Nine games to start the final month of the 2026 County Championship
D1: Essex v Sussex, Hants v Warks, Notts v Leics, Somerset v Glamorgan, Surrey v Yorks
D2: Glos v Derbys, Kent v Worcs, Middx v Lancs, Northants v Durham
Click 'Watch and listen' for radio commentary
Have your say using the 'Get Involved' button
Surrey v Yorks 60-3
It's all rather quietened down at The Oval after the explosive opening when Surrey claimed three Yorkshire wickets in the first two overs.
James Wharton and Matthew Revis are being watchful scoring at less than two-and-half an over.
They'll be anxious to get to tea, scheduled for 15:25 without suffering any more losses.
Middx 40-2 v Lancs
Big shout from Lancs led by their skipper James Anderson who raps Leus Du Plooy on the pad. That looked close but the MIddx man is saved by the fact he came down the wicket.
Simon Widdup shakes his head and the batsman survives.
He has another lucky escape a couple of balls later after clipping Anderson to midwicket where Nauman Ali gets two hands to it diving to his left but spills it.
He probably should have held on there.
Coles c Pepper b Akhter 15 (Essex v Sussex 116-5)
Another for Essex and the hosts are now in charge.
James Coles feels for a ball just outside off that lifts and leaves him a fraction, drawing an edge behind.
Kent 143-4 v Worcestershire
I'd pay to watch Daniel Bell-Drummond in full flow.
I wouldn't pay a penny though to stand at point when he is.
The Kent right hander has slapped and cut savagely square on the off-side on his way to 25 with 20 of those coming in boundaries.
Chris Benjamin is now with him at the other end, admiring the fast hands and faster runs.
Dare I say, the sun is out too. Ish.
Middx 28-2 v Lancs
Luke Hollman has hit a beauty through cover, leaning on to the backfoot and punching Tom Bailey for four.
That has raced to the boundary rope and, let us tell you, you might be tempted to hail a cab to that one rather than walk it - it is huge.
In fact, the boundaries either side of the wicket at Northwood, particularly to the pavilion at Merchant Taylors' School are long.
Not so bad straight but it will need a well-timed hit to get four square of the wicket.
Tear c Harmer b Porter 39 (Essex v Sussex 110-4)
Breakthrough for Essex!
Charlie Tear was going well but he just pushes at one fractionally outside off and gets a firm edge to second slip where Simon Harmer takes the catch to his left.
Holden b Anderson 0 (Middx 20-2 v Lancs)
What a beauty from the Lancs skipper.
This is vintage Sir Jim, angled across, fullish and nipping right back between bat and pad to hit the top of off stump.
He has done it so many times now that he barely celebrates. Just an arm goes up with a finger pointing to the sky as he runs through to Matty Hurst and the slips.
He looks in the groove.
Surrey v Yorks 51-3
Some effort from James Wharton and Matthew Revis after they came together on 1 for 3 in the second over.
They've tried to balance defence with being positive and have managed to keep the scoreboard moving.
The pair haven't looked entirely comfortable but they are doing a great job for Yorkshire
Dickson c Overton b Gregory 9 (Somerset v Glam 123-6)
It may be Sean Dickson’s birthday but there’s no present of runs for him.
Lewis Gregory is wide on the bowling crease, angles in a full ball, draws a big drive and edges to first slip.
Somerset now in full control with two wickets in eight balls and and have a chance to fire Glamorgan out very cheaply from here.
Hants v Warks 141-1
Light rain forces the players off at Southampton. Warwickshire remain on top courtesy of an unbroken century stand between Dan Mousley and Rob Yates who have both reached their 50s.
It's been a tough first day so far for Hampshire who ended that spell of play with two of their main striker bowlers off. Kyle Abbott and Scott Currie have both been receiving treatment for hand injuries.
Northants v Durham 112-3
They're going off at Northampton. Again.
Sad times.
While players have been putting their left feet in and then their left feet out several times, David Bedingham, Alex Lees and now debutant Mayank Agarwal have done their best to justify Durham's decision to bat first, despite the weather.
Lees has been the only wicket to fall since both openers went with 16 on the board and things have looked safe in the hands of Bedingham and India's Agarwal, who has already tested the safety credentials of the windows of the indoor cricket school with a biggie.
Signed for the run-in, he's offered lively support to the calm class of Bedingham (48) who nudges closer to 1,000 runs before jetting back to South Africa (and much less rain) after this game.
Phillips c Andersson b Randell 10 (Glocs 20-3 v Derbys)
No more than a tentative defensive prod from Joe Phillips and an edge takes off into the hands of Martin Andersson at second slip.
Phillips had ridden his luck a little even in getting to 10 but Brett Randell has his man and a second wicket of the session.
Robson b Anderson 8 (Middx 20-1 v Lancs)
Bit of movement outside off stump and Sam Robson has dragged a delivery from Jimmy Anderson on to his wicket.
Glocs 20-2 v Derbys
Joe Phillips (10) edges Brett Randell towards gully and Martin Andersson very nearly gets his hand to it diving to his right from third slip.
It is worth pointing out again but Brooke Guest standing up to the stumps is proving a real thorn in the Glocs batsman's sides.
Northants v Durham 100-3
Not a pretty one to bring in up, in fact legbyes enrage quite a few around the county circuit, but they all count as they always say and the attempt at a leg glance from David Bedingham has just flicked his pad but raced away to the fence.
Yuzvendra Chahal is probably wondering how that one had the legs to get to the rope given all the rain. He's not the only one.
But it has and Durham have a hundred
Hants v Warks 133-1
Hampshire's attack is still without Kyle Abbott.
The first division's top wicket taker left the field before lunch after suffering a hand injury.
The word is he's badly damaged a nail.
Middx 16-0 v Lancs
Another couple of straightish fours from the bat of Luke Hollman as Jimmy Anderson strays a little too full.
Hollman is a big enough unit and only needed to lean into those well-timed drives to beat the dives of the fielders at mid off and on.
Kellaway c Nicholls b Pretorius 51 (Somerset v Glam 123-5)
A really pleasant on-drive from Ben Kellaway off Migael Pretorius brings him fifty in 81 balls.
But next ball, Pretorius gets a little lift from just outside off, Kellaway fences at it and edges to first slip!
Big breakthrough and Glamorgan in trouble again.
Essex v Sussex 103-3
Zaman Akhter almost squeezes a full ball through James Coles but a thick inside edge squirts away through square leg and the single raises the Sussex hundred.
Price b Aitchison 0 (Glocs 18-2 v Derbys)
Lovely delivery from Ben Aitchison who sends it towards middle, straightens it and clips the top of off as Oliver Price plays the original line.
Bad start for Glocs who are two down in next to no time. Not what they would have hoped for when tentatively electing to bat.