Relive day two of the County Championship as it happened

Summary

Surrey led Essex by 18 points at the top of D1 before the start of the current round
Karun Nair hits century for Northants but Surrey claim three bowling points
Essex's Matt Critchley out for 99 as they declare on 447-9 against Hants
Middlesex's Tim Murtagh takes five wickets in an innings for the 40th time in first-class cricket
Northants will be relegated if either Middlesex or Kent win
No play possible at Old Trafford, Taunton, Worcester, Leicester and Derby

Live Reporting

Ben Kosky, Ben Pheazey and Paul Grunill

Signing offpublished at 16:35 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
We've seen rather too much of this sort of thing today for our liking.
Image source, Rex Features
There was no play at all in five of the eight games in this round, but we are optimistically hoping for better weather over the final two days.
Essex and Warwickshire have batted themselves into strong positions, but Karun Nair's brilliant 144 for Northants means Division One leaders Surrey have a lot of work to do to force a win in their game.
Join us from 10:00 tomorrow for further coverage.
Close of play scorespublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Division One
Essex 447-9 dec v Hampshire 10-0
Lancashire v Nottinghamshire - no play on day two
Middlesex 121 v Warwickshire 228-6
Somerset 214-2 v Kent - no play on day two
Surrey v Northamptonshire 351-9
Division Two
Derbyshire v Sussex - no play on day two
Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9 - no play on day two
Worcestershire 104-1 v Durham - no play on day two
Close of play at Chelmsfordpublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Essex 447-9 dec v Hampshire 10-0
Rain continues to fall at the Cloud County Ground, so that is your lot for day two.
Essex added 137 to their overnight 310-6 despite losing Matt Critchley one run short of what have been his third Championship hundred of the season.
Simon Harmer (62) put on 70 with Umesh Yadav, who hit four sixes in his 51 off 43 balls before holding out in the deep and prompting the Essex declaration.
They will now hope for better weather over days three and four as they look for a victory to keep them in touching distance of leaders Surrey.
End of day two at the Ovalpublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Surrey v Northants 351-9
Image source, Rex Features
It's hard to imagine the drama during the 41 overs of play earlier in the day, when Karun Nair and Tom Taylor were putting the Surrey bowlers to the sword.
Now the Oval resembles an eerie vacuum, shrouded in thick grey cloud.
A thrilling partnership of 114 for the eighth wicket in 25 overs was broken by Jamie Overton, who pinned Taylor LBW and castled Ben Sanderson in successive deliveries.
But Karun Nair and Jack White held on with an unbroken tenth wicket stand of 44 in 45 balls, with most of those runs coming from astonishing improvised strokes from Karun Nair, who will resume tomorrow (weather permitting) on 144 not out.
His first ever century for Northants in his second game for the club was largely one of calm attrition. But he went up a few gears after Sanderson's dismissal, not always connecting but always entertaining,
A one-handed scythe for six over point off the bowling of Tom Lawes just one ball before bad light stopped play this afternoon will live long in the memory.
The race is still on for the title between Surrey and second-placed Essex, who will be much the happier of the two sides today, after declaring their first innings on 447-9.
Stumps at Lord'spublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Middlesex 121 v Warwicks 228-6
Image source, Rex Features
That's it for day two at Lord's, where Warwickshire have built up a significant lead of 107 over Middlesex thanks to an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 133 between Will Rhodes and Danny Briggs.
Bears captain Rhodes is 95 not out, with Briggs on 71 to put the visitors firmly in command after Tim Murtagh had threatened a fairytale ending to his Lord's career with two early wickets.
Murtagh, who retires at the end of the season, completed a five-wicket haul with the dismissals of Ed Barnard and Michael Burgess to leave Warwickshire in trouble at 95-6 before the seventh-wicket pair transformed their fortunes.
Postpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
To borrow a title from Burt Bacharach, we are still wishin' and hopin' for more play in the three games that are still 'active' today.
Warwickshire are 228-6, 107 ahead against Middlesex at Lord's and Hampshire are 10-0, replying to Essex's 447-9 declared.
Division One leaders Surrey have still to put an end to Northamptonshire's first innings, with Karun Nair 144 not out at The Oval.
Tea at Chelmsfordpublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Essex 447-9 dec v Hants 10-0
No play since 1:50pm at Chelmsford and tea is now being taken.
Essex declared following the dismissal of Umesh Yadav for 51, having added 137 to their overnight 310-6.
Hampshire have faced seven overs so far and their openers - Toby Albert and Fletcha Middleton - are still together.
The umpires were hoping to resume at 3.30, but the weather has closed in again.
Early tea at the Ovalpublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Surrey v Northants 351
