Ben Green had a fan club on day two with a well-attended and fairly well-oiled stag party dressed as umpires cheering his every move.

They are not here this morning (or at least if they are they are still on the coffee and bacon butties stage) but their hero has sent down the first over.

Sussex have added a single to their overnight score.

Josh Tongue is hurtling in again to begin day three and Dan Lawrence swerves to avoid a ball that climbs on him before tucking into the next one, a straight drive down the ground for four.

Lawrence moves on to 57, with Adam Thomas alongside him on his overnight six.

A cooler day in Cardiff, there's plenty more cloud around than the first two days, and a few more jumpers in the crowd.

A warm start with the bat though from Craig Overton, who flicks Tom Norton away for four off the opening delivery of the day.

Shane Snater v Jake Lehmann is the first match up of the morning as day three gets under way at Chelmsford.

And it is first blood to the bat with the Hants man clipping a loosener one off his legs for a single.

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Division One:

• Chelmsford: Essex 273 v Hampshire 235 & 58-2
• Cardiff: Glamorgan 229 v Somerset 354 & 32-6
• Nottingham: Notts 415 v Surrey 211-4
• Hove: Sussex 386-8 v Leics 328
• Edgbaston: Warwickshire 147 & 267-3 v Yorkshire 152

Division Two:

• Derby: Derbyshire 604-7 dec v Northants 98-4
• Bristol: Gloucestershire 325 v Kent 308-8
• Manchester: Lancashire 201 & 45-3 v Middlesex 169
• Worcester: Worcs 308 v Durham 207-6

Ben Stokes' return to the middle lasted just 17 balls yesterday, as he contributed 14 to Durham's chase of Worcestershire's 308 at New Road.

The England skipper will watch on as his side resume on 207-6 this morning, having lost David Bedingham for 83 late on last night.

A century apiece from Martin Andersson (106) and Brooke Guest (141) helped Derbyshire to a mammoth 604-7 before their declaration against Northants, and the visitors are struggling on 98-4 as day three gets under way in Derby.

Not a lot to choose between Gloucestershire and Kent in Bristol. The hosts reached 325 yesterday afternoon, before the visitors got to 308-8 in their chase before the close of play, largely thanks to Tawanda Muyeye's 90.

Chris Benjamin will resume on 74 not out for Kent this morning.

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Yes, it’s Manchester – but the weather forecast indicates a sunshine-filled Sunday and Lancashire’s Tom Bailey reckons that could change the complexion of their low-scoring encounter against Middlesex.

The Red Rose were bowled out for 201 before restricting their opponents to 169 in reply and then reaching 45-3 in their second attempt during two days marred by rain and bad light.

That gives Lancashire a 77-run lead at the halfway stage of the contest and Bailey said: “It’s an interesting pitch – it’s offered plenty over these last two days. I do feel like it is slowly getting better.

“We’re disappointed to lose three wickets but I think if we can get bat most of the day, we’ll be in a great position.

“If the sun comes out, which it’s meant to, it’ll hopefully burn off a bit off that grass and allow us to score some runs.”

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This time yesterday Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow were getting ready to resume on 110-4 and made a confident start - but when they got out it prompted a batting collapse as Yorkshire only made it to 152.

Warwickshire all-rounder Jordan Thompson said they had been hoping to get the star duo early and paid tribute to the work of his fellow bowlers.

"The ball was still swinging around and we got our rewards. I didn't really have to do too much work - four overs for three wickets. Olly and Ethan did all the hard work. But I was pleased to help tidy up the tail because tails have wagged around the country this season," he said.

"Then the guys batted really well. It was a case of getting through the new ball and giving yourself a chance when the ball gets softer. They did that brilliantly and now tomorrow we've got some work to do and hopefully we can keep the pressure on and come out and score some more runs."

Yorkshire assistant coach John Sadler admitted the visitors were unhappy with their performance with bat and ball on day two.

“It’s a poor day to put it quite bluntly. We turned up this morning full of confidence, full of energy, full of belief, but we had a poor hour with the bat, really. Then, once we got the ball in our hand, we had a poor hour with the ball," he said.

“I think we bowled well in stages. We started pretty well and finished that last session pretty well. We got some control back, but the damage was done in between."

One man who would have slept very well overnight in Cardiff is 18-year-old Glamorgan debutant Tom Norton, who made history yesterday by becoming the first player to take a County Championship hat-trick in their first appearance since 1906.

The incredible feat helped the Welsh County to stop Somerset firmly in their tracks, meaning the visitors only added 32 runs to a first innings lead of 125 for the loss of six wickets.

"I don't think I can put it into words to be honest. It's the most mental 45 minutes I've ever had on a cricket field," said Norton.

"I never thought this would happen. I was happy to get my first wicket yesterday to get me off my mark in first-class cricket but to take a hat-trick on my debut is something I'll cherish for the rest of my life.

"It's a really special feeling, hopefully I'll have my name in the record books for a long, long time.

It leaves the hosts with all the momentum going into day three, a scenario that looked unlikely yesterday after being bowled out for 229.

Norton added: "Ben [Kellaway] and Chris [Cooke] batted really well on the counter-attack to avoid the follow so to have them six down overnight is really good so hopefully get the first four quickly and chase them down."

Tom Abell - who top scored for the visitors with 86 in the first innings - resumes this morning at the crease and may well have something to say about that, and Somerset will be hoping he can stay in the middle and build the lead all over again.

Don't rule out this one being all wrapped up by the end of play, and it could go either way.

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Josh Tongue feels the strength of Nottinghamshire’s pace attack can prove decisive as the champions aim to secure a first-innings advantage over Surrey at Trent Bridge.

England seamer Tongue picked up two Surrey wickets on day two, with fellow quick Olly Stone removing Rory Burns as the visitors closed on 211-4 – still trailing Nottinghamshire by 204 runs.

Tongue and Stone had earlier shared a last-wicket partnership of 74 to guide Notts to 415 and, although the bowlers were then frustrated by Dom Sibley’s 77, spinner Liam Patterson-White removed the opener shortly before stumps.

“I was pleased with the way my wickets came,” said Tongue. “We thought we’d give the short ball a bit of a crack, and it’s paid off.

“It’s the first time I’ve bowled with Stoney as well, so that’s exciting. He showed his quality against Leicestershire last week when he bowled unbelievably and I feel when we’re in tandem we’re a very good attack.

“It felt like a big wicket at the end because Dom Sibley is a top-class player and batted beautifully. If we get a couple of quick wickets in the morning and put a bit of pressure on them, we’ll see where the day takes us.”

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Sussex centurion Dan Hughes said his side could have held a 120 run lead going into day three having had the Foxes “by the scruff of the neck” only to let them slip their grasp.

The hosts reached the halfway stage on 386-8, leading Leics by 58 runs, but could have been in a stronger position had they been more “ruthless” according to the opener.

Hughes, who top scored with 136, said: “We’ve got our noses in front, nearly 60 ahead. But there’s probably a few dismissals in the middle order, myself included, which we’d like to take back.

"That let them back in the game.

“If we were really ruthless we’d have a 120-run lead by now and been five down. We had them by the scruff of the neck. But it wasn’t to be. All we can do is learn from it for next time.”

Leics bowler Tom Helm agreed that his side had wriggled off the hook.

“We can be relatively happy that they’re just 50 ahead. It could have been different for both teams,” said Helm. “They had a lot of dropped catches the first day. We beat the bat a lot.

“I think the honours are pretty even.”

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Simon Harmer said Essex teammates will be hearing about Jamie Porter’s heroic part of an 81-run final wicket partnership “for weeks” after the bowler gave their side a halfway lead.

Harmer and Porter came to the crease at nine down with Essex still trailing Hants first innings 235 by 43 runs.

But their partnership frustrated Hants and gave Essex a first innings lead before the visitors finished on 58-2 and gave Porter, who scored 12, some ammunition for the next few weeks.

“You never have to ask Ports to put his hand up to bat, he loves it,” said Harmer who was unbeaten on 80. “And you always hear about how good he’s played for a couple of weeks post-game.

“He’s a lot of fun to bat with and even when he gets a bit of abuse for the opposition, he’s always light-hearted and you’re always chuckling on the other side.

Hants seamer James Fuller, who took 5-43 including the wicket of Porter, said: “Those last two wickets of theirs were super frustrating. It was a nightmare. You’re just hoping someone’s going to chip one up or get a little scratch behind

“It’s tight but tomorrow’s a huge day. You’re just hoping for a couple of big partnerships. Everyone’s got to contribute. We can’t let it slip.”

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Welcome along to day three of our County Championship. I hope you are well rested and ready for another day of thrills and spills.

Day Two's highlight was undoubtedly a hat-trick on debut for 18-year-old Glamorgan bowler Tom Norton against Somerset. He is believed to be the youngest ever debutant to achieve the feat in first class cricket.

Elsewhere, Harry Brook made 40 for Yorkshire, Ben Stokes only reached 14 before getting out at Worcester, Zak Crawley's struggles continued and James Anderson was, as ever, in the wickets.

Let's see how things stand ahead of play on day three.