The home batters have done well so well to blunt the refreshed Middlesex attack.

Nathan McSweeney takes a single from Ryan Higgins' latest over to move within three of his ton.

Naavya Sharma has replaced Toby Roland-Jones as the visitors seek a much-needed breakthrough.

The partnership is up to 149.

Ollie Sutton hasn't quite found his length yet, into his third over now.

A short one is pounded into the ground and hooked towards wide long on where James Anderson does the fielding and keeps it down to two.

Two balls later - this is much better from Sutton - and James Bracey is almost made to look red-faced leaving one which skips just over his off-stump.

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 Hampshire against Somerset, day three.

So we're three weeks into the Rothesay County Championship season and a major talking point has been the ECB's implementation of the replacement player trial.

BBC Radio Somerset's Anthony Gibson suggested this weekend that replaced players should perhaps automatically miss their county's next scheduled game rather than the current criteria of eight days out of action, but what do you think?

In its early stages, do you think the trial is working? Do you want it to stay, go, or maybe you have a different idea on how substitutes should be used in cricket overall?

This season it's never been easier to get in touch with us and join the conversation, just click the shiny gold button on the top left of this page and get things off your chest.

We'll publish the best comments right here throughout the day.

Please include your name.

Phil Britt
BBC Radio WM

We saw an outstanding catch on the first morning with Paul Walter when he dived full length at slip to take a very good one-handed but I think Rob Yates even probably outdoes that with that catch.

It was outstanding from Rob Yates who is a consistent slip catcher.

Losing Pepper as well, that's put them [Essex] in a spot of bother.

Change of bowling for Somerset.

After Craig Overton went for 13 in his last over, Jack Leach is on to replace him.

Kevan James
BBC Radio Solent commentator

It's a bit of an effort to bowl bouncers now with this old-ish ball and slow wicket.

Huge appeal by George Balderson but umpire Ben Peveril is unmoved.

James Bracey had moved across his stumps - height may have been the issue here though.

That's twice Bracey could have lost his wicket in the first half hour this morning.

The Middlesex attack has been disciplined and kept Nathan McSweeney and James Sales quiet this morning.

But aside from that tough chance off Sales, the batters have looked relatively comfortable.

Toby Roland-Jones goes up for a big lbw shout as the ball hits the pads of McSweeney. But a thick inside edge.

50 partnershippublished at 11:29 BST 19 April

11:29 BST 19 April

Hants 174-1 v Somerset (lead by 124 runs)

50 partnership for Hampshire's Jake Lehmann and Nick Gubbins.

Lehmann whips through mid-wicket to move onto 27 not out.

Somerset could do with breaking this dangerous looking partnership very soon.

Lehmann is on a roll and, three balls later, a drive through the covers off Craig Overton sees him move onto 12 for the over. The Australian is cashing in.

Matt Critchley runs Nathan Gilchrist down to third man to move to four and keep the single for the next over of the day.

Then the Essex batter gets a little squared up by Ethan Bamber and survives a play and miss.

A single puts nightwatchman Sam Cook on strike who is up to 19.

Runs that will be annoying the living daylights out of the Bears.

The deficit is down to 57

Well here's something.

Change of bowling - Ollie Sutton, the replacement for Ajeet Singh Dale, is on.

His first ball is a no ball - that was an old-fashioned beamer!

A strong front foot push from James Bracey off James Anderson around the wicket sees Gloucestershire hit their first boundary of the day.

Slightly too full from Anderson on that occasion, but who are we to give the great man bowling tips?

Moments later, in the following over, there is a shy at the stumps as Gloucs race through for a quick single but Lancs wicket-keeper Matty Hurst seems to accidentally take the bails off before the ball comes towards him.

Lifeline for Gloucestershire's James Bracey who called that risky single from the non-striker's end.

Dropped catchpublished at 11:18 BST 19 April

11:18 BST 19 April

Northants 242-4 v Middlesex 341

Nathan McSweeney gets the scoreboard ticking with a backfoot punch off Toby Roland-Jones to move into the nineties.

James Sales gets a life on 78 as he edges Ryan Higgins to first slip. It goes quickly and low and bursts through for four.

First boundary of the day for Hampshire.

A nicely directed pull shot by Jake Lehmann down to fine leg goes for four.

Kept it down nicely did Lehmann (22 not out).

Don Topley
BBC Essex

If you didn't know who was playing, you wouldn't know who is the nightwatchman because Cook is looking quite competent with the willow this morning.

That was a push drive, it was a genuine half volley but it was caressed through the covers for four.