With no prospect of play for the time being, we're taking an early tea break here.
The square is fully covered and the ground is covered in "wet" rain.
More news as and when we get it.
Postpublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Five of our games have been abandoned for the day and rain has stopped play at the other three grounds.
We will pick up our text coverage as and when there is any sign of action at Lord's, The Oval and/or Chelmsford.
Wash-out at Grace Roadpublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9
Image source, Rex Features
Leicestershire have a 21-point gap to close if they are end the season with promotion, but there has been no help from the weather for them today.
The Neils - umpires Bainton and Pratt - decide no play will be possible, with the home side eager to polish off Yorkshire's first innings and try to build a substantial lead.
Jordan Thompson remains two not out for the Tykes, with Ben Cliff yet to score.
Raining at the Ovalpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Surrey v Northants 351-9
We went off for bad light just under half an hour ago.
Unfortunately, we now have rain to contend with as well.
Could be a long delay, given the grim forecast this afternoon.
Sorry.
No play at Tauntonpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Somerset 214-2 v Kent
The umpires waited till mid-afternoon but have now decided that there won't be any play today at the County Ground.
Lewis Goldsworthy will resume on 70 not out if the weather is kinder tomorrow, with Andy Umeed four not out.
What pressure there is in this game is all on Kent, ninth in the table, as they need points to try and ease their relegation worries.
Warwickshire's batters, though, have been doing them a favour at Lord's, leading eighth-placed Middlesex by 107 on first innings with four wickets in hand before the latest rain delay.
Latest from Chelmsfordpublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Essex 447-9 dec v Hampshire 10-0
They went off for bad light at Chelmsford 20 odd minutes ago.
It is now raining. Time for an energy drink and a mobile gaming session, perhaps.
Division Two updatepublished at 14:09 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
No play was possible today at Worcester or Derby - the Incora County Ground washed out for the second successive day.
There has been no play either at Leicester, but that one has yet to be called off.
Opponents Yorkshire say the rain "isn't heavy" at Grace Road but the covers remain in place.
No play so far at Tauntonpublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Somerset 214-2 v Kent
Very grey. Very wet. Every conceivable cover is on the square.
As you were, folks.
Nothing to see here.
Bad light stops play at the Ovalpublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Surrey v Northants 351-9
With one ball remaining in a dramatic 105th over, the umpires have taken a light meter reading and led the players off the field.
An extraordinary mini session of play has ended.
Two wickets in two balls for Jamie Overton to dismiss Tom Taylor and Ben Sanderson and frenetic batting from Karun Nair, who played and missed, slogged and also unfurled some brilliantly controlled strokes to add 44 runs for the 10th wicket with Jack White to date.
Ugly and brilliant.
Postpublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Surrey v Northants 351-9
Andrew Radd
BBC Radio Northampton
Two more runs for Karun Nair as he shuffles wide of off stump and nudges the ball off the face of the bat away through third man for two.
Brilliant improvisation.
Tom Lawes bowls...and Nair takes one hand off the bat as he swings hard, scything the ball away over backward point for six!
Four more runs off the next ball, full outside off and stroked through backward point. Wonderful touch. Just a dainty dab.
That's the Northants 350! The first time they have scored that many in the season.
"And the game has gone mad."
Rain stops play at Lord'spublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Middlesex 121 v Warwicks 228-6
Unfortunately, play has halted again - and this time, it is because the rain has arrived.
The covers are on and Will Rhodes will have to chew his nails for a while on 95 not out.
He and Danny Briggs, who's on 71, have put Warwickshire firmly in control with an unbroken stand of 133 - a lead of 107 against Middlesex.
Nair dropped on 131published at 13:58 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Surrey v Northants 339-9
Jack White hands the strike straight back to Karun Nair with a single, steered away to third man.
The third ball is flicked away to fine leg for four.
One more clipped away square...in the air and dropped at deep mid wicket by Ryan Patel!
He initially caught it but lost the ball as he landed elbow first on to the deck.
Nair gets away with a single and White survives the over.
Postpublished at 13:55 British Summer Time 20 September 2023
Middlesex 121 v Warwicks 224-6
Stoppage at Lord's - not because of the weather, though. Danny Briggs has found the reverse sweep fairly fruitful in this innings and he attempts another against Josh de Caires, but only succeeds in top-edging the ball into his face.
Of course Briggs is wearing a helmet and the helmet has a grille attached, but that still must have hurt. Looks as though he'll be fine to continue, however.