Back underway in Brumpublished at 13:55 British Summer Time 27 July 2023

13:55 BST 27 July 2023

Warwickshire 60 & 232, Middlesex 199 & 56-1

Back underway in Birmingham - and Mark Stoneman is not hanging around.

The 50 is up already.

Only 38 more required - and Stoneman is already on to 36.

for Luis Reecepublished at 13:46 British Summer Time 27 July 2023

13:46 BST 27 July 2023

Derbyshire 177-2 v Glamorgan 521-8 dec

Back under way in Derby and Luis Reece is raising his bat.

He prods at one from Timm van der Gugten and it gets him four to reach his first hundred of the summer off 195 balls.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

We've lost just over an hour to drizzle this morning, and Somerset will be regretting that it wasn't more.

Yet again, their top order batting has been blown away, albeit by a top-class Surrey attack in ideal seam-bowling conditions, Jordan Clark outstanding with 3-15.

It has been another good session for Jamie Overton. After scoring a rapid 42 yesterday, being dropped by his twin brother Craig and putting a six through a pavilion window in the process, he took a stunning catch at backward point to see off the dangerous Tom Kohler-Cadmore for just five.

I think it's fair to say that he has enjoyed being back at the County Ground.

Nick Gledhill
BBC Essex

What could have been a tricky chase for Essex on a difficult pitch was made much easier by Jamie Porter and Sam Cook sharing the remaining four Hampshire wickets for the cost of just nine runs this morning.

Porter’s 5-46 gave him match figures of 10-43 and further confirmed a return to his best form this season. He is unlikely to replicate his 75 wickets of 2017 but he could yet, once again, be a crucial contributor to a championship winning side.

Despite the early loss of Alastair Cook and Tom Westley, Essex were never under serious pressure in pursuit of 83.

Nick Browne, Paul Walter and Michael Pepper all made valuable contributions, capitalising on anything loose.

That’s five consecutive wins for Essex and this defeat surely marks the end of Hampshire’s hopes.

Michael Pepper is the man who seals Essex's fifth consecutive County Championship victory in style, giving John Turner the charge and hoisting him to the cover boundary.

Pepper finishes unbeaten on 20, with Paul Walter's calm unbeaten 28 at the other end holding Essex's chase together despite that flurry of wickets that maintained Hampshire hopes.

What a result for Essex, who remain hot on the heels of defending champions and current front-runners Surrey in the race for the title.

Reece delayed by rain on 99 at Derbypublished at 13:20 British Summer Time 27 July 2023

13:20 BST 27 July 2023

Derbyshire 170-2 v Glamorgan 521-8 dec

Nick Webb
BBC Radio Wales

Frustration for Derbyshire opener Luis Reece, who was on 99 not out when a passing shower brought an early lunch interval at Derby having just benefitted from overthrows to move within a single of his first century of the season.

The gentle tempo of day two continued for Derbyshire’s batters this morning as Reece and Harry Came found survival easy, but runs hard to come by against some accurate Glamorgan seam bowling.

A spell of leg-spin from Mitch Swepson brought the first aggression of the day, but Timm van der Gugten returned to have Came caught behind for 65 off 192 balls in a stand of 165 with Reece.

One brought two, to quote the old cliché, as Brooke Guest was trapped lbw fourth ball without scoring, having notched up two hundreds in the fixture last year.

But both captains should be contemplating the need to agree a run chase on the final day.

More misery for cricket followers of Yorkshire and Durham.

There will now be an inspection at 14:00 BST.

Although you have to feel for anyone who may be holidaying in the Scarborough area this week.

Division One

Southampton: Hampshire 120 & 131, Essex 169 & 73-4 (latest)

Manchester: Northamptonshire 342, Lancashire 121-1 (no play before lunch)

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 350, Kent 184-4

Taunton: Somerset 170 &46-4, Surrey 368

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 60 & 232, Middlesex 199 & 41-1

Division Two

Derby: Glamorgan 521-8 dec, Derbyshire 170-2

Scarborough: Yorkshire 340, Durham 106-1

Cheltenham College: Worcestershire 406 v Gloucestershire (day two)

The covers are off at Old Trafford and weather permitting, we will have play beginning at 14:00 BST.

67 overs are scheduled with tea at 16:10.

Middlesex go to a delayed lunch still needing a further 53 to win.

Don't dilly dally too long over your puddings if you want to see the conclusion of this game.

With a restart time of 1:50, It should get wrapped up before 3 o'clock.

At least the Bears have made this game stretch to lunch on day three.

It briefly looked yesterday like they would not make it to lunch on day two, having been all out before lunch on day one.

Only 60 minutes play at Taunton, but Surrey have broken the back of Somerset's batting.

Three for Jordan Clark and one for Dan Worrall and the home side are relying on Tom Abell and James Rew again.

We've got a drop of rain at Trent Bridge and the players have left the field a couple of deliveries before the scheduled interval.

It's been a fairly even-steven kind of session, with Kent adding 82 to their overnight total for the loss of Ben Geddes and Jack Leaning.

Harry Finch is on 32 and Alex Blake - as you might expect from a white-ball specialist - has struck a six and two fours in his knock of 16 from 17 balls.

Dillon Pennington's fun ends and Worcestershire are all out for an excellent score of 406.

Remember, this is lunch on day two at Cheltenham.

Dropped catch at the Ageas Bowlpublished at 13:04 British Summer Time 27 July 2023

13:04 BST 27 July 2023

Hampshire v Essex 55-4

Oh dear me - could that prove to be a crucial drop by Hampshire?

Essex should have lost a fifth wicket there as Michael Pepper, who's yet to get off the mark, glances Mohammad Abbas to square leg and James Fuller shells the chance.

This run chase is by no means straightforward...

Last man Dillon Pennington swings away and gets four. That brings up his team's 400 and a fourth point for batting.

From 182-7, this is an incredible amount of wagging by the Pears' tail.

Agony for Gloucestershire and their bowlers.

Rain stops playpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 27 July 2023

12:57 BST 27 July 2023

Derbyshire 170-2 v Glamorgan 521-8 dec

The weather intervenes in Derby, probably to the home side's relief.

Timm van der Gugten made it two wickets in an over as he got Brooke Guest for a duck to follow on from Harry Came.

There will be no century for Worcestershire captain Brett D'Oliveira. He has fallen for 90 as they are 374-9 against Gloucestershire.

While Harry Came has gone for 65 as Derbyshire are 165-1 against Glamorgan, Dutchman Timm van der Gugten with the wicket.