Image source, Rex Features

And with stumps at Edgbaston, that's today's county cricket done for the day.

We'll be back on Friday from 10:45 BST with all the action from day two.

Hope you can join us then!

A century from Rob Yates (128) and Sam Hain's unbeaten 124 have put the hosts firmly in the driving seat on the opening day.

Hain and Yates shared 164 for the third wicket with Hain adding an unbroken 132 for the fourth with Dan Mousley, who is unbeaten on a career-best 72 overnight.

Kent's depleted bowling ranks have been tested to the limits, and will expect to be once again tomorrow, weather permitting.

Tom Abell plays out a maiden from Dane Paterson, and that is that for today in Nottingham.

Ben Duckett and Haseeb Hameed put on 125 for the first wicket, with Duckett scoring freely on both sides of the wicket.

However, from there the hosts collapsed somewhat, losing their last nine wickets for 92 runs.

Somerset nerves would have been jangling when openers Sean Dickson and Tom Lammonby fell cheaply, but Abell and Cameron Bancroft have seen them to the close.

Kent look a little tired. An overthrow in the field allows Mousley to scamper through for three to move to 71 not out, which equals his first-class best.

Glenn Speller
BBC Essex sport

Not an easy day for the batters despite Lancashire winning the toss and batting AND Essex admitting they would have done the same.

Sam Cook has once again pushed his claim for international recognition with a five wicket haul while Lancashire have George Bell’s maiden first class half-century to thank for helping them to a par score.

The Alastair Cook v James Anderson battle didn’t last quite as long as Essex fans will have hoped for but, having mentioned Sam Cook’s hopes for an England call, Dan Lawrence is doing his case for a recall no harm at all. He is such a lovely, clean striker of a cricket ball and has backed-up his century at Lord’s with another solid contribution.

Essex will hope Lawrence can carry on well into tomorrow while Lancashire will see his wicket as key to their chances.

Dan Lawrence plays out a maiden from Jimmy Anderson, punches gloves with Matt Critchley and heads to the pavilion knowing that he, with Critchley, has guided Essex through a potentially sticky situation.

Sam Cook was his usual relentlessly accurate self with ball in hand, taking 5-42 to restrict Lancashire to 207. George Bell batted wonderfully for his first first-class 50, while Jimmy Anderson was left stranded just 91 short of a first career hundred.

Anderson then took his first wicket of the summer in the first over of Essex's reply, as Nick Browne edged to slip, and then he trapped his old pal Alastair Cook lbw.

When Will Williams removed Tom Westley, Essex looked in real trouble, but that fine partnership of 73 from Lawrence and Critchley took the hosts to the close.

Image source, Rex Features

Another bonus point in the bag for the home side. Two overs remaining, what Kent would give to get rid of at least one of these two.

It's now stumps in both of today's Division Two games.

Leicestershire's fine start to the season has continued. They've closed on 243-2 against Derbyshire with Lewis Hill (75 not out) and Colin Ackermann (79 not out) putting on 141 for the third wicket.

Durham have also enjoyed a good day with the bat against Worcestershire. They've finished on 363-7 including a century for David Bedingham.

Rory Burns and Dom SIbley have indeed negotiated a tricky evening session and, weather permitting, will be looking to build a foundation for a decent first innings lead tomorrow.

The day began well for the hosts, reducing Hampshire to 39-4, and despite 95 from Ben Brown and 58 from Keith Barker, Surrey will think their total of 254 is very beatable.

Tom Lawes, named in the side in the absence of Ben Foakes, claimed 4-58 and added some eyecatching highlights to his showreel.

Fascinating day in store tomorrow.

Luke Procter and Rob Keogh successfully guide the home side to the close.

They have put on exactly 30 for the fourth wicket, and will want plenty more tomorrow.

Earlier on, Northants ran through Middlesex's shaky top order to leave them 11-4, and it was only a fine knock of 70 from Ryan Higgins that took Middlesex to any sort of score.

Ricardo Vasconcelos fell early in reply, but since then Northants have progressed steadily, and they are well and truly in command heading in to day two.

James Fuller gets the final over of the day and begins it with a rank full toss. He might have lost his grip, to be fair to him.

Sam Hain has moved onto 116 and Dan Mousley has 52. The duo have added an unbroken century partnership for the fourth wicket in 22 overs.

Kent have been made to toil all day long. How long will they be made to toil tomorrow too?

Mohammad Abbas produces a moment of magic and I'm not sure how he hasn't made the breakthrough. Dom Sibley sees the ball angle in but fly over his off-stump.

If Surrey get through the last two overs unscathed they will consider it a successful day at the office.

I've watched it back, and it appears that five penalty runs were added for Colin de Grandhomme throwing the ball at Matt Critchley in his follow-through.

Critchley punched a straight drive back to De Grandhomme, who did that thing bowlers do where they try to throw down the stumps.

Critchley never left his ground though, and the umpires clearly deemed that was deserving of punishment...

As well as Hampshire have bowled early-on, Rory Burns is settling in nicely for the hosts, he's sent each of Keith Barker, Mohammad Abbas and now first-change Kyle Abbott to the fence.

for Mousleypublished at 18:31 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

18:31 BST 13 April 2023

Warwickshire 328-3 v Kent

Dan Mousley won't grab too many headlines in a lineup with two centurions in it, however he's provided some great entertainment and kept Kent under the pump after tea with some fine shots, clearing the rope on three occasions too, of course.

The 21-year-old brings up a thoroughly deserved half-century with a nudge off his hips - his second first-class fifty, and not his last, you can be sure of that!

Hmmm, Essex were 75-3 at the start of James Anderson's latest over, and took three from it, but Essex's stream has the score at 83-3.

Five penalty runs appear to have been added, but I'm not sure what for.

I'll update you all as and when I can.

Box office stuff. One for the purists. A classy opening pair trying to negotiate the dying embers of the day against a wily and skilful attack.

It's not about the scoreboard for Surrey in the final six overs. The only number they are interested in tonight is the big fat zero in the wickets column.

Dan Lawrence and Matt Critchley have steadied the ship for Essex since Tom Westley's dismissal and are approaching a 50 partnership.

James Anderson is back into the attack, as Lancs seek a fourth wicket before the day's end.