It looks as though this Sussex batting is getting under Marnus Labuschagne's skin.

The Australian is bowling his leg-breaks at the moment and, after Fynn Hudson-Prentice had patted the ball back to him, he hurls it tersely to the wicketkeeper at head height.

Hudson-Prentice ducks out of the way and, having avoided injury, he adds insult by hammering Labuschagne's next two deliveries for four.

up for Northantspublished at 14:53 British Summer Time 19 May 2023

14:53 BST 19 May 2023

Hampshire 376 v Northamptonshire 50-7

Saif Zaib pokes one backward of point for a single off John Turner to bring up the 50.

He has 24. Emilio Gay is the next top-scorer with nine.

A smattering of applause. It took 27 traumatic overs to get there.

England batter Jason Roy talks to the BBC Test Match Special IPL podcast about his Test match career, full-time franchise deals and finding his love for the game again.

The rain has apparently stopped now in Bristol and the covers are coming off. Hopefully, we'll have some more play very soon.

Right-arm medium fast bowler John Turner comes on for his first over in Championship cricket.

The 22-year-old's maiden wicket in first-team cricket was Alastair Cook in the 50-over competition two years ago... that's a claim to fame. Can he add to his tally here?

Two off the over. Nice start.

Maybe someone relayed our earlier post to Somerset skipper Tom Abell? He's handed the ball to Peter Siddle at last - and the Australian's first over goes for 12.

Middlesex may be five down, but they're scoring at a decent rate with John Simpson and Ryan Higgins both going for their shots.

So far the pair have added 34 in next to no time and Middlesex will need a lot more of the same from them.

A signal of intent by Joe Clarke, who lofts the first ball of a new Simon Harmer down the ground for four. Not much sign of turn for the Essex spinner at this stage.

up for Surreypublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 19 May 2023

14:40 BST 19 May 2023

202-6 v Kent 278

It's not exactly been plain sailing but Surrey are within 50 of a batting bonus point and are 76 behind Kent's total.

Jordan Clark and Sean Abbott are rotating the strike nicely. Baby steps. Abbott glances one off his hips from Joey Evison to bring up the 200.

It never rains but it pours. Keith Barker gets one to jump up at Saif Zaib and he takes it flush on the glove. He looks to the heavens, gritting his teeth. That one has hurt a lot.

Physio on. Brief interlude. He should be ok to continue. Tough lad.

A couple of streaky boundaries have taken the partnership to 14 - the best of the innings, it may not surprise you to learn. Not even in their top-10 lowest scores anymore.

for Matthew Montgomerypublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 19 May 2023

14:35 BST 19 May 2023

Notts 131-2 v Essex 298

Image source, Rex

Matthew Montgomery's 50 arrives from 116 balls with a quick single to mid-off. The last time he posted a half-century, the Notts batter went on to make 178 against Durham. Essex very much hope he won't repeat that.

Sussex will be aiming to make this a three-innings match if they can and ideally they'd like some more batting points along the way.

Three are in the bag now, courtesy of Fynn Hudson-Prentice's boundary off James Harris. He's quickly moved to 17, with James Coles unbeaten on 106 and the home side lead by 229.

Matthew Montgomery is closing in on what would be only his second half-century of the season and there are four easy runs as Shane Snater strays outside leg and he has loads of time to flick it away fine.

Montgomery is 47 not out and Simon Harmer will start the next over, bowling to Joe Clarke.

You wonder whether Somerset might have told Peter Siddle to relax and put his feet up for the entire innings?

So far the visitors have used just three bowlers and they've ripped out the Middlesex top order.

Lewis Gregory thought he might have had a sixth wicket just now, but his appeal for a catch behind against Ryan Higgins was rejected. Higgins is 2 not out, with John Simpson on 19.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

The weather was beautiful at lunchtime. Children from 11 schools in the Bristol area were playing on the outfield. And some of the Durham reserve players were having a bowl as well.

Then suddenly we could hear lots of children screaming and when we looked up from the press room they were running for cover. A squall had hit the ground and suddenly things were a lot different.

The covers are on. We have had a few heavy showers since but hopefully it will brighten up and they will be back on soon.

It's currently not great for Northants, but it's been worse.

If they don't score another run it's only their sixth lowest first-class total.

They were ousted for just 12 at Gloucester in 1907. The BBC live text that day must have made heavy reading.

Their lowest score against Hampshire was 50 all-out in Northampton in 1926 while their lowest total at Southampton was 60, in 1908.

I doubt Jordan Buckingham and Saif Zaib know that, but they have more important things to concern themselves with at present.

Meanwhile the skies are threatening around Southampton.

Arafat Bhuiyan is acquitting himself very well indeed in his first Championship game for Kent - four wickets so far against 2022 champions Surrey no less. What's the best debut performance you have seen for the county you follow? Get in touch and let us know.