Image source, Rex Features

Surrey may have moved a couple of points closer to the title by taking six Northants wickets - but Essex have shown that they certainly haven't given up on their bid for the trophy.

Adam Rossington's 104 has put them in a strong position against Hampshire, with the day's other century coming from Somerset's Tom Lammonby against relegation-threatened Kent.

With poor weather about, it's advantage the teams with points on the board, but Leicestershire ran through Yorkshire to show they still believe they can pip Worcestershire for the second promotion spot.

We'll be back with you tomorrow from 10:00am for further coverage.

Division One

Essex 310-6 v Hampshire

Lancashire v Nottinghamshire - no play possible on day one

Middlesex 121 v Warwickshire 72-4

Somerset 214-2 v Kent

Surrey v Northamptonshire 171-6

Division Two

Derbyshire v Sussex - no play possible on day one

Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9

Worcestershire 104-1 v Durham

Bad light calls time early on day one.

It’s fairly even stevens after an extraordinary day at Lord’s where 14 wickets fell in just 64 overs of play.

The first half of the day belonged to the Warwickshire seamers, spearheaded by Oliver Hannon-Dalby’s 5-29.

Chris Rushworth and Ed Barnard also exploited the bowler-friendly conditions to take two wickets apiece as the hosts were skittled for just 122 inside 40 overs, despite Josh de Caires’ battling 40.

Then it was over to Tim Murtagh who marked his final match at Lord’s with an opening salvo of 3-8.

However, Will Rhodes (36 not out) did well to nurse the Bears to 72-4 at stumps and give them the slight edge.

Ed Barnard finally gets hold of one and pulls Jayant Yadav.

Mark Stoneman gets his fingertips to it at midwicket, but the ball has enough on it to reach the boundary.

The umpires are looking at their light meters again....and they're going off for bad light.

A bit of pace and bounce from Tom Helm rattles Will Rhodes but he remains unmoved on 35.

Another one keeps low and is a whisker from clipping the off stump.

It's the second-highest knock of the day and a valuable innings in the circumstances.

Jayant Yadav to continue.

The sun finally pokes its head out in St John's Wood to cast an early evening shadow across Lord's.

It persuades Middlesex skipper Mark Stoneman to return to a bit of quicker stuff with Tom Helm.

The umpires have called time on day one of this match after 53.2 overs.

The day was emphatically won by the home side, who were put in by Kent on a green surface after losing the toss.

There was some movement for the Kent attack, but perhaps not as much as they might have expected.

Tom Lammonby batted with aplomb to take Somerset to 205 in the 52nd over before being caught behind off the bowling of Daniel Bell-Drummond for 109.

This is his first century for Somerset this season.

Kent are ninth in the Division One table and need to win this game to keep the pressure on Middlesex, who currently sit just two points above the relegation zone in eighth place.

But the Kent attack was repelled not only by a superb innings from Lammonby, but also an unbeaten 70 from Lewis Goldsworthy.

The visiting side were further rocked by an injury to Michael Hogan, which restricted his bowling to 11.2 overs.

Just a single for Matt Critchley from the latest Kyle Abbott over at Chelmsford and the umpires decide the light isn't good enough to continue.

That is it for the day, and it's been a successful one for Essex after a poor start.

Skipper Tom Westley stabilised the innings with an even 50 and a stand of 177 between Adam Rossington (104) and Matt Critchley (83 not out) has earned them two batting points, with the prospect of more to come.

Hampshire's attack plugged away well, and there were two wickets each for Mohammad Abbas and Liam Dawson.

The dark clouds have closed in at the Oval - and that's the end of day one after 63.4 overs.

Determined batting from Hassan Azad (48 off 151 balls) and an unbeaten half century from Karun Nair was the mainstay of the Northants batting on a pitch that often offered bounce and movement for a quality Surrey attack.

But Nair was nearly dismissed on 11 when he edged a ball from Dan Worrall to Jamie Overton at slip, where the chance was spilled.

Tom Lawes was the pick of the Surrey bowlers with 3-47.

There will be no resumption at New Road after the players were taken off because of the light.

Only 27 overs were bowled following a delayed start but Worcestershire have made an excellent start, with Gareth Roderick (52) the only wicket to fall.

Durham need a maximum of five points to clinch the D2 title and will resume there quest for them tomorrow.

Can Kent get on a roll here after that prize wicket of Tom Lammonby?

Jas Singh is into the attack and Andy Umeed leaves outside the off stump.

Daniel Bell-Drummond continues from the other end and an appeal for LBW is turned down.

Possibly an inside edge and missing leg.

The umpires are now taking a light meter reading...and we're off.

Sorry, folks. Lewis Goldsworthy is unbeaten on 70.

Andy Umeed has four.

The umpires have their light meters out so Middlesex turn to spin to coax a few more overs out of the day.

It's Jayant Yadav at one end, while Josh de Caires turns his arm over from the other.

Bad light has ended play early on an opening day restricted by weather to 38.5 overs.

Promotion-chasing Leicestershire have come roaring back to grasp the initiative on day one.

Their bowlers looked a little off the mark as Finlay Bean (40) and Shan Masood (34) powered Yorkshire to 79-1.

But Bean’s dismissal to Will Davis (4-28) in the 17th over sparked a collapse as the Tykes lost three quick wickets before tea.

The pattern continued straight after the break as Masood fell to the second ball of the evening session.

Despite a breezy eighth-wicket stand from Ben Mike (25) and Matt Revis (20), Yorkshire ended the day nine down, having lost their last eight wickets for 76 runs.

up for Warwickshirepublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 19 September 2023

17:49 BST 19 September 2023

Middx 121 v Warwicks 50-4

Will Rhodes has impressed amid the carnage and moves the Bears on to 50 with a boundary through midwicket at the start of the 17th over.

That's a fourth boundary for the Warwickshire skipper.

for Adam Rossingtonpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 19 September 2023

17:47 BST 19 September 2023

Essex 308-5

Adam Rossington pushes Kyle Abbott to mid-on for a single and there is his first hundred of the season, and ninth of his career in first-class cricket.

It has taken him 139 balls and has been a great innings for his side which has helped turn the day in their favour after the early loss of both openers - including Alastair Cook for a three-ball duck.

Rossington celebrates by driving pleasantly through the covers for his 10th four to end the over.

And two balls after Karun Nair's 50, we're off the field again!

That might be it for the day.

But the umpires are still in the middle for now.

50 for Karun Nairpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 19 September 2023

17:45 BST 19 September 2023

Surrey v Northants 170-6

Karun Nair has a second 50 in successive matches for Northants.

This one comes off 108 balls with his ninth four, driven through the off side off the bowling of Dan Worrall.

Adam Rossington and Matt Critchley exchange singles in Mohammad Abbas' latest over and Essex pass 300 to claim their second batting point. Rossington ends the over on 99 not out - there are nine more to come.