Summary

  • James Anderson takes 5-76 for Lancashire, but Somerset's Tom Abell makes career-best 151

  • England's Ben Duckett hits 177 for Notts against Middlesex at Lord's

  • Hampshire captain James Vince makes 186 against Northamptonshire.

  • Tom Westley and Nick Browne score hundreds for Essex against Kent.

  • Yorkshire seamer Ben Coad takes 5-54 against Sussex at Hove.

  • No play possible at Worcester and Cardiff on second day because of rain

Live Reporting

Adam Lanigan, Ben Pheazey and Paul Grunill

  1. Abell praises Rew's maturity

    Somerset 311-4 v Lancashire

    Somerset batter James Rew celebrates a centuryRex Features

    James Rew's 114 not out is a career-best score for the 19-year-old wicketkeeper

    Somerset enjoyed their best day of the season by far on Thursday as an unbroken 231-run partnership between captain Tom Abell and James Rew turned a perilous 80-4 into a dominant overnight position, after being asked to bat first by Lancashire.

    Abell was unbeaten on 119, with 19-year-old wicketkeeper Rew just five runs behind him at stumps. And the skipper was impressed at how Rew handled himself against an attack led by England legend Jimmy Anderson.

    "It was an incredibly special innings, mature beyond his years," Abell told BBC Radio Somerset. "He's so talented and incredibly calm at the crease.

    "There were periods where they bowled really well and we had to absorb pressure, so it was incredibly from Rewey."

  2. rain stops play

    Play delayed at Lord's

    Middlesex v Notts 252-5

    Pity as this game is delicately poised. Very grey skies and covers all over the square at present - but we are expecting sunny breaks in between showers.

    So don't give up hope on this one just yet.

    Bring a brolly and a good book in the interim.

  3. Gubbins enjoys Vince partnership

    Northants v Hampshire 287-4 (at close on day one)

    Nick Gubbins and James VinceGetty Images

    Hampshire's Nick Gubbins said batting with skipper James Vince was always "really enjoyable" after the pair made centuries on the opening day at Wantage Road.

    Gubbins told BBC Radio Solent: "He's one of the best players to play with in the country, because whenever he's out there, the scoreboard is moving."

    The left-hander made 125 and Vince an unbeaten 104 and there stand of 198 was a club record for the third wicket against Northants.

    "It was a shame not to extend it further, but I got one that bounced towards the end - that's good signs for us moving into our bowling," he added.

    There has, though, been heavy rain overnight in the 'Rose of the Shires' so the umpires are inspecting and day two will be delayed.

  4. Garden getting a good watering

    Kent v Essex 164-1

    Rain at CanterburyBBC Sport

    The first day was one which Essex wished had not ended and Kent probably wished had not started.

    Essex were in a dominant position with two batters set in Nick Browne (54) and Tom Westley (71) when bad light and then rain set in, ending play 54 overs early.

    But as this photo from Canterbury from BBC Radio Essex's Glenn Speller shows, prospects of early play on day two are low.

    The Garden of England is getting a good watering on this Friday morning!

  5. Labuschagne mixes it up for Glamorgan

    Glamorgan v Durham 382-6 (at close on day one)

    Marnus LabuschagneGetty Images

    Glamorgan coach Matthew Maynard was content with the result of Marnus Labuchagne's bowling experiment despite a solid batting display by Durham on day one at Cardiff.

    Normally a leg-spinner, the Australia Test star sent down several overs of off-spin for figures of 2-73.

    "Marnus has been bowling all the time in nets with it," Maynard told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

    "He does spin it but he was a bit nervous bowling it for the first time in a professional game."

  6. Thompson content with first-change return

    Sussex 275-5 v Yorkshire (at close on day one)

    Jordan ThompsonRex Features

    Yorkshire all-rounder Jordan Thompson had no complaints about giving up the new-ball role after claiming 2-52 on the opening day against Sussex at Hove.

    Ben Coad and Matthew Fisher led the White Rose attack, with all-rounder Thompson operating in support and his victims included home skipper Cheteshwar Pujara.

    "It's just going back to the role that I had when I first came into the team in 2020, 2021, when I was more of a first-change bowler," he told BBC West Yorkshire Sport.

    "Gradually injuries brought me into opening the bowling and I had a few more chances to take wickets up top with the new ball....it's up to me now to be a bit tighter with my lines, a bit tighter with the run-rate but I'm still giving a few more four balls than I'd like."

  7. Weather outlook

    "Northern Ireland and Scotland will see the lion's share of sunshine and warmth today."

    We hope that lion is very happy, but the news from the BBC Weather Twitter feed for those of us focused on county cricket isn't quite so good.

    "Worth grabbing an umbrella before you head out in parts of England and Wales."

  8. How things stand

    After first day's play

    Division One

    Kent v Essex 164-1

    Middlesex v Nottinghamshire 252-5

    Northamptonshire v Hampshire 287-4

    Somerset 311-4 v Lancashire

    Division Two

    Glamorgan v Durham 382-6

    Sussex 275-5 v Yorkshire

    Worcestershire 118-7 v Gloucestershire 231

  9. Good morning

    There was some enthralling action on the opening day of the third round of games in the 2023 County Championship.

    We had six centuries in all and four of the '100 club' - James Vince, Ben Duckett, Tom Abell and James Rew are poised to continue their innings on day two.

    Welcome to our coverage. Play is scheduled to start at 11:00 - but won't at some grounds because of rain (more on this shortly).

    Cricket helmetGetty Images