Rain stops play at Chelmsfordpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 19 September 2023

14:52 BST 19 September 2023

Essex 140-5 v Hampshire

Adam Rossington dabs Liam Dawson through backward point for the first boundary of his innings.

But the drizzle is a bit too heavy now and umpires Nigel Llong and Steve O'Shaughnessy lead the teams off and an early tea will be taken

There's been some highly competitive cricket so far today, so let's hope the interruption won't be a long one.

The second session lasted just 28 balls before the rains came and tea is being taken.

There will be an inspection at 15:00.

50 for Tom Lammonbypublished at 14:50 British Summer Time 19 September 2023

14:50 BST 19 September 2023

Somerset 73-0 v Kent

His fifth half century of the season comes with his tenth four, flicked away behind square leg off Jas Singh.

Just 52 balls in that knock.

Great start for the Somerset opener and a platform for what would be his first century of the season if he kicks on from here.

Tom Lammonby picks up successive fours off Joey Evison.

The first one is a little bit loose as the ball flies away behind point off a thick edge.

But the Somerset opener nails a glance through square leg off the next ball to move to 44.

Jas Singh will have his first spell of bowling.

He starts with a no ball and his second "official" ball is cut loosely through point off a thick edge by Tom Abell for four, as the Somerset captain is stuck on the crease.

Those three wickets since lunch have hit Essex's chances of a big total and also of earning the batting points they need in the hope of closing the gap on Surrey before next week's final round of matches. What do you reckon, Essex fans, can the title still be won by your team?

A third boundary for Finlay Bean.

He unfurls a lovely straight drive down the ground as Tom Scriven overpitches again.

The Yorkshireman then picks up a fortunate two as he aims a drive through midwicket and squirts one inadvertently to third man.

A little slice of luck, but he's briskly up to 17 off 21 balls.

The break officially began at 2.40.

We'll have a pitch inspection at 3.00 if there's no more rain.

Postpublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 19 September 2023

14:41 BST 19 September 2023

Essex 132-4 v Hants

Image source, Rex Features

Someone has clearly 'lit the blue touch paper' under Matt Critchley.

Liam Dawson begins a new over and he thumps the spinner down the ground for the first six of the game.

A single follows and partner Paul Walter decides it is his turn to do some damage and slogs over mid-wicket for another maximum.

Tom Lammonby plays and misses with a drive as Joey Evison angles the ball across the opener.

Maiden over. Somerset will be acutely aware that a draw will be enough to keep them in the first division. Kent need a big win.

The little rays of sunshine we briefly had here have gone and the gloomy overheads have returned.

A rare leg side ball from Michael Hogan is worked away behind square for four by Tom Abell to take Somerset past 50 in the 14th over.

The floodlights are already on as the light remains less than perfect.

The gusty wind is whipping away violently at the pitch-side marquee and rippling the players' shirts.

Hardy supporters that are braving the weather have their coats firmly zipped up under chins. It's beginning to feel a lot like autumn.

On the pitch, Adam Lyth takes advantage of a little width from Chris Wright and finds the point boundary for his first four of the day. No damage for Yorkshire after five overs.

Kyle Abbott hasn't bowled many bad balls, but is too short with that one and Matt Critchley pulls it powerfully through mid-wicket for four.

The Essex all-rounder is fortunate from the final delivery of the over as he attempts a similar shot and a top edge falls just short of Toby Albert.

A second match bites the dust because of rain.

Following the earlier abandonment of Lancashire v Nottinghamshire, the umpires at the Incora County Ground have decided no play will be possible between Derbyshire and Sussex.

Derbyshire are one of two teams yet to win a Championship match this season - the other, Gloucestershire, aren't playing this week - while Sussex are still just about in the promotion race, although yesterday's 12-point deduction means they are very much outsiders.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

"Runs have slowed from a stream to a trickle."

Joey Evison angles the ball across Tom Lammonby who leaves.

But the fourth ball is shorter and pulled away over mid wicket for four.

Michael Hogan is bowling a tidy spell, mostly on off stump and occasionally pushing the ball out wide.

Maiden over.

Chris Wright almost makes an early breakthrough for Leicestershire.

He finds the edge of Finlay Bean's bat but it drops just short of Jordan Cox behind the stumps and sneaks through for four.

Wright almost induces another edge with the next ball but Bean survives.

Adam Lyth plays out a maiden to Chris Wright at a very gusty Grace Road.

It's Tom Scriven to get things going at the other end after impressing at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

Yorkshire are off the mark with a Finlay Bean boundary through fine leg as Scriven drops a little short. But the young seamer beats the bat next ball

Paul Walter normally likes to go for his shots and an off-drive for four off Liam Dawson take the Essex total past 100.

It has taken them 45 overs, which says a lot about the accuracy of the Hampshire attack on a used-before pitch.

Tom Lammonby moves to 32 off just 31 balls with a glance to fine leg off the bowling of Joey Evison for four.

This is not the start Kent would've hoped for after fellow relegation contenders Middlesex struggled with the bat at Lord's against Warwickshire before the rain delay today.

Have they been foxed by this pitch? It's very green but we have only occasionally seen lavish movement so far.

Tom Abell is forward to Michael Hogan, pushing the ball away to backward square leg for a single.

An appeal for LBW after Hogan's fifth ball but that's too high.