Slow scoring from Surrey here, as the openers look to battle through the new ball.

But the third ball of Jack White's over flies off a controlled edge from Dom Sibley's bat and runs down to third man for four.

Sibley plays around the pad and a big shout for LBW is turned down.

Close. Maybe just pitching outside the line?

Sibley pads up to the next ball but that's not out either.

Jack White is bringing the ball back into the stumps here and there was much more threat in that over.

Andy Umeed dropped by Joey Evisonpublished at 11:28 British Summer Time 21 September 2023

11:28 BST 21 September 2023

Somerset 267-2 v Kent

A full-blooded drive from Andy Umeed is hit straight back to the bowler, but Joey Evison can't hold on.

The ball bounces off hands and chest and lands on the deck.

Umeed survives the over on 26.

up for Lancashirepublished at 11:28 British Summer Time 21 September 2023

11:28 BST 21 September 2023

Lancs 53-0 v Notts

Presumably Nottinghamshire felt they had a good chance of pocketing early wickets after putting the home side in, but it hasn't worked out that way so far.

Keaton Jennings is looking to attack the seamers on the front foot and he's dominated this opening partnership with 33 from 45 balls, moving past 10,000 career runs in the process.

A more sedate start from Luke Wells, who has just reached double figures by drilling Dane Paterson back down the ground for four.

Only one wicket so far for Durham at New Road.

Bas de Leede drops short at the start of a new over and Jack Haynes pulls for four.

He is 11 not out and Azhar Ali has 23.

There's definitely some bounce and movement for the Northants attack here, but the Surrey openers are able to leave a few on line or length.

Jack White bowls round the wicket to Rory Burns, who leaves outside off.

Maiden over but no real threat to the stumps or the edge of the bat.

Ben Sanderson gets Sibley laying the ball outside off, but Sibley drops the ball down safely in front of the slip cordon.

Sibley gets in inside edge through to square leg for one.

Sanderson has Rory Burns playing and missing outside off and an appeal for caught behind is turned down.

The ball appears to go between bat and pad on the way to keeper Lewis McManus.

A couple of anxious moments for Fletcha Middleton.

He jabs at a ball from Simon Harmer and ball spins back off the pitch and over the top of the stumps.

The next one is fuller in length and goes past the edge as he tries to drive. It's a maiden.

Leicestershire have a mountain to climb at Grace Road, but for now it's Hill bowling to Hill - George to Lewis - and the home skipper hits three fours in an over, the first a fortunate inside edge past the stumps, as they advance to 51-1 in the 10th over.

Sussex are 36-2 after 11 at Derby, where loan signing Pat Brown has just begun his first over of this game for the home side.

Lewis Goldsworthy pushes Joey Evison through point for two to bring up a 50 partnership for the third wicket with Andy Umeed in 89 balls.

Somerset have had much the better of the session of play so far.

up for Hampshirepublished at 11:16 British Summer Time 21 September 2023

11:16 BST 21 September 2023

Essex 447-9 dec v Hants 51-0

Image source, Rex Features

The young Hampshire openers are adopting a positive approach facing spinner Simon Harmer.

Fletcha Middleton reverse sweeps to the boundary but the umpires decide it's time for a ball change in only the 19th over of the innings.

Harmer has 0-16 from five overs so far.

Somerset reach 250 and a first batting point of the innings in the 65th over via a flashing drive for one just in front of point by Lewis Goldsworthy.

A few flashing and airborne strokes from Goldsworthy and Andy Umeed this morning.

But no wickets yet for Kent.

Five runs off the over in total and Kent frustration will be mounting.

up for Warwickshirepublished at 11:14 British Summer Time 21 September 2023

11:14 BST 21 September 2023

Middlesex 121 v Warwicks 251-7

Bonus points might make all the difference in the battle for third place and Warwickshire have just earned themselves another of those by passing 250.

Despite the departure of Will Rhodes, the tail is still wagging cheerfully with Danny Briggs on 75 and Craig Miles scoring six so far. The visitors have more than doubled Middlesex's first-innings total and lead by 130.

Postpublished at 11:13 British Summer Time 21 September 2023

11:13 BST 21 September 2023

Surrey 13-0 v Northants

Good bowling from Ben Sanderson, bending the ball back into Rory Burns on a testing length.

Maiden over.

Huge appeal for LBW by Jack White against Dom Sibley but it's not given.

The ball nipped in off the seam and was probably missing leg.

The third ball also moves in off the seam and strikes Sibley "between the knee rolls" so to speak.

There is very little sign of movement to encourage the Essex seamers at Chelmsford.

Umesh Yadav directs one into Toby Albert's pads and is clipped away to mid-wicket for four as the 21-year-old Hampshire opener moves to 27 not out.

A brief hold up in play as Lewis Goldsworthy drives a ball from Jas Singh and breaks the toe of his bat, a piece of which flies off the square and into the turf.

The last ball of Singh's over is short and cut through to deep cover for a single.

In the air for a while but the ball lands safely.

Leicestershire are having to bat with care against the new ball following the loss of Rishi Patel for nought and are 23-1 in the seventh over, having dismissed Yorkshire for 155.

Two early successes for Derbyshire, with Ali Orr and Tom Alsop caught behind of Zak Chappell and Sam Conners, and Sussex are 28-2 in the ninth.

Sam Cook is given a breather as India paceman Umesh Yadav takes up the attack for Essex.

They need wickets if they are to close the gap on leaders Surrey in the title race, but Toby Albert despatches a short one from Yadav over mid-wicket for the third four of his innings.

Rory Burns gets his first boundary with a clip off the toes through mid wicket for four off Ben Sanderson.

Slightly too full a length.

At the other end, Dom Sibley misses a ball from Jack White and is hit "amidships". Ouch.

But the fourth ball of the over is full, legside and glanced through the on side for four.

Image source, Getty Images

An eventful over for Jas Singh, as the Kent bowler watches Andy Umeed leave a slightly back of a length ball that only just passes over the stumps.

Good leave.

Umeed punches the bowler off the back foot through cover and gets a more streaky four, squaring up and edging well wide of first slip and through to third man.

At the other end, Lewis Goldsworthy moves on to 79 with a silky back foot stroke through cover for four.

We believe that if Durham manage to bowl out Worcestershire for under 400, they will be champions.

Azhar Ali picks up four from a thick edge off Ben Raine and Jack Haynes also finds the third man boundary in the next over, bowled by Vishwa Fernando.