So good news from Edgbaston, but two games in this opening round of fixtures have been abandoned without a ball being bowled - read more about the washouts at Derby and Chester-le-Street by clicking on the link below.

Two other games are yet to get going today but, all being well, we'll see some cricket in those matches by the time the day is out.

Barring a bold declaration and an epic Bears collapse, this is likely to end in a draw, particularly after rain wiped out most of the post-tea session yesterday and all of this morning.

There were some worries over dampness in the bowler run ups but it appears the strategically-placed heat lamps have eased concern.

Jake Libby resumes on 75 not out with Rob Jones, unbeaten on 15.

Spinner Danny Briggs will bowl to Libby first up.

68 overs left in the day - conditions permitting.

Adrian Harms
BBC Sussex

An entertaining morning at Hove with Sussex adding 127 in just 19 overs and declaring with a lead of 107.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice led the charge making 73 and Jack Carson then thumped 61 in just 53 balls including three sixes.

Jayden Seales then took his fifth wicket of the match, having Justin Broad smartly caught by James Coles in the slips for a duck, and Emilio Gay was dropped by Jack Carson at leg slip off the bowling of Ollie Robinson as Sussex piled on the pressure before lunch.

A draw is still the likely outcome but a couple of quick wickets after lunch would make for an interesting afternoon.

Nick Webb
BBC Radio Wales

Ryan Higgins has a Middlesex-best score of 168 not out, with the focus now on whether he can achieve a maiden double century as the match at Lord’s heads for a draw.

Middlesex began the day needing 11 to avoid the follow-on with five wickets in hand but there was little jeopardy with the pitch permanently placid.

It took them 31 balls to achieve that as Higgins knocked a single off Colin Ingram, but next ball Josh de Caires (20) chipped a return catch to Ingram, his first wicket since July 2022.

Toby Roland-Jones hit a light-hearted 20 before edging Jamie McIlroy behind, while debutant Henry Brookes clipped former Warwickshire team-mate Craig Miles to mid-wicket for nine.

At least we've had uninterrupted cricket, which will be remembered for the batting of Higgins and new ground-record holder Sam Northeast.

The definition of a sedate morning's cricket.

Middlesex have added 86 runs for the loss of three wickets, while Ryan Higgins remains on 168.

Three slips, a forward short leg and a leg slip are in for Ollie Robinson, bowling to Emilio Gay.

But there's nothing they can do to stop the third ball, driven sweetly through cover off the back foot for four.

Four more driven through backward point.

Northants will lunch a little nervously after the early loss of Justin Broad, still 93 in arrears with a theoretical 72 overs left.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

The suns coming out, it's going to be a nice afternoon I think. Lots more blue sky than there was earlier on.

Somerset added 29 runs to their overnight score to grab a fourth batting bonus point and then removed both Kent openers inside five overs of their second innings.

However, Daniel Bell-Drummond and Jack Leaning have survived a few alarms to get through to lunch unbeaten.

Kent's deficit is 51 with eight second-innings wickets remaining.

Matthew Montgomery gets four welcome runs off the last over before lunch, bowled by Shane Snater.

Montgomery has 12 off 43 balls after a very testing spell at the crease.

The three Essex seamers have done a great job with those four Notts wickets - two for Sam Cook and one apiece for Snater and Jamie Porter.

They have not even had to call upon Simon Harmer yet.

In theory, Notts need 285 in 68 overs to win. Essex require six wickets to claim an opening-round victory.

A brief interlude at Canterbury after Daniel Bell-Drummond ducks into a short ball by Kasey Aldridge and is struck on the helmet.

The precautionary checks are done and Bell-Drummond is fine.

Two balls to go until lunch.

Paul Newton
BBC Essex

Image source, Rex Features

That Joe Clarke wicket is a great breakthrough for Essex just before lunch because he is a man who has proven that he is well capable having seen out many of the remaining 70-odd overs left available.

There will be play at Headingley soon, weather permitting.

The game will resume at 13:35 BST with a possible 66 overs to be bowled.

Emilio Gay dropped on fourpublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 8 April

12:56 BST 8 April

Sussex 478-9 dec v Northants 371 & 4-0

Emilio Gay is off the mark second ball with a back foot push through cover for four.

He has a lucky escape after nudging a ball to Jack Carson at leg slip.

It was low to Carson's left. He gets a hand to it but can't cling on.

partnershippublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 8 April

12:55 BST 8 April

Kent 284 & 63-2 v Somerset 403

Daniel Bell-Drummond and Jack Leaning have added 53 for the third wicket for Kent - a much-needed partnership after losing both openers cheaply.

Leaning has taken the lead in the stand, scoring 30 off 35 balls thus far.

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM

Image source, BBC Sport

Heat lamps have remained in position all morning at Edgbaston, along the run-ups at either end of the pitch. A third area on the edge of the square was also causing obvious concern, and may be protected by a mat when play hopefully resumes.

After several inspections, umpires Martin Saggers and Graham Lloyd declared an early lunch at 12:45 BST with a view to starting play at 13:25, but will take another look at 13:00 (between courses?) to make sure. They, along obviously with the ground staff and also the players, deserve credit for making sure that every available minute over the first three days was filled with cricket.

The match had lived something of a charmed life until yesterday evening, with rain sliding past the ground rather than over it during playing hours, but nevertheless there was an apparent keenness to play if at all possible. In view of that, the failure to start today suggests how difficult conditions must have been.

Whether the prospect of a positive result has withered away under the heat lamps is mainly in the gift of the visitors. Brett D’Oliveira promised a positive approach on Worcestershire’s return to Division One, and they have made the running in this match, especially yesterday.

Passing up a possible chance to win in the first game would be a hard thing to do, but they could hardly be blamed if they choose to bat on, and bank the points for the draw, as well as enhanced confidence that they can compete at the higher level.

The heavy roller has finished rolling and the Norhants openers, Emilio Gay and Justin Broad are ready to tackle the innings deficit.

A minimum of 75 overs left in the day. Conditions permitting.

Ollie Robinson will bowl to Emilio Gay first up.

We've had no play here since a mini session after the tea interval on day three.

The rain and damp has eased since then and the plan (weather permitting) is to resume at 13:25 BST with 28 overs lost in the final day's play.