Here we go... Jimmy Anderson bowling to Sir Alastair Cook with a brand new ball in hand.

It doesn't get much better than this.

233 runs from 66 overs against one of the best bowling attacks in the Championship... that's the task facing Surrey.

How will Rory Burns and Dom Sibley approach this afternoon session?

Nervously, is the answer. Keith Barker beats the edge of Burns almost immediately.

Nick Gledhill
BBC Essex

A brilliant morning for Lancashire who took full advantage of an Essex attack lacking Sam Cook to surely at least ensure themselves against defeat. With a minimum of 68 overs available they will now feel confident of forcing victory, especially if they can remove Alastair Cook early.

A pivotal moment of the morning was Colin De Grandhomme surviving an ugly swipe to the first ball he faced from Simon Harmer. He changed the momentum with a quick fire 38 but was upstaged by Tom Hartley who blasted a memorable career best unbeaten 73 off 50 balls including 5 sixes and 7 fours. Earlier Keaton Jennings just missed out on a hundred as he looked to accelerate in the team’s cause.

All the momentum lies with the visitors.

Andrew Radd
BBC Radio Northampton

"It was only a matter of time," insisted Northamptonshire captain Luke Procter after Australian top-order signing Sam Whiteman made his first noteworthy contribution to the cause, ushering the home side to their first Championship victory over Middlesex since 2010.

The left-hander, who led Western Australia to the Sheffield Shield title during the winter, followed three low scores with an unbeaten 60 from 79 balls as Northamptonshire coasted home by seven wickets shortly before lunch.

Whiteman and Procter shared a 68-run stand to settle the issue after Middlesex had threatened to make their hosts work hard for the 119 runs required.

When nightwatchman Chris Tremain departed at 52-3 a decent-sized Sunday morning crowd - drawn to the ground by free admission - emitted a collective sigh, before the new skipper calmed things down.

"It was important to bounce back" said Procter after his team's seven-wicket defeat in the opening round of matches at Canterbury - "and that's exactly what we did. I'm very proud."

Mike Taylor
BBC WM

Warwickshire have been in charge of this match since midday on Thursday, but with more than four sessions lost to the weather they still face a sprint to the tape this afternoon. Officially 67 overs remain, but the grey sky and an unpromising forecast may well reduce that number.

Four overs were shaved from the allocation as the groundstaff mopped up the morning drizzle, but the Bears quickly got busy.

The five-man seam attack is as strong as any the county have been able to field in several seasons, given the drain on their resources of international calls and, too often, injuries.

In view of the match situation and the overhead conditions, they must have been forming a queue at the captain’s door this morning.

Kent crumpled, four wickets falling in six overs, a sequence sparked by Chris Woakes’s surgical removal of Matt Quinn’s off-stump.

Rob Yates showed on Thursday that he is seeing the ball particularly well, in making an impressive century. His vision was evidently owl-sharp again this morning, demonstrated by slip catches at bootlace-level to dismiss Daniel Bell-Drummond, who pushed across a ball from Chris Rushworth, and Jack Leaning, to an edge in Hasan Ali’s first over.

Will Rhodes justified his decision to stand at fourth slip by catching Joe Denly there off Woakes.

Just as well, then, that Kent could call on Ben Compton, the batter who faced most deliveries in the first division last year. He showed good judgement throughout, and when he was beaten, maintained his concentration to block the next one.

Jordan Cox kept him company up to lunch, despite almost running himself out, which would have been a hard one to explain to the coach.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

A target of 295 in 86 overs might seem eminently gettable, but that is to reckon without a top-class Notts seam attack and a pitch which is still giving them plenty of assistance.

So whilst Somerset's batters have shown plenty of determination second time around, the combination of bowling and pitch has been too much for at least three of their top six, the pick of the wickets being the nip-backer which Stuart Broad produced to remove Camron Bancroft's off-stump.

A taste of things to come in the Ashes maybe, or that at least is what Broad will be hoping.

Worcestershire have lost an early wicket at Durham in their pursuit of 314. Matt Potts got Jake Libby for a duck to leave them 3-1 at lunch.

Leicestershire are 379-5 in their first innings against Derbyshire at the interval. Lewis Hill is 120 not out and England's Rehan Ahmed has 33.

Image source, Rex Features

Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire

Just about the perfect morning for Lancashire, set up by Keaton Jennings and George Bell in the first hour and then hammered home by Tom Bailey and Colin de Grandhomme in the second hour.

Hartley reaching his first 50 in first-class cricket, a wonderful display of clean powerful batting and I suspect he'll be unbeaten on 73 from 50 balls because a lunchtime declaration is on the cards.

Tom Hartley stretches and slaps the penultimate ball of Jamie Porter's over for a straight six.

He heads to the pavilion unbeaten on 73 from just 50 balls, and surely Lancashire will declare during the interval - they lead by 339.

Warwickshire's session. Just like the other five in which play was possible in this match.

Kent trail by 213 runs with 67 overs remaining and will rely on Ben Compton, who has 41 from 101 balls, and Jordan Cox, who has 17 from 38, to steer them through the afternoon.

Two wickets apiece for Chris Woakes and Chris Rushworth.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore and James Rew ensure that Somerset make it to lunch without further damage being done, but their prospects in this game look slim to none.

Two wickets apiece for Stuart Broad and Brett Hutton have reduced Somerset to 57-4, still requiring another 238 runs to win.

Surrey have negotiated the six overs before lunch with ease and remain firmly in the box seat.

Just the six runs from the last 35 balls of the session but no real scares and they will need 233 to win when they come back this afternoon.

Tension in the air in this short spell before lunch. Keith Barker and Mohammad Abbas trying to find their lines at either end. Rory Burns and Dom Sibley in absolutely no rush.

for Tom Hartleypublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 16 April 2023

12:54 BST 16 April 2023

Essex 219 v Lancs 207 & 336-7

No Essex bowler is safe at the minute.

Jamie Porter returns to the attack and is deposited back over his head for six by Tom Hartley.

That brings up 50 for Hartley, and he pulls away for six more - 19 off that over!

Lancashire's lead moves on to 323.

Image source, Rex Features

NORTHANTS BEAT MIDDLESEXpublished at 12:51 British Summer Time 16 April 2023

12:51 BST 16 April 2023

Northants (198 & 120-3) beat Middlesex (149 & 167) by seven wickets

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Whiteman rocks back and smashes a short ball from Sam Robson to the midwicket fence, and that is that at Northampton.

A thoroughly deserved victory for the hosts, who have outplayed Middlesex in all departments.

Postpublished at 12:49 British Summer Time 16 April 2023

12:49 BST 16 April 2023

Essex 219 v Lancs 207 & 311-7

Image source, Rex Features

Lancs continue to attack as we approach lunch, and Tom Hartley scythes Doug Bracewell for six over cover point.

A brilliant shot, and Tom Bailey doesn't want to miss out on the action, smashing Shane Snater over cow corner for six more.

for Sam Whitemanpublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 16 April 2023

12:46 BST 16 April 2023

Northants 114-3 v Middlesex, target 119

A dreadful delivery from Luke Hollman - a massive full toss, which Sam Whiteman flicks down to fine leg for four to move past 50.

The required runs are into single figures now for Northants.

Left-armer Keith Barker, right hand strapped, suggesting he was batting in pain, takes the first over but his opening delivery drifts onto the pads and it's meat and drink for Rory Burns who clips it away through midwicket to the fence for four.

A perfect start for the hosts.

Ollie Robinson falls to Ben Gibbon and Durham declare.

Worcestershire will need 314 off 70 overs. Strap in!