Surrey are trying to wrestle back some initiative and Rory Burns has thrown the ball to Cam Steel to try a spot of leg spin.

With a majestic moustache and a hint of a mullet is there a more Australian-looking, American-born English cricketer in the game today? I suspect there is not.

Rain stops playpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

15:46 BST 13 April 2023

Warwickshire 193-2

The players head back to the pavilion with the noisy backdrop of the air covers being fired-up. The sky looks incredibly ominous and this looks to be a preemptive strike ahead of a deluge.

Common sense suggests they might take an early tea here, and that's just what they are doing.

Some grey clouds are glowering over South London and the lights flicker on at The Oval. Ben Brown and Keith Barker remain in the middle, unbowed. It's been Hampshire's afternoon, just not as emphatically as the morning belonged to Surrey.

Ah, no hat-trick to report I'm afraid.

It was actually a no ball from Lewis Gregory, which Steven Mullaney played calmly into the leg-side, and then whips the next ball through midwicket for four.

It's a great over from Gregory though, one which brings Somerset back into the contest, and earns them a first bowling point.

Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire commentator

George Bell probably has fond memories of the County Ground but he would be forgiven for still waking up in a cold sweat over the prospect of batting in Chelmsford.

His first-class debut came here last year, in a game that finished before lunch on day two. On a pitch which was seemingly unplayable, he top scored to help Lancashire to a remarkable win.

This is just his third game since, and he came out to bat with the team on 53-4 before lunch and has since gone onto reach his maiden first class half-century.

Hampshire's recovery has reached the 150-run marker. A smattering of respectful applause at The Oval from spectators who were probably expecting them to fall well short of this score in the early stages.

for George Bellpublished at 15:27 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

15:27 BST 13 April 2023

Essex v Lancs

Short from Simon Harmer and George Bell rocks back to cut powerfully for four - his ninth of the day.

It's his first first-class half-century, and I'm sure there will be many more to come.

The 20-year-old is very easy on the eye, and has guided Lancashire through a tricky patch today.

Image source, Rex Features

The players are back out at Northampton, and Ricardo Vasconcelos has started nicely here.

A lovely punch off the back foot goes for four through cover point.

This is well worth a listen if you get a spare 30 minutes.

It includes New Zealand umpire Kim Cotton speaking about becoming the first female on-field umpire to stand in a men’s international between two full-member nations.

Click here to listen.

for Bedinghampublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

15:17 BST 13 April 2023

Durham 176-3 v Worcestershire

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

A few weeks ago David Bedingham revealed he no longer wants to wait to play for England. By the time he qualifies he will be 31. So instead he's hoping he will get a call from his native South Africa while the iron is hot.

And today the 28-year-old has played some nice shots to remind people why he could well be in contention for international honours in the near future. He has 50 runs, but has also passed 2,000 in first-class cricket for Durham in the process.

Another batter with international hopes is Durham opener Alex Lees. Following 10 Tests for England last year he was dropped. But today he hit his second half-century of the season.

He was on 70 when he fell to a ball from Ben Gibbon, which jagged back and took his middle stump. Up until that point he'd looked to be in little trouble today.

Meanwhile we didn't expect to see much cricket today because the weather forecast was awful. However, it keeps changing. While there are dark banks of cloud to the north, the ground is bathed in sunshine.

The partnership between Ben Brown and Keith Barker has reached 30, but more importantly has eaten up 15 wicketless overs.

No fireworks but Hampshire won't mind that one bit, they have clawed and inched their way back into this contest since the difficult start.

for Yatespublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

15:10 BST 13 April 2023

Warwickshire 177-2 v Kent

23-year-old Rob Yates raises his bat to all corners of Edgbaston as the spectators applaud his eighth first-class century.

Brought up with a pulled four, of course, his 17th, to go with a six. It took him 152 balls.

Yates has shared an unbroken century for the third wicket with Sam Hain and they are swiftly batting Kent out of contention here.