Dropped catchpublished at 11:25 BST 26 April

11:25 BST 26 April

Notts 279-9, trail by 180

A fiery bouncer from Michael Booth is edged by Lyndon James up and over Alex Davies, who manages to only get a fingertip on it before it races away for four.

A difficult chance, but a change nonetheless for the Bears gone down.

Dom Sibley is his usual somewhat fidgety self at the crease, but very much in control as he and Dan Lawrence chip away at this Essex lead.

It's now under 200, but the new ball is available in two overs' time and Jamie Porter and Sam Cook will be licking their lips. Not the ball itself, probably...

With Notts nine down, Warwickshire take the new ball, and it will be Michael Booth to bowl the first with it as he searches for a five-wicket haul.

Josh Tongue would surely rather be bowling with the new ball than facing it, especially against this fired up Warwickshire seam attack!

50 for Dan Lawrencepublished at 11:15 BST 26 April

11:15 BST 26 April

Surrey 209-3 v Essex 409

Image source, Getty Images

Noah Thain drops one short and Dan Lawrence whips it powerfully through midwicket for a boundary that takes him to 50 from 75 balls.

Lawrence has already dented his former county's prospects by taking those three wickets with the ball - now he'll have his sights set on converting this 50 into a ton.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

Surrey have made a spritely start this morning.

They know the new ball is coming but they can still attack the old one, this will be a firm partnership.

The new ball is the opportunity for Essex.

A flurry of runs in a lively first over at Sophia Gardens.

Josh Davey takes a single to get off strike, allowing Ian Holland to enter the fray and send the ball the boundary for the first time today.

There's then a wide from Timm van der Gugten and a single from Holland to finish off the over!

Image source, Shutterstock

It will be Beau Webster to kick things off for the Bears at Trent Bridge, with Lyndon James and Brett Hutton currently at the crease.

There is a near mix-up in the first-over, with James narrowly avoiding being ran out. A moment of madness between the Notts pair, but thankfully for them, no damage done.

With the new ball only eight overs away, it's Simon Harmer who gets proceedings under way with the ball for Essex.

Harmer serves up a full toss to Dom Sibley, who just pats it to long-on for a single, while Dan Lawrence moves onto the back foot and pumps a short one through the covers for four to move on to 43.

BBC Sounds

As usual, you can follow every ball of every County Championship match with the BBC this summer.

Along with our live text coverage our BBC Local Radio and 5 Live Sports Extra commentary teams will be out in force to ensure you do not miss a thing.

You can listen via the BBC Sport website and app but also on most smart speakers - just ask BBC Sounds to play the game you want but also state the day as well.

For example, ask BBC Sounds to play Glamorgan against Leicestershire, day three.

Image source, Shutterstock

Glamorgan spinner Mason Crane will be looking to "put a dent" in Leicestershire with the ball after falling agonisingly short of a maiden first-class hundred on day two.

Crane was stumped for 99 and then sent down 11 wicket-less overs as the visitors made a strong start to their first innings.

"They came out and played high-risk cricket and it paid off. On another day we might've had a few more wickets and applied a bit more pressure there," said Crane.

"It's halfway in the game, still a long way to go, they're still a long way behind so hopefully we can get on a roll and put a dent in them."

He added: "Obviously, I'm gutted not to get over the line (for a hundred) but I would've taken that at the start."

Image source, Getty Images

Fin Bean led the Yorkshire reply with an unbeaten century on day two but the hosts will need to continue eating away at Sussex's massive 502 today.

They lost just one wicket yesterday and Yorkshire batting coach John Sadler praised the current batting pair Fin Bean and Sam Whiteman.

“When the opposition goes and gets 500, you’re always going out under pressure. We lost an early wicket as well. So for those two to put on 170, it was brilliant," he said.

“We're in a good position overnight. But we also know that we're still 300 behind and there's a lot of work to be done.”

Earlier, Sussex's John Simpson 136 put Sussex into an excellent position. It was the wicketkeeper's 10h century in 31 matches since signing in 2024.

“It’s nice to keep contributing. To get 10 hundreds for Sussex in such quick time is something I’ve been working towards," said Simpson.

“When you join a club, you want to have an impact on the team. So it’s nice to have got another hundred in this game and put us in a pretty good position.

"I’m just trying to do the basics as well as I can - take it ball by ball and keep it really simple - and be as ruthless as I can when I get in.”

Image source, Getty Images

Surrey assistant coach Jim Troughton expects another challenging session for his side on the third morning against Essex at the Oval.

They will resume their first innings still 217 in arrears after managing a run-rate of only 2.66 against some tight bowling by the visitors - Dom Sibley scoring an unbeaten 74.

"You know when you come up against Essex, there’s a couple of bowlers who know how to hold up a length and they did that admirably through the whole day," said Troughton.

"The ball’s swung a little bit this game, maybe when it’s a bit older and it does come on nicely so if you do miss your areas you’re going to get punished.

"The guys have got to earn the right in the first-half hour, get to the new ball and build from there."

Image source, Shutterstock

Defending champions Nottinghamshire could do with the kind of vigorous tail-wagging Warwickshire showed in their first innings at Trent Bridge as they resume under some pressure on day three.

Bears skipper Ed Barnard and South African seamer Michael Booth, who hit a career-best 70 on day two, shared a ninth-wicket partnership of 119 to lift the visitors to a commanding first-innings total of 459.

Booth was also among the wickets when Nottinghamshire replied, taking three for 60 so far – including the crucial one of Joe Clarke for 94, one of three home batters to depart just before stumps.

Lyndon James remains at the crease, unbeaten on 28 and it’s now a question of whether Brett Hutton and Josh Tongue can keep him company long enough for Notts to tick off 46 more runs and avoid being asked to follow on.

For now, Booth will be sniffing the possibility of a five-for as he, Chris Woakes and Ethan Bamber chase these last two wickets to keep the Bears firmly in control.

Division One

Glamorgan 440 v Leicestershire 215-1

Leicestershire trail by 225 with nine wickets standing

Nottinghamshire 264-8 v Warwickshire 459

Nottinghamshire trail by 195 with two wickets standing

Surrey 192-3 v Essex 409

Surrey trail by 217 with seven wickets standing

Yorkshire 192-1 v Sussex 502

Yorkshire trail by 310 with nine wickets standing

Division Two

Derbyshire 144-3 v Gloucestershire 498

Derbyshire trail by 354 with seven wickets standing

Durham 295 v Lancashire 370

Durham trail by 75 runs

Worcestershire 441-9 v Kent 196

Worcestershire lead by 245 with one wicket standing

Image source, Don Topley

It’s a beautiful day and, unless you’re running the London Marathon right now, surely the best way to spend it is by joining us to savour another helping of County Championship cricket.

Seven matches keenly poised at the halfway point… who will strike the key blows on day three and help to ensure they finish this first month of the season on a high note?

We’ll have all the twists and turns from each game in both divisions throughout the next eight hours or so.

And for those hardy souls who have been marathon running this morning – you’ve more than earned yourself a break.

Once you've got your breath back, stay here to see how the day unfolds!