At Old Trafford the covers are coming off, at Lord’s they are staying on. The Met Office says: “A cloudy start with spells of rain pushing northwards. Becoming showery into the afternoon with some sunny spells in between. The showers however, turning heavy and thundery at times. Temperatures around average.”

While Jofra Archer flamed amazement at Edgbaston, Ben Stokes, in the second match of his own comeback, eased into full throttle at Chester-le-Street, coloured soles kicking behind him as he charged in for Durham – at fighting weight and at full pelt. Ten overs on the bounce in a match-winning spell of four for 23; eight for 77 in the match.

In the words of the century-maker David Bedingham (the first Durham player to ever make a hundred in four consecutive innings): “I think I’d almost hate to be captain as after six overs Scott [Borthwick] was wanting to take him off, but Stokesy was just like ‘no’.”

Durham’s innings victory, in less than five sessions, came after they had shimmied a first-innings lead of 94, thanks to a blousy last-wicket partnership of 66 between Ben Raine and Peter Siddle. This was particular frustrating for Somerset, who had reduced Durham to within touching distance at 199 for 9 (with five wickets for the concussion substitute Jake Ball). Downhearted, and hampered by sickness, they then disintegrated for 88.

At a sunny Old Trafford, while many eyes were cast Wembley-wards, the former Lancashire batter Alex Davies carried his bat for the first time in a Championship game, a disciplined 127 not out taking Warwickshire to a batting point on a tired pitch. Nathan Lyon toiled through 34 overs for his one wicket. Lancashire then lost three wickets in reply; though limpet-like Keaton Jennings, who took 32 balls to get off the mark, remains on 12.

Hampshire continued to grind Surrey into the dust at Southampton, building up a lead of 368 thanks to a maiden century from Toby Albert, in his sixth first-class match, and 103 for Nick Gubbins. Ben Brown was stranded on 99 at stumps. Ben Foakes, who had spent the last day and a half lying down on the physio’s table with a back spasm, will, reported the director of cricket, Alec Stewart, “bat if required.”

Jordan Cox had a happy return to Canterbury, thrashing 207 in 255 balls against Kent as Essex declared on 591 for seven. In reply, Zak Crawley, who’d danced a celestial 238 against Somerset, returned to earth, flicking Sam Cook to slip for 16.

At New Road, Worcestershire suffered a sobering day, bowled out for 80 after the groundstaff worked through the night to make the ground fit for play against Nottinghamshire. There were three wickets each for Luke Fletcher and Dillon Pennington, on his first return to his old home ground. Haseeb Hameed then celebrated Manchester United’s victory in the FA Cup with a century.

Matt Lamb hit a maiden first-class double century; and the Australian Beau Webster a best six-wicket haul at Bristol; John Simpson and Cheteshwa Pujara picked up centuries for Sussex at Lord’s, Peter Handscomb knocked up his second ton of the season for Leicestershire and Luke Procter his first in almost two years for Northamptonshire.

DIVISION ONE

Chester-le-Street: Durham 265 BEAT Somerset 171 and 88 BY AN INNINGS AND SIX RUNS

Southampton: Hampshire 495-4 v Surrey 127

Canterbury: Kent 118-4 v Essex 591-7dec

Old Trafford: Lancashire 66-3 v Warwickshire 284

New Road: Worcestershire 80 v Nottinghamshire 234-3

DIVISION TWO

Bristol: Gloucestershire 243-4 v Derbyshire 526

Grace Road: Leicestershire 280-5 v Glamorgan 387

Lord’