from Keaton Jennings.

The first-innings Red Rose deficit of 125 is now close to being halved.

50 up for Yorkshirepublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 27 July 2022

11:55 BST 27 July 2022

Yorkshire 159 & 52-2 v Hampshire

52-2 certainly sounds better for Yorkshire than it did in the first innings, when they got there six down, having been 33-6

Adam Lyth, having survived his drop in the second over this morning, looks in the mood to make Hampshire pay on 30.

13 overs gone already today at Chelmsford - and Somerset have made a cautious start, adding just 16 runs.

Matt Renshaw (44) and visiting skipper Tom Abell (35) are both eyeing half-centuries.

Just for a change, it's the Pattinson and Paterson show at Trent Bridge where Nottinghamshire look set to secure a first-innings lead against Sussex.

James Pattinson has just completed his five-for by dismissing Archie Lenham and Ollie Robinson, while Dane Paterson picked up the prize wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara, lbw for 49.

Six overs negotiated by Lancashire at Old Trafford - and Luke Wells has already plundered three boundaries.

Keaton Jennings is more circumspect on 4 from 29 balls.

No joy as yet for Gloucestershire's bowlers at Cheltenham this morning - although David Payne can consider himself unlucky not to have sent James Sales on his way.

Sales was dropped in the gully by Marcus Harris and, in Payne's next over, another edge evaded Tom Price in the slips. Simon Kerrigan is 10 not out, with Sales 26 as Northants extend their lead to a very handy 55.

Dropped catch at Cheltenhampublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 27 July 2022

11:10 BST 27 July 2022

Glos 317 v Northants 359-7

Gloucestershire were looking to wrap up the Northants innings quickly and limit their first-innings lead, but their cause hasn't been helped by Marcus Harris putting James Sales down off David Payne.

Payne surprised the batter with a rising delivery, his first of the morning, but Harris grassed the chance at gully.

Any hope the home side nurtured of securing a third bowling point has now disappeared with the end of the 110th over. Northamptonshire lead by 42.

Dropped catch at Scarboroughpublished at 11:06 British Summer Time 27 July 2022

11:06 BST 27 July 2022

Yorkshire 159 & 32-1, Hampshire 218

Early miss at Scarborough as Yorkshire opener Adam Lyth is put down in the slips by Joe Weatherley in the second over off Kyle Abbott.

With the pitch rolled and the sun out, how big a miss could that prove to be?

Lyth has a decent record against Hampshire - three previous centuries against them, and five fifties.

Dan Wheeler
BBC Hereford & Worcester

While it's wrong to say Worcestershire have lost control of this game, their grip on it has loosened considerably.

Derbyshire, prostrate on the canvas at 3-3, 14-5 and 57-7 on day one and 92-5 with a lead of just 37 in their second innings, have somehow got up and put themselves in an excellent position.

Thanks to Anuj Dal, continuing his best-ever season, and Mattie McKiernan in a stand of 120, they're now 231 ahead.

Armed with the new ball, the Pears have to do what Derbyshire did to their first innings and wrap it up sharpish.

Confidence will be high after their thrilling run chase against Middlesex and they'll know how much easier the pitch has become to bat on.

Expect more twists . . .