George Balderson is supporting James Anderson at the other end with Matty Hurst standing up to the stumps behind the wicket.

The third ball of his second over of the day is tucked away into the leg side by Miles Hammond for a couple.

Sam Cook plays a lovely straight drive for four off Nathan Gilchrist to get his account up and running on day three.

The nightwatchman takes another couple and then a single to keep the strike as Charlie Allison leans on his bat at the non-strikers.

Cook sends an Ethan Bamber half-volley throgh the covers for four more to move to 16.

Good start for the visitors.

150 up for Hampshirepublished at 11:11 BST 19 April

11:11 BST 19 April

Hants 150-1 v Somerset (lead by 100 runs)

In the third over of the day, Hampshire reach 150 as Nick Gubbins pushes a single towards mid-on and thus the host's lead also moves on to 100.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

I spoke to Somerset head coach Jason Kerr yesterday and he said it had been a very frustrating day.

He felt Somerset didn't bowl as well as they could have done and that they wasted an opportunity in the morning to get really big runs on the board and a significant first innings lead rather than the 50 first innings lead which they eventually eked out.

It's useful but isn't by any stretch of the imagination game changing. Somerset are going to have to work really hard and bowl really well this morning because the pitch has gone to sleep.

It's a lifeless strip now, nothing much in it for either seam or spin and I think the key for Somerset is going to be discipline in their bowling.

They've got to keep the pressure on and force the batsmen into doing something that they might not ordinarily do to make things happen.

A maiden to start with as Nathan McSweeney sees off Toby Roland-Jones' first over.

Ryan Higgins in to James Sales and almost takes the outside edge with his fifth delivery, but the Northants bowlers just withdraws his bat in time.

Six more dots.

Jimmy Anderson gets us under way for Lancashire and his first ball of the day is met by a good forward defensive shot by Miles Hammond (10 not out).

We are under way on day three at the Utilita Bowl.

The news by the way on Toby Albert is good, and despite a tweak to his knee, he is expected to bat if needed lower down the order for Hampshire after retiring hurt yesterday.

Toby Roland-Jones gets us going seeking a third wicket as Nathan McSweeney takes guard unbeaten on 87.

Charlie Allison and nightwatchman Sam Cook make their way to the middle.

Who's going to grab the initiative on the third morning?

Image source, Getty Images

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr has no doubts about the potential for wicketkeeper James Rew to open the batting for England this summer.

His sparkling early season form will come as no revelation to followers of the Cidermen, but Kerr hopes the national selectors will also be paying close attention.

With current England opener Zak Crawley not enjoying the best of starts to the summer after a difficult Ashes winter, calls for a change are certain to continue.

Read what Kerr had to say in the full story here.

Image source, Shutterstock

James Anderson shone yesterday morning for Lancashire as they skittled out Gloucestershire for 136 in their first innings in a wicket-heavy second day in Bristol.

A spell of 3-5, which included a double-wicket maiden, in the first 30 minutes on Saturday put an end to Gloucestershire's tail but Lancashire were not able to press home their advantage to the full - being bowled out by the hosts for 240 thanks in large to superb seam bowling by Matt Taylor.

The tall left-arm fast bowler bagged 6-43 with a sensational spell after lunch which meant Gloucs went back into bat in their second-innings just 104 runs - a slight reprieve you would think then.

The Red Rose fought back with the ball though and claimed three wickets in a mammoth day which saw more than 100 overs bowled and 17 wickets taken.

Miles Hammond and James Bracey return to the crease and their partnership this morning will probably be crucial in their side's fortunes as they look to lift themselves off the bottom of Division Two.

Image source, Getty Images

An unbroken stand of 131 for the fifth wicket between Nathan McSweeney and James Sales has given Northants a great platform to edge a first-innings lead.

McSweeney resumes 13 short of back-to-back tons, while Sales accelerated to 78 off 100 balls before bad light ended play early with the hosts .

“Nathan McSweeney’s looked great," said Ben Sanderson who earlier completed a five-for with the second new ball to dismiss Middlesex for 341.

"Whatever's thrown at him on those green wickets or slow wickets, he's just found a way of scoring runs or soaking up a bit of pressure, then he knows he's going to get some release somewhere.

“We know he [James Sales] can do it from past innings.

"They bowled quite well at him, but he got through that and earned the right to play a few more shots later on.”

Image source, Shutterstock

Nick Gubbins led Hampshire's fightback against Division One table-toppers Somerset on day two at the Utilita Bowl with a terrific knock of 70 not out.

He returns to the crease this morning with Jake Lehmann (16 not out) after the hosts lost just one wicket in their reply after Tom Prest (43) was trapped lbw with Jake Ball's first ball of the second innings.

Toby Albert (17) retired hurt and his prognosis remains unclear at the beginning of day three, with the hosts turning around their deficit to lead by 96 runs on a pitch which was doing little for the bowlers last night.

Somerset toiled in the field on a warm day down on the south coast with Jack Leach going through 14 overs (0-48) on a pitch which showed little turn but a slight amount of uneven bounce.

This match could have the hallmarks of a County Championship classic and Hampshire will hope to press home their advantage to give the visitors a big score to chase at the halfway stage of this one.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Hain seemed to be playing on a different wicket to his Warwickshire teammates and stood unbeaten on 88 as the hosts were bowled out for 190, a decent recovery from 96-6.

Paul Walter and Charlie Allison's stand of 84 has helped put Essex in a strong position in reply, but Hain believes the game remains very much in the balance.

Essex resume 80 runs behind with seven wickets intact and Allison unbeaten on 40, but on a pitch which hasn't proved easy going thus far.

"I think the game's pretty even," he said.

"It would have been nice to nip another one out tonight but the pitch is still offering something so if we can bowl well and get a couple of wickets early tomorrow the game will even right up."

Hain had to dig in against some fine bowling from Essex, spearheaded by Jamie Porter's four-wicket haul.

"I was pleased to get some runs. It wasn't the prettiest of innings but that's really because the Essex guys bowled well."

Division One:

Southampton: Hampshire 238 & 146-1 v Somerset 288

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 190 v Essex 110-3

Division Two:

Bristol: Gloucestershire 136 & 58-3 v Lancashire 240

Northampton: Northamptonshire 229-4 v Middlesex 341

Welcome to our live text commentary for day three of the third round of the 2026 County Championship.

There's plenty of action ahead of us with two of our games still in the thick of the first innings and no team yet to stamp a decisive mark.

Lancashire, on the other hand, are scenting a day three win away to bottom side Gloucestershire, with James Anderson spearheading the attack this morning.

And Hampshire are in a superb position as they look to set a big target for leaders Somerset to chase.

So welcome aboard - we're glad to have your company.