No weather concerns at Hove currently as Warwickshire look to set Sussex a target of over 300.

Rob Yates and Kai Smith reach a 50 partnership with the first two runs of the morning.

They're competing against the Brighton Marathon at Hove. Reports of lots of fancy dress and plenty of tutus on the surrounding streets!

The new ball is only a couple of overs away, so no surprise that Surrey have handed Dan Lawrence the task of opening proceedings at The Oval.

Tom Lawes is bowling from the other end and Lewis Hill has added a couple to Leicestershire's overnight total.

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 Sussex against Warwickshire, day three.

Under way at Old Trafford... and offpublished at 11:05 BST 12 April

11:05 BST 12 April

Lancs 351 v Derbys 236-3

Three balls and one run from Paul Coughlin is all we got through before rain, with impeccable timing, arrives to send the players and ground staff scurrying.

How frustrating is that? It is absolutely hosing down now and the big sheets are being dragged on.

As expected Nottinghamshire have batted on despite already having a 450 run lead over Glamorgan.

Dillon Pennington adds the first run of the morning and he along with Fergus O'Neill will look to add runs quickly before Glamorgan start their formidable run chase.

Rain stops play at Canterburypublished at 11:03 BST 12 April

11:03 BST 12 April

Kent 119-6 v Northants 684-2 dec

A delayed start at Canterbury for now... which will please Kent more than the visitors.

Northamptonshire are very much on top here, needing four more wickets in the Kent first innings - and the follow-on would be a formality, surely.

Up and running in Leeds with nightwatchman Sonny Baker fending outside off stump at a loosener from Logan van Beek.

The Hants man gets in behind the second nicely.

Tom Prest is unbeaten on 31 at t'other end and Yorks need a wicket.

Middlesex and Worcestershire looks set for a cracking Sunday after a super Saturday at Lord's.

Having bowled out their hosts for 183 to give them a eight-run lead, the Pears stretched that advantage to 187 for the loss of just one wickets.

But a brilliant late attack from Middlesex plundered six wickets, leaving the visitors 200-7 overnight, a cushion of just 208 and all to play for now.

Gloucestershire are in the mire as they resume 168-8, a mere 437 behind Durham's superb 605-5 declared, led by 244 from Ben McKinney.

It would be a big surprise if the Glosters are not batting again by lunch in Bristol, and they have all to do to avoid starting 2026 with successive innings losses.

It's a similar scenario for Kent in Canterbury where they are 119-6, a quite staggering 565 adrift of Northants' 684-2 declared.

After all top four batters for Northants made centuries for the first time in one innings, led by Luke Procter's 261 not out, it was a different game when they bowled with Zak Crawley (26) one of the men already out for Kent.

Image source, Shutterstock

Lancashire bowler Paul Coughlin has pinpointed the new ball this morning as a key period for both sides in a finely-poised contest at Old Trafford.

Derbys finished on 235-3 after Lancs spurned a number of chances on a second day that was frequently interrupted by rain breaks.

But with a new ball due in six overs, Coughlin believes the game could move quickly one way or another this morning.

“The new ball is such a big thing in all games of cricket, but I think with this wicket especially, once the ball went soft, it just didn't react the same off the surface.

"It's such a key period of the game, that new ball."

“If we can get the new ball in the morning and create the same chances as we did on day two, I think we're probably due a few.”

Derbyshire captain and opener, Harry Came, said he was delighted at his side's batting effort on day two.

“To lose only two wickets today puts us in a really good position in this game," he said.

Image source, Shutterstock

Hants seamer Kyle Abbott believes his side have the upper hand at Headingley with a first innings lead key in what could be a low-scoring contest.

The visitors finished 93-2 in their second innings with a lead of 167 runs over Yorks.

And Abbott, who took 4-49 as Yorks were kept to 177, said: "Looking at the scores, we’re ahead of it. Obviously there’s still a lot of batting to do to push that lead up.

"But anything past their first-innings score, you always feel in a four-day game that you’ve got the upper hand.

Yorks opener Adam Lyth admitted it had been a tough day for the hosts.

“Tough day. I thought this morning, myself and Rev [Matthew Revis] played well to get through that first hour. Then, just after lunch, we weren’t quite good enough to get through a very good Kyle Abbott spell.

“I thought he bowled exceptionally well."

Image source, Shutterstock

Essex were the only winners in the opening round of County Championship Division One action – but it’ll take a titanic effort for them to turn their clash against Somerset into a second victory of the season.

Trailing by almost 200 on the first innings at Chelmsford, Essex were then reduced to 45-3 second time around before Paul Walter and Matt Critchley staged a fightback, adding 86 so far for the fourth wicket.

The pair resume on 63 and 53 respectively, with their side on 131-3 – still needing another 68 to make Somerset bat a second time.

South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who was carded at three, has dropped down the order with a back spasm but Essex are hopeful he will be able to bat at some point today.

Image source, Shutterstock

This one could end today. Warwickshire go into the third day aiming to build on their 217 run lead after working hard on a difficult batting surface at Hove.

Rob Yates is the top scorer in the match so far and resumes on 75 with Kai Smith on 15.

Sussex born Fynn Hudson-Prentice has been the most successful bowler for the home side but if wickets aren't forthcoming early in the day, and with the new ball still 32 overs away they're likely to turn to the spinners again.

It's a blustery day on the south coast but there's plenty of blue sky above.

Image source, Shutterstock

Jordan Clark admits Surrey’s bowlers have been ‘off the boil’ so far against Leicestershire as the former champions seek their first win of the campaign.

Surrey had expected to put more pressure on the newly-promoted Foxes after piling up 520 at The Oval – but so far it’s looked all too comfortable for the visiting batters.

Opener Rishi Patel remains at the crease on 133 not out, having shared an unbroken stand of 98 with Lewis Hill, and Leicestershire can probably start eyeing a chance to overtake their hosts’ total.

“We just didn’t get the ball in the right areas for long enough,” said Surrey all-rounder Clark. “It is not often we have two poor sessions in a row – we are fairly disappointed with the way we bowled.

“It’s pretty black and white, and I felt we were off the boil with the ball. We need to be much better.”

The defending champions will look to secure their first win of the season at a windy and cold Trent Bridge.

Any runs the final wicket pair of Fergus O'Neill and Dillon Pennington can add on the third morning will be a bonus as Glamorgan already face a target of over 450.

Skittled out for just 113 in the first innings, the Welsh county are going to have to show much more application in the second if they're to avoid a three day defeat.

There are showers forecast this afternoon, so Notts will be keen to get on with it when they take the field.

Division One

Chelmsford: Essex 149 & 131-3 v Somerset 348 - Essex trail by 68 runs

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 279 & 284-9 v Glamorgan 113 - Notts lead by 450 runs

The Oval: Surrey 520 v Leicestershire 350-3 - Leicestershire trail by 170 runs

Hove: Sussex 204 v Warwickshire 267 & 154-5 - Warwickshire lead by 217 runs

Headingley: Yorkshire 177 v Hampshire 251 & 93-2 - Hampshire lead by 167 runs

Division Two

Bristol: Gloucestershire 168-8 v Durham 605-5 dec - Gloucestershire trail by 437 runs

Canterbury: Kent 119-6 v Northamptonshire 684-2 dec - Kent trail by 565 runs

Old Trafford: Lancashire 351 v Derbyshire 235-3 - Derbyshire trail by 116 runs

Lord's: Middlesex 183 v Worcestershire 191 & 200-7 - Worcestershire lead by 208 runs

Image source, Shutterstock

So what if your horse finished out with the washing in the Grand National? Welcome to live coverage of day three of the second round of matches in the County Championship – a sure fire winner if ever there was one!

With five Division One and four Division Two games at the halfway stage there is something for everyone whether your team is fighting a rearguard or sniffing a victory, every cough, spit, appeal and wicket will be covered in loving detail here.

Whether you are with Essex, Sussex, Yorkshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Kent fans feeling under the pump or Warwickshire, Somerset, Hampshire, Notts, Durham, Northants, Worcestershire and Middlesex supporters sensing victory, we are at your side.

All Surrey, Leicestershire, Lancashire or Derbyshire fans out there we will be hoping for a spark for you.

Don’t forget to Get Involved if you feel there is something you want to get off your chest.

Or if there isn't, sit back, pour yourself a cup of tea and let another day of superb red-ball domestic action wash over you.