County cricket: Surrey v Hampshire, Yorkshire v Derbyshire and more – live!

Durham make a breakthrough! Brydon Carse sends Hassan Azad’s stumps flying with his first ball of the innings. Leicestershire 34-1.

Well played Tom Fell! 104 not out and a partnership of 70 with Ed Barnard. Worcester have a promising lead of 253 over Gloucestershire.

Kent nine down, still 81 behind. Not sure if we’re going to see a contrived run chase here? Lancs 162-7, still a MASSIVE 310 behind.

A great Spin this, by Simon Burnton, on Andy Caddick, central contracts and Duncan Fletcher.

“There were some challenging times prior to contracts with dressing-room morale. After [they arrived], you had time to understand each person, their mental and physical strengths and weaknesses. You helped each other. When you do that you will all benefit. Prior you’d be looking over your shoulder – ‘I’m not going to help him, because he could take my job.’ After that we were all in it together. It became a much more relaxed atmosphere, and for the first time I just did what I did for Somerset – give me the ball and I’ll bowl. I just enjoyed bowling.”

A lovely leave by Joe Denly on 89 – just a shame he chose that particular ball….Kent 185-7.

Steven Croft (55) and Tom Hartley (9) defending away for Lancashire the first three quarters of an hour of the day. Nick Selman and Billy Root resisting Matt Taylor, something Charlie Hemphrey and Kiran Carlson were unable to do. Glamorgan, wobbly, 41-2.

It is raining at Arundel now too. Porter has removed the dangerous Salt at Hove. With 16 wickets, he’s now the third highest wicket-taker in the Bob, behind Simon Harmer (23) and Oliver Hannon-Dalby (18)

“You have only been and done it now…. 8 hours of drizzle and a soggy draw ahead!” accuses a cross Charles Sheldrick. Patience, Charles.

A tricksy declaration at Grace Road. This is how I think it works. Durham have declared their innings at 291. Leicestershire have then forfeited their first innings and Durham their second innings, so Leicester now need 292 off 82 overs to win. No rain is forecast.

The noise you can hear is the brumbrella easing into place at Edgbaston.

I predict a Somerset win, a Lancs-up, Glamorgan to fold, Worcestershire’s young bowlers to grab themselves a late victory, draws at Arundel and Canterbury and Simon Harmer to haul Essex out of a hole. Jinxes begone!

South

Hove: Sussex 194 and 57-2 v Essex 140

Canterbury: Middlesex 269 v Kent 146-5.

Arundel: Surrey 172 (Holland 6-39) v Hampshire 198-3.

North

Headingley: Yorks 400-6 v Derbyshire 198-6 START DELAYED

Trent Bridge: Notts 472 all out v Lancs 129-6.

Grace Road: Durham 250-7 v Leics.

Central

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 121 and 104-6 v Somerset 413-9dec.

County Ground: Worcestershire 219 (Wessels 88; Buzarabani 4-29) and 177-6 v Northamptonshire 212.

Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 116 and 23-0 v Gloucestershire 181.

Soggy at Headingley.

Nice at Grace Road, Northampton, Edgbaston, Arundel, Hove.

Not sure at Trent Bridge, Canterbury and Sophia Gardens.

An interesting read on the Netflix documentary on the women’s T20 World Cup:

It comes out in the same week that the Rajasthan Royals announced a new sponsor, Niine, an Indian firm that makes sanitary towels. The team will wear the name on their shirts, a significant decision in a country where there are still huge taboos around menstruation and period poverty is common.

Good morning from this the final day of the the third round of the Bob. Not sure about you but I’m onto my third coffee, it feels like that kind of morning.

The weather is bleugh. I’ll do a ground by ground round-up shortly.

Some other bits and bobs hitting the news. The Covid fallout continues – a county player’s minimum wage is going to decrease from £27,500 to £24,000; summer contracts will be allowed for those in education or who have other sources of work, and 18-21 year olds will have a longer qualification period before qualifying for the minimum wage.

And Simon Harmer is pursuing the possibility of returning to play for South Africa.