Summary

  • Defending champions Surrey in control against Hampshire at The Oval

  • Worcestershire strike early v Somerset after declaring with first-innings lead of 142

  • Warwickshire 175-5 in first innings v Notts, still 225 behind

  • Max Holden and Ryan Higgins score centuries for Middlesex v Glos in Division Two

  • No play possible at Durham, Yorkshire nor Leicestershire because of overnight rain

  1. That's All Folkspublished at 19:19 British Summer Time 28 April

    Worcestershire centurion Gareth RoderickImage source, Rex Features

    Well it's goodnight from us then after what was not the fullest of days.

    Play today in only four of our seven matches - and two of those did not start until after tea.

    But there was enough excitement and quality cricket played to hold our attention, spearheaded by three centurions.

    Worcestershire's South African Gareth Roderick, his first in Divison One - and also a ton each for Middlesex pair Max Holden and Ryan Higgins at Bristol in Division Two.

    There are still questions to be answered on day four, depending on the weather.

    Can dual back-to-back county champions Surrey finish off hapless Hampshire at the Oval?

    Can promoted yoyo side Worcestershire force a first victory since coming back up against the top flight's longest survivors Somerset?

    Could Notts take 15 wickets in a day to beat draw specialists Warwickshire at Edgbaston?

    And have Middlesex levered themselves into a winning position against Gloucestershire at Nevil Road?

  2. Close of play scoreboardpublished at 19:17 British Summer Time 28 April

    Division One:

    Chester-le-Street: Durham 358, Essex 314-3 (Day Three abandoned)

    The Oval: Hampshire 151 & 116-5, Surrey 359

    Edgbaston: Notts 400, Warwickshire 175-5

    Kidderminster: Somerset 309-9 dec & 5-1, Worcestershire 451-9 dec

    Division Two:

    Bristol: Middlesex 203 & 262-3, Gloucestershire 322

    Leicester: Northants 453-7 dec, Leicestershire 97-2 (Day Three abandoned)

    Headingley: Yorkshire 450-5 dec, Derbyshire 190-3 (Day Three abandoned)

  3. Close of play at Bristolpublished at 19:14 British Summer Time 28 April

    Gloucs 322 v Middlesex 203 & 262-3

    As it turned out, Ajeet Singh Dale was given a breather, with Gloucestershire opting for spin from Ollie Price in the final over of the day.

    That cost just two runs, so Max Holden finishes on 105 not out and Ryan Higgins 102, with the pair adding 183 for the third wicket so far to take Middlesex into a lead of 143.

  4. Last over at Bristolpublished at 19:11 British Summer Time 28 April

    Gloucs 322 v Middlesex 203 & 260-3

    One more to go tonight and that'll bring some relief for the Gloucestershire bowlers, who have been largely helpless as Max Holden and Ryan Higgins smashed it around during this evening session.

    Graeme van Buuren has just rattled through a maiden and it'll be down to Ajeet Singh Dale to deliver the final over of the day.

  5. Century for Ryan Higginspublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 28 April

    Gloucs 322 v Middlesex 203 & 255-3

    Ryan Higgins batting for MiddlesexImage source, Getty Images

    You bet he can do it!

    Ryan Higgins goes to three figures as well just two balls later, hooking Ajeet Singh Dale over the fence for a maximum.

    That takes Higgins to 100 from 110 balls.

  6. 'A good day for Worcestershire'published at 19:05 British Summer Time 28 April

    Somerset 309-9 dec & 5-1, Worcestershire 451-9 dec

    Frank Watson
    BBC Hereford & Worcester

    A good day for Worcestershire and a good day for the ground staff who got things going quite early.

    We were really lucky to get under way as we did.

    They were rewarded with an unbroken session after play eventually did get started at 12:10.

    Tomorrow could be an interesting day's cricket. The weather forecast suggests we might have problems in the afternoon but it's not always right, as you know.

  7. Century for Max Holdenpublished at 19:04 British Summer Time 28 April

    Gloucs 322 v Middlesex 203 & 249-3

    Max Holden raises his batImage source, Getty Images

    Max Holden goes to his hundred in style, stepping away to leg and chopping Dom Goodman over backward point to the boundary!

    It's Holden's second ton of the season and this one, which comes up from 151 balls, has really dug Middlesex out of a hole.

    Three overs left tonight - will Ryan Higgins follow Holden to three figures?

  8. Postpublished at 18:58 British Summer Time 28 April

    Gloucs 322 v Middlesex 203 & 240-3

    Gloucestershire are starting to look a little ragged in the field now as this partnership between Max Holden and Ryan Higgins stretches beyond 150.

    It's a stand that has tilted momentum in Middlesex's favour for now, although they don't yet have the kind of lead they'd feel confident about defending.

    With four overs left tonight, it'll be interesting to see whether either Holden, on 96, or Higgins who has 89 - or even both - can reach a century before stumps.

  9. Close of play at Chester Roadpublished at 18:57 British Summer Time 28 April

    Somerset 309-9 dec & 5-1, Worcestershire 451-9 dec

    Jason Holder celebrates a wicketImage source, Getty Images

    All over for the day in Kidderminster.

    Somerset still trail Worcestershire by 137 runs with nine wickets remaining going into the final day.

    The weather forecast for Monday is not the best - but it is free admission tomorrow. So wrap up and tuck in...

  10. 'Still some jeopardy in this match'published at 18:55 British Summer Time 28 April

    Notts 400, Warwickshire 175-5

    Clive Eakin
    BBC CWR Sport

    There's some jeopardy still in this match as well as the race for bonus points.

  11. 'Session belongs to Surrey'published at 18:52 British Summer Time 28 April

    Surrey 359 v Hampshire 151 & 116-5 - close, day three

    Roland Butcher
    Former Middlesex and England batter on BBC Radio London

    It's been a session that very much belongs to Surrey and they've been appreciated by the Surrey faithful who have braved this weather to come out today to get some cricket.

    They are supporting a team who will be very much challenging for the Championship once again this year, there is no question about that.

    Hampshire are up against a very balanced team with lots of batting, good fast bowlers, good spinners and a culture of winning. It's a difficult assignment for a team who have never performed over the last four or five years well at The Oval.

    To still be in the game is a credit because previous matches have not gone too well.

  12. wicket

    WICKET: Dickson c Roderick b Holder 0published at 18:50 British Summer Time 28 April

    Somerset 309-9 dec & 4-1, Worcestershire 451-9 dec

    An early strike for the hosts.

    Out-of-form Sean Dickson is drawn into a shot by Jason Holder - and goes second ball.

    Jake Ball comes in as nightwatchman - and does his job by then pinching the strike for the last over.

    Somerset still trail Worcestershire by 137 runs - and this game may not be all over yet.

    The scorecard says that Migael Pretorius has come in - but the BBC commentary team are insistent that they are wrong. No doubt it will get changed shortly.

  13. Postpublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 28 April

    Somerset 309-9 dec & 0-0, Worcestershire 451-9 dec

    Matt Renshaw gets through a maiden off Joe Leach.

    Now Sean Dickson to face Jason Holder...

  14. Close of play at Edgbastonpublished at 18:45 British Summer Time 28 April

    Notts 400, Warwickshire 175-5

    Danny Briggs (5) and Jacob Bethell (38) have survived.

    And that is it for the day in Birmingham.

    In the 35 overs of play possible, Warwickshire have scored 104 runs for the loss of two wickets and still trail Nottinghamshire by 225 going into day four.

  15. Middlesex lead Gloucs by 100published at 18:45 British Summer Time 28 April

    Gloucs 322 v Middlesex 203 & 222-3

    Having looked as though they'd be in survival mode earlier this afternoon, Middlesex now have the air of a side trying to force the pace in this game.

    Ryan Higgins has raised the tempo, clobbering Ollie Price for six and four in successive deliveries and the visitors are now 103 ahead.

    Price has taken some punishment, with his four overs disappearing for 35 and Gloucestershire will be looking to their quicker bowlers to stem that flow of runs.

  16. Last over at Edgbastonpublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 28 April

    Notts 400, Warwickshire 174-5

    This is definitely now the last over of the day in Birmingham.

    Dane Paterson to bowl it.

    Danny Briggs has got on strike - and, whatever happens now, he will have done his nighwatchmanesque job.

  17. Close of play at The Ovalpublished at 18:39 British Summer Time 28 April

    Surrey 359 v Hampshire 151 & 116-5

    Three wickets, 85 runs - and that's it for this solitary session on day three, with Surrey closing in on what looks an inevitable victory unless the weather intervenes.

    A wicket apiece for Dan Worrall, Gus Atkinson and Kemar Roach and Hampshire still need 93 more runs to make their hosts bat a second time.

    Their hopes of doing so rest largely on the not-out pair, Liam Dawson and Ben Brown, who have 18 and seven respectively to their names so far.

  18. wicket

    WORCESTERSHIRE DECLAREpublished at 18:37 British Summer Time 28 April

    D'Oliveira c Rew b Aldridge 66 (Somerset 309-9 dec, Worcestershire 451-9 dec)

    Sure enough.

    The Pears have declared.

    After putting on 84 with in 16 overs with Joe Leach (43 not out), Brett D'Oliveira has one last wild hoy too many, is caught behind - and that gives Worcestershire three overs at Somerset tonight.

  19. Pears having fun in the sun in Kiddypublished at 18:35 British Summer Time 28 April

    Somerset 309-9 dec, Worcestershire 450-8

    Worcestershire are enjoying themselves in the late evening sunshine in Kidderminster.

    Brett D'Oliveira and Joe Leach are swinging the bat.

    It looks like pre-declaration stuff, this.

  20. Postpublished at 18:32 British Summer Time 28 April

    Surrey 359 v Hampshire 151 & 112-5

    Hampshire should live to fight another day, with just two overs to go in this session - and they've at least managed to bring the deficit into double figures now.

    Another neatly-placed leg-side boundary by Liam Dawson off Jordan Clark takes him to 17, with Ben Brown on four at the other end.