Postpublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Northants v Somerset 321-7
Lewis Gregory and Craig Overton continue to tick along, and are pushing Somerset towards a very healthy first-innings score here.
Gregory has 28; Overton has 37.
Summary
Eight fixtures in latest round of County Championship
Div One: Essex v Kent, Middlesex v Surrey, Northants v Somerset, Notts v Hants, Warwickshire v Lancs
Div Two: Derbys v Durham, Leics v Worcs, Yorkshire v Sussex
Postpublished at 17:57 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Play resumes at Headingleypublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Division Two latest
Good news - they're coming back on in Leeds! Sussex resume on 62-5 with 14.3 overs left in the day.
The bowlers continue to dominate between Leicestershire and Worcestershire. Leicestershire are 44-4 in response to Worcestershire's 178 all out.
Durham continue to chip away at Derbyshire having just picked up their sixth wicket. The hosts are 297-6 with Brooke Guest still there on 137.
for Jamie Smithpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Middlesex v Surrey 273-5
An eighth first class century for Jamie Smith and a second in five weeks. Sweet for the 23-year-old, who fell three short of this milestone against Middlesex in the home match at the Oval.
This hundred was more measured than his breezy one at Canterbury in June, but some of the 11 fours and that monster six were breathtaking. Seek out the highlights and thank us later.
A flick through mid-wicket off Tim Murtagh for a couple takes him to the mark off 137 deliveries.
Can he steer his side to a 400+ total here?
for Alastair Cookpublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Essex 78-0 v Kent 207
Just the 123 first class half-centuries for Alastair Cook.
It takes a good knock to improve the 38-year-old's average after all these years and this has been a good knock. His 10th four, paddled fine off Hamid Qadri, brought it up from 76 balls.
Essex have built a perfect platform to bat Kent out of the game and potentially set up a fourth straight win, by an innings.
129 behind.
WICKET Hameed c Brown b Barker 2published at 17:38 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Notts 5-1 v Hants 166
Keith Barker, bowling round the wicket, gets one to hold its line and Haseeb Hameed gets a healthy edge through to Ben Brown behind the stumps.
Will Young is in at three.
New ball taken by Middlesexpublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Middlesex v Surrey 253-5
Batting bonus point number one in the bag for the visitors and Middlesex will try to fashion another breakthrough with a shiny new ball, which will be thrown to Tim Murtagh.
Postpublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Notts 3-0 v Hants 166
Keith Barker has the new ball in hand for Hampshire, as they seek early wickets having been bundled out for just 166.
Ben Slater and Haseeb Hameed are the two openers for Notts, and they both get off the mark inside the first over.
Postpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Essex 63-0 v Kent 207
Alastair Cook cracks his ninth four with a dismissive flick through the covers off a short and wide delivery from the returning Grant Stewart.
He has 45 from 62 balls.
The Essex deficit is down to 146 with all 10 wickets in hand.
for Tom Baileypublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Warks v Lancs 249-7
Tom Bailey inside edges a short ball from Oliver Hannon-Dalby, but it rolls harmlessly into the leg-side, and he trots through for a single that brings up his half-century.
It's his ninth in first-class cricket and first since making 59 at Hampshire in April 2022.
Lancashire were 150-7 earlier this afternoon, but this pair have batted superbly to bring them back into the contest.
Balderson dropped on 75published at 17:19 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Warks v Lancs 247-7
George Balderson prods at one outside off from Oliver Hannon-Dalby, and nicks it straight to second slip, but it goes to ground.
It went quickly, but that's fairly regulation at this level.
1,000 first-class runs for Baldersonpublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Warwickshire v Lancashire 246-7
Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire commentatorThe perfect response by George Balderson after being dropped last week, he responds with a vital half-century this week.
He's had a very solid season both with bat and ball and it was a tough call to leave him out for the match against Essex in Blackpool.
He also passed 1,000 first-class runs in his career when he reached 72.
WICKET Jacks c Simpson b Helm 2published at 17:16 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Middlesex v Surrey 240-5
Will Jacks has taken a big stride down the field planning to cut away a bouncer, he's ended up changing his mind to uppercut the ball over the keeper but has basically ended up just given John Simpson catching practice. Helm has 3-64.
An inauspicious dismissal.
Jordan Clark is in to join Jamie Smith. Surrey are 10 shy of a bonus point.
Further Headingley inspection at 17:30 BSTpublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Division Two latest
The rain has stopped at Headingley but the umpires are still not happy the ground is fit for play between Yorkshire and Sussex. They'll have another look in about 20 minutes.
Part-time Durham spinner Scott Borthwick has picked up a couple of Derbyshire wickets in consecutive overs to leave them 271-5. Brooke Guest is still there on 121.
Worcestershire have got an early wicket at Leicestershire. Dillon Pennington removed Rishi Patel cheaply with the Foxes now on 20-1. The Pears were bowled out for 178 earlier.
Image source, Rex FeaturesWICKET Organ c Clarke b Hutton 26published at 17:11 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Notts v Hants 166
Felix Organ looks to swing Brett Hutton away down the ground, but only manages to hit it straight up in the air, and Joe Clarke takes a fairly straightforward catch.
Hampshire are all out for 166, with seven single-figure scores, including four ducks.
WICKET Abbott c Young b Paterson 3published at 17:10 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Notts v Hants 166-9
Kyle Abbott flashes a short and wide delivery from Dane Paterson to backward point, where Will Young takes a superb diving catch away to his left.
Postpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Warks v Lancs 231-7
Tom Bailey scythes Will Rhodes for three boundaries, all through the leg-side, and moves on to 40.
He didn't bother running for the last of the three - dismissive.
WICKET Rew c McManus b Broad 22published at 17:01 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Northants v Somerset 261-7
The man in form gets in, but gets out!
James Rew looks to cut Justin Broad through the off-side, but can only edge it through to the gloves of Lewis McManus.
Northants have pegged Somerset back well this afternoon.
for Jamie Smithpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Middlesex v Surrey 235-4
Jamie Smith has picked up spinner Josh De Caires and deposited him into the second tier of the stand for six.
He has 75 from 108, sorry, make that 79 from 109, he's square cut that for four.
15 off the De Caires over.
Six overs until Middlesex can take the new ball.
WICKET Fuller c Harrison b Hutton 46published at 16:58 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Notts v Hants 161-8
It's full from Brett Hutton, James Fuller flashes hard, and edges to the one man stationed in the cordon.
Kyle Abbott joins Felix Organ in the middle.
Image source, Rex FeaturesWICKET Foakes c Higgins b Helm 20published at 16:53 British Summer Time 19 July 2023
Middlesex v Surrey 220-4
What a catch! Ben Foakes clips Tom Helm away into the leg side but Ryan Higgins has launched himself to his left at mid-wicket to take a superb catch and just about keep Middlesex in the game.
Will Jacks is next in, joining Jamie Smith on 66*.
Just 30 needed for the opening batting bonus point.