100 for Critchleypublished at 11:24 BST 4 April

11:24 BST 4 April

Hants v Essex 234-2

A first raised bat of the morning and it is in the hands of Essex's Matt Critchley.

Hants had built pressure well but Codi Yusuf has lost his bearings and delivered a half-tracker for the tall Preston-born middle order batter to crash through backward point for four.

It takes him to a 13th first class century, his score to 101 and further strengthens Essex's position. His high score is 151 and he will be fancying chances of raising that particular bar today.

for Luis Reecepublished at 11:24 BST 4 April

11:24 BST 4 April

Derbys 420-4 v Worcs

Image source, Shutterstock

Luis Reece only scored one century in last year's Championship, but provided ample compensation with 50 wickets as Derbyshire finished third in Division Two.

He only needs one innings to match that total this season, going to his 15th first-class hundred from 152 balls with a tip and run single off Matthew Waite.

Derbyshire have nine overs left to add another 30 to earn a full set of batting bonus points.

Very fortunate for Miggy Pretorius, in typical fashion he goes after his second ball and slices it just past his leg stump for four.

The feet were stuck in the mud, a wild swish.

Dillon Pennington puts his hands on his head even more aghast next ball as he goes wide outside off stump and the South African clatters him off the outside edge past third slip for four this time.

Ahh that is an age-old dilemma. One of the nuances of our wonderful game. Spare a thought for fans of a certain county who are hoping one of their players IS called up by England as they think it will allow another of their promising young players more time to shine this season.

for Martin Anderssonpublished at 11:19 BST 4 April

11:19 BST 4 April

Derbys 416-4 v Worcs

This was already a career-best innings by Martin Andersson and he goes to 150 off 180 balls by driving a ball from Tom Taylor into the covers for a single.

Northants deserve enormous credit for how they have stuck at this given they are just a couple of good balls from polishing off this Lancashire innings.

From a position of 312-4 when Michael Jones and Matty Hurst were peppering the ropes in the final session of day one they have slumped to 362-8.

That's 4-50 in a shade over 16 overs for those who haven't got spare paper or a calculator to hand. Maximum bowling points (3) is very much in reach for the hosts.

Slow and steady from Kent, which seems the right plan.

Ben Raine and Matty Potts in particular are bending their backs to try to cause Sam Northeast (31*) and Tawanda Muyeye problems but the pair have extended their partnership to 42 runs and showed some solid defence to boot.

Dropped catchpublished at 11:17 BST 4 April

11:17 BST 4 April

Som 308-6 v Notts

Jack Leach fends an awkward short ball from Olly Stone into the vacant short extra cover region.

Stone follows through and dives forward and ends up sprawled on the ground, would have been a sensational grab.

Alex Davies punches a straight one from Matt Fisher back down the field, beyond the despairing grasp of Ralphie Albert at mid-on, and picks up his second boundary of the young morning.

Timed it very nicely, once again. All along the ground.

Fisher then beats the bat with one which kicks up from the final ball of the over but Davies gets his arrow-straight back-foot defensive shot out of the way in the nick of time.

Absorbing stuff early-on.

Notts skipper Has Hameed was electric in the field yesterday, he is superb again early this morning, saving three as Jack Leach drives aerially through extra cover.

The Bolton-born opener dives across and keeps it to one, losing his trousers in the process.

Dillon Pennington and Olly Stone the opening bowlers still this morning, though not quite bowling as well as they did yesterday yet.

Martin Andersson flicks Tom Taylor through square leg for a couple as Derbyshire collect their fourth batting point. The next ball is driven through the covers for four.

for Leus du Plooypublished at 11:10 BST 4 April

11:10 BST 4 April

Middx 281-5 v Glos

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Well batted Leus du Plooy, who tucks Matt Taylor to mid-wicket for an easy single and posts a century off 148 balls.

This has been an excellent innings after his side were in a spot of trouble on 194-5, and he and Joe Cracknell has so far added 88.

A rarity, Somerset notching two first innings batting points early in the season.

Craig Overton onto 37* back in the number seven position with no usual skipper Lewis Gregory.

Don't forget this game last year saw Tom Banton make Somerset's record first-class individual score though.

There is more life in this pitch, 19 more overs for bonus points to be gained for either side, currently two apiece.

Of course not, William. It is definitely a good match and if one team is to win it, it will surely stand them in good stead for a promotion push. But Division Two is set to be a fascinating contest again this season.

Tidy start from Matt Fisher who hits his straps immediately in a maiden first over bowling to Rob Yates.

Alex Davies will take strike as Sean Abbott takes the first over from the opposite end, and the first ball strays onto leg stump and is clipped nicely to the deep mid-wicket rope for four by Davies.