for Yatespublished at 12:42 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

12:42 BST 13 April 2023

Warwickshire 88-2 v Kent

After seeing only three balls in their opening fixture, Rob Yates has had himself a lovely start to Warwickshire's second match, he's just passed 2,000 FC runs and now has a very efficient half-century to show for his morning's work too.

Conor McKerr crashes in a shorter one and Yates cuts the ball to the rope with aplomb, bringing up his fifty with his 10th four from the 69 balls he has faced.

Any hopes that Middlesex have of a decent first innings score rely heavily on John Simpson.

The keeper-batter flicks Ben Sanderson for two off his hip, before playing a gorgeous, flowing cover drive that flies to the fence.

Simpson moves to 29.

The sun is out but Jordan Clark has a face like thunder. He beats Ben Brown with his second delivery, angling the ball in towards leg stump, but despite full-hearted appeals Brown survives again - he was also dropped on the rope after an ill-advised hook shot a short while ago.

Clark's frustration is compounded as Brown replies with two nice fours from his next four deliveries.

This is a good recovery from 39-4 by the visitors.

Jim Dale: I am not sure that there are many better slip fielders than Simon Harmer in world cricket at the moment. Can't think of many better that I've seen overall.

They're taking lunch at 12:30 BST at Leicestershire with another inspection planned for 13:10.

Let's hope for some more positive news then.

Image source, Rex Features

for Ben Duckettpublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

12:24 BST 13 April 2023

Notts 75-0 v Somerset

Jack Leach is brought into the attack at Trent Bridge, and Ben Duckett respectfully defends his first delivery, before reverse sweeping the second into the stands for six.

That's 50 for the England opener, off just 61 balls.

Caleb: Middlesex's top four have scored 53 combined runs off the bat for the loss of 12 wickets so far this season. Without Stephen Eskinazi's 37 against Essex, it's 16 runs for the loss of 11 wickets.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

It was a rather wet and miserable morning and around about 10am I wasn't sure how much play we would see today. So I was rather surprised to see play get under way at 11.15am.

The weather may well have been the reason why Worcestershire skipper Brett D'Oliveira decided to put Durham in. But the Durham director of cricket, Marcus North, has just told us on air it is a "bat first type of wicket".

Having been put in at Sussex last week, Michael Jones and Alex Lees put on 142 for the first wicket. Today they reached 50-0 in 11 overs.

The weather forecast remains mixed today and tomorrow, so any play is a bonus.

Three fours in four Joey Evison deliveries from Rob Yates, who has cruised along to 39 - 28 of which came via the ropes.

Sadly for Kent their tighest bowler looked to be Matt Quinn who was forced off in his fourth over through injury.

That means Jack Leaning is the only player on the field who took a wicket here last summer as Kent bowled Warwickshire out for 225 and 147. Matt Henry, Matt Milnes and Navdeep Saini shared 17 but are no longer with the club. Quinn took two on the final day.

Kevin Hand
BBC Radio London

Middlesex's Test top three have mustered a total of 16 runs in their first three innings of the season as Northamptonshire have made full use of the new ball at Wantage Road.

Andrew Strauss dropped down to the Middlesex side for an extended early season run many years back but could barely buy a run ahead of the Test summer.

"What do you expect me to do - drop him?" was the post match response from the then managing director of cricket Angus Fraser when I asked him about the England captain's form.

Similarly the trio that were expected to solidify the the visitors' top order - Sam Robson, Mark Stoneman and Pieter Malan will be fully backed in early season conditions.

The greenish tinge on the surface has certainly born the fruit that both sides expected at the toss.

Shades of Lord's last week when Middlesex were 20-5 against Essex - over to John Simpson and Mark Higgins again.

Ben Brown gets a streaky inside edge off Sean Abbott which brings up the most fortunate single of the morning.

If there is any way he and Flectha Middleton can get through to lunch you'd imagine they'll need a good 10 minutes in a quiet dark room after the session they have experienced against this potent Surrey attack.

Scrubsville: One season stay in Division One for Middlesex I should think, with barely any batting points too!

Middlesex's top three scoring 16 runs in total so far this season isn't ideal. Stevie Eskinazi at four has had a couple of ducks too.

Lancashire have steadied the ship somewhat after the early loss of both openers. Josh Bohannon opens the face to guide Doug Bracewell down to third for four, and moves to 24.

Bohannon and Steven Croft put on 173 for the third wicket last week as they batted their way to a draw against Surrey.

How Lancashire fans would love a repeat performance today.

Kevan James
BBC Radio Solent commentator

Batting was always going to be difficult this morning on an Oval surface showing a green tinge.

Hants captain James Vince really had to bat first with the sun shining.

Getting through the first hour at least was going to be difficult and so it has proved.

Kemar Roach who took eight wickets in the second innings in this fixture two seasons ago is revelling once more in the seaming conditions.

Fortunately for Hampshire Dan Worrall took a few overs to get into his groove.

Sean Abbott so close to a second wicket for Surrey. He angles a fuller delivery towards Ben Brown's leg stump, sending the Hampshire batter off balance and thudding his pads. The cordon go up in unison but the finger does not.

Brown's heart rate is in the cardio zone for the next few minutes, it's fair to say. You've seen those given.