Zen Malik off the mark to his 13th ball as he guides a full delivery down to third man boundary off the final ball of Jamie Porter's return over.

It spoils a potential maiden for the Essex man.

Dropped catchpublished at 13:50 BST 17 April

13:50 BST 17 April

Hants 119-4 v Somerset

Big chance for Archie Vaughan goes down.

It's a loose stroke by Jake Lehmann who drives on the up but slices it to Vaughan around gully region but he can only put it down. It came at him quickly in fairness.

Lehmann is going well on 34 not out, will Somerset rue that missed opportunity by the close of play today?

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Hain has been the glue of the Warwickshire innings so far - and boy do they need him.

He's quickly into his stride after lunch, flicking a full legside delivery around the corner to the fine leg boundary for four. He goes to 31.

Miles Hammond looks to cream one through the covers but can only find the toe end of the bat which splits in two.

The bat will have to go into a quick retirement and replaced by another just seven balls into the innings.

A profitable first over back as Harry Conway leaks 10 runs with a boundary apiece for Ben Geddes (38) and Ryan Higgins (6).

It's looking decidedly gloomy at Edgbaston where the leaden skies probably match the mood of the home supporters after a difficult morning.

The floodlights have been on a liong while now and the light may be a factor before the expected rain arrives.

Zaman Akhter opens up after lunch for Essex looking for further cheap wickets, while Sam Hain faces needing to dig in.

Harry Conway get things under way for the Northants attack after an enterprising morning for the hosts.

Ryan Higgins (2) is on strike with Ben Geddes (33) at the other end, looking to add another partnership of value.

We are back under way in Southampton too, where the conditions are far better for a full day of cricket.

We are back under way for the afternoon session at Bristol after Gloucestershire lost their second wicket before lunch.

George Balderson has five balls remaining in the over in increasingly gloomy conditions.

Don Topley
BBC Essex

Image source, Getty Images

Having won their first toss of the season, Sam Cook and Jamie Porter bowled beautifully to reduce Warwickshire to 78-5 at lunch.

Porter had Alex Davies caught behind off the second ball of the day and then had Rob Yates snaffled at third slip.

The dynamic bowler enjoyed Dan Mousely’s LBW before Sam Hain commenced a recovery.

Meanwhile, acting captain Sam Cook, while wicketless, bowled as well as Porter with no reward.

Shane Snater dismissed Beau Webster who decided to advance down the wicket for the second successive ball and was clean bowled.

The fifth wicket was Ed Barnard who became Zaman Akhter’s maiden Essex wicket, when Warwickshire were on 65. At lunch, Warwickshire are 78-5, Hain still there on 27 not out.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

Somerset will be very happy with their four wickets after Lewis Gregory lost the toss and Ben Brown elected to bat on what looks like a decent batting pitch.

The wickets have been shared around although it was the young left-armer, Alfie Ogborne, who drew first blood when he had Nick Gubbins well caught at third slip by Gregory.

Craig Overton then weighed in by removing Tom Prest before Gregory had Toby Albert, preferred as an opener to Joe Weatherley, caught behind for an attractive 42 and Brown caught at second slip by Overton.

Kevin Hand
BBC Radio London commentator

A pacey and bouncy Wantage Road surface perhaps caught Middlesex by surprise, as they lost their first two wickets caught at short legs.

The life in the surface delighted all, including Leus du Plooy and Ben Geddes who produced an array of flowing drives and clips to help

Middlesex recovered from the loss of Robson with only 20-3 on the board.

At that point the decision to bat first looked dubious but the solid surface should make for fun for the spinners as the game wears on.

Ben Sanderson picked up his second of the morning, when du Plooy nicked to slip, in the final over before Lunch to open the door to another lovely start to a session for the bowlers when play resumes.

It appears as though there is a little for everyone in the surface at this stage, already though Middlesex will hope that includes their front line spinner Zafar Gohar.

Ed Seabourne
BBC Radio Bristol commentator

That's a blow for Gloucestershire.

It had been Gloucestershire's session up until that point (Balderson b Price). It's a real shame about that run-out because they were pretty well set against the new ball.

Now they've lost that second wicket, you know there'll be another session of Anderson waiting after lunch.

Division One

Southampton: Hampshire 112-4 v Somerset

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 78-5 v Essex

Division Two

Bristol: Gloucestershire 80-2 v Lancashire

Northampton: Northants v Middlesex 106-4

Ryan Higgins gets off the mark with a single and that will be lunch.

Northants have had the better of things despite a fine fourth-wicket stand of 81 and a fifty from Leus Du Plooy.

But he became Ben Sanderson's second victim just before the interval to put the ball very much in the home side's court.

Harry Conway also picked up a brace of wickets to leave the visitors with work to do to reach a competitive total.

Hampshire see out the final over at the Utilita Bowl and that is lunch.

A dominant opening session from Division One league-leaders Somerset then.

22-year-old Alfe Ogborne got the breakthrough, getting Nick Gubbins to edge one to third slip for seven.

Craig Overton bagged Tom Prest before Lewis Gregory got the big wicket of Toby Albert for 42.

Gregory struck once more with a consistent line and length, tempting Ben Brown to edge behind for a duck, as Hampshire reached 100 four wickets down.

The sun is out and on a pitch which doesn't seem to be doing a great deal - Somerset will be delighted with their morning's work.

Sam Hain picks up another boundary in the final over of the morning session and goes to lunch unbeaten on 27.

But it's been all Essex this morning as their bowlers have made hay while the sun hides behind thick Birmingham cloud.

Jamie Porter got the ball rolling with three wickets before Shane Snater took advantage of a Beau Webster swipe to get on the scoreboard.

Then Zaman Akhter’s debut wicket put a bow on a fine morning session.

It's been an interesting first session at Bristol for a number of reasons.

Lancashire won the toss and elected to bowl but were unable to find the breakthrough before Cameron Bancroft ran himself out following good work by Josh Bohannon.

Ollie Price and Ben Charlesworth steadied the ship for the home side but in the final over before lunch George Balderson - who had bowled beautifully - got one to nip back sharply at Price to claim his leg stump.

Ajeet Singh Dale has also been forced off the field with what looked like a hamstring injury when he raced into bowl the first ball of his third over and has been replaced by Harry Singh.

An even contest so far, this one.

Michael Carberry
Former England batter

I think the pitch has played how it should do for April. If you bowl well there's a bit in it. You have to make some allowances. The new ball is going to do something.