Another maiden for Lancs – the third in a row – gives Tom Bailey another crack at Northants last man Harry Conway.

Let's see whether he can do better this time.

First ball is edged between wicketkeeper Matty Hurst and first slip George Bell, sailing straight through the middle of them for four without either moving an inch.

That was a miss by Hurst who should have taken it. What a chance that was.

James Anderson taking fivefers, Sam Northeast top-scoring for Kent, Toby Roland-Jones putting Middlesex on his back... had to check the calendar last night to make sure this really was 2026. Where has the past decade gone?

A big moment for Doncaster-born Sam Whiteman who makes his batting debut for the White Rose after spending most of his life in Australia.

He is in at three following the dismissal of Fin Bean, having previously experienced county cricket with Northants in 2023.

And that is a disappointing over from Tom Bailey.

Having engineered a sight of No 11 Harry Conway Lancs have rather wasted that opportunity with five balls he never really needed to defend.

He clips the last off his legs but turns down the single to keep Lewis McManus (56) on strike to deal with Jimmy Anderson.

Missed opportunity.

Teenage left-hander Dan Lategan has moved on to 80* at Derby where it's rather slow-going early on for Worcestershire as their deficit creeps down towards just 500 against Derbyshire, with eight wickets in hand.

Similar story at Lord's where Miles Hammond has 59* and he and James Bracey have reduced Gloucestershire's deficit to 319 against Middlesex, but with only six wickets remaining.

Rain stops play at Tauntonpublished at 11:13 BST 5 April

11:13 BST 5 April

Somerset 347 v Notts 226-4

April showers, eh....

This will hopefully be a short and sharp one but we will have a delay at Taunton.

There's blue sky to the west and sun on the distant hills but the strong breeze has blown a dark cloud over the County Ground and the covers are coming on as the heavens open.

Somerset have made an important breakthrough in the opening minutes of the day, so this will frustrate them.

Joe Clarke dispatches the first ball of the morning from Migael Pretorius with aplomb through the covers to the fence to pick up his 11th boundary and move to 74*.

Notts are closing in on a first batting point and the deficit is 123 with now just six wickets in hand.

Lancs skipper (Sir) Jimmy Anderson is wheeling away with Lewis McManus in his sights as play gets going at Wantage Road.

Just the one wicket needed for the visitors as they seek a significant first innings advantage.

Northants trailed by 169 overnight (it is 168 now) and need to get that to two figures you would have thought.

There are looseners and then there are looseners.

Ryan Hadley begins his morning's work with a full toss outside off stump which Adam Lyth strokes to the boundary.

Ben Green will bowl the opening over at Grace Road.

James Coles picks up an easy single to get the scoreboard moving.

That's a good one from Green which finds the edge of Jack Carson's bat, but it runs away through the vacant gap where a second slip would be for four.

Wiaan Mulder is going to start day three with the final two balls of his third over and Jake Lehmann is in his sights. We start with two dots.

The sky is clear and the sun is out and Sam Cook is going to bowl the next over.

Joe Clarke and Jack Haynes head out at a sun-soaked Taunton to resume their stand of 90 for this fourth wicket.

101 overs on the slate for today after light robbed us of some action yesterday.

Craig Overton will bowl the opening over of the day, with Haynes on strike on 53*.

43 overs remain in the quest for batting, and bowling points.

Should be a cracking day...

Time for action at eight grounds.

In case you missed the earlier post, the start has been delayed between Durham and Kent because of Storm Dave damage at the Riverside.

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 Somerset against Nottinghamshire, day three.

Image source, Shutterstock

Essex all-rounder Matt Critchley is looking forward to showcasing his all-round capabilities this summer after a strong start with the bat put his side in control at Southampton.

Critchley posted a towering 173 as Essex racked up 461-7 declared to continue a trend of impressive starts to the season before Hants closed at 48-3

And the 29-year-old admitted he is looking to show what he can do with the ball in what remains of Hampshire’s innings to put himself in the picture for international recognition this summer.

“It is nice to start the season like that and put us into a good position. This was the most pleasing [of the opening centuries]," he said. "It was away from home and quite difficult batting conditions – we’ve been playing under lights against a quality attack.

“I obviously want to still play for England but I just want to do whatever job is in front of me. Sometimes because you bat in the middle order people sometimes forget you can bowl and vice versa.

"They should complement each other more but I just want to get involved in the game.”

Hampshire seamer Sonny Baker warned it was difficult breaking through defences especially when the ball softened.

“The difficult part here in general is creating chances when you get past the new fresh ball and it gets softer," he said. "As bowlers we need to contribute with the bat now and look forward to the rest of the game.”

Clive Eakin
BBC Sport at Edgbaston

It's a cold but sunny morning at Edgbaston where Warwickshire aim to build a substantial lead against pre-season title favourites Surrey after passing their total just before the close of day two.

Dan Mousley, who's likely to be in the England conversation over the next few weeks, resumes on 112, the second first class century of the 24-year-old's career.

At the crease with him at the start of day three will be Sam Hain on 80. Now 30-year-old Hain has had to come to terms with largely being ignored by the England selectors despite accumulating big runs in county red ball and white ball cricket over the years.

Having turned to spin early yesterday Surrey will hope their front line seamers Sean Abbott and Matthew Fisher can find some success with the new ball which is available from the start of play.