We are now off and running. In all eight matches.

Our accompanying BBC radio coverage has its base this week at Scarborough, where Radio Five's Kevin Howells is overseeing the Yorkshire-Hampshire game.

As well as that match, you can tune into live ball-by-ball BBC local radio commentary from all the other seven games - at Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Old Trafford, The Oval, The Riverside, New Road and Trent Bridge.

Just click on the audio links at the top of this page.

We could be set for an interesting finish at New Road, where an unbroken century stand between Derbyshire duo Anuj Dal and Mattie McKiernan has wrested the initiative from Worcestershire.

Dal, who hit his maiden first-class hundred against the Pears earlier this season, is just 15 short of another after he and McKiernan (58 not out) added 120 on the second evening.

That lifted the visitors - who collapsed to 14-5 on the first morning - to 286-6, an overall lead of 231.

At Chester-le-Street, Middlesex could do with a sizeable score from former Durham opener Mark Stoneman as they reply to the home side's 421-7 declared.

Stoneman and Sam Robson steered Middlesex to 43-0 at the close on day two.

Meanwhile, day two is about to begin at Trent Bridge, where Sussex are looking to their run machine, India's Cheteshwar Pujara, to dig them out of trouble against Nottinghamshire.

Pujara resumes unbeaten on 34, having overseen a slight recovery to 94-5 as Sussex respond to the Division Two leaders' total of 240.

The two most advanced games this week all involve the top three - at Scarborough, The Oval and Old Trafford.

Yorkshire, 59 behind on first innings, have already lost a wicket in their second innings against second-placed Hampshire, having closed on 23-1.

Warwickshire, who trailed leaders Surrey by 63 on first innings, have so far faced two overs in their second innings - but not without alarms in the form of a near comedy run-out involving Dom Sibley last night.

Third-placed Lancashire have a lot of work to do against Kent, however, having been bowled out for 145 before allowing the visitors to run up 270 - and they still trailed by 123 overnight.

Image source, Rex Features

At Cheltenham and Chelsmford, the bat has been more dominant.

Somerset have reached 99-1, replying to Essex's Nick Browne-inspired 505-9 declared. And Northants have gone past Gloucestershire's 317 all out, to lead by 36 with three wickets still in hand.

Today's Weather Outlookpublished at 10:51 British Summer Time 27 July 2022

10:51 BST 27 July 2022

The BBC Weather page predicts that:

"Today will start bright for many, but the south-east will be cloudier.

"Later on, patchy cloud will develop widely, becoming thicker in the afternoon and yielding a few showers."

So make hay while the sun shines seems to be the message . . .

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex 505-9 dec, Somerset 99-1 (27 overs)

Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 317, Northamptonshire 353-7 (108 overs)

Old Trafford: Lancashire 145 & 2-0, Kent 270

The Oval: Warwickshire 253 & 1-0, Surrey 316

Scarborough: Yorkshire 159 & 23-1, Hampshire 218

DIVISION TWO

Riverside: Durham 421-7 dec, Middlesex 43-0

New Road: Derbyshire 130 & 286-6, Worcestershire 185

Trent Bridge (day one): Notts 240, Sussex 94-5

Image source, Rex Features

Welcome back for day three in this week's online County Championship cricket coverage.

Eight games are underway. Seven of them at the halfway stage (timewise at least). And we will hopefully bring you all the highlights. And not too may lowlights.

Stick with us for the next seven hours and a bit.

Exactly how big a bit depends on the weather and how quickly those bowlers can get their overs bowled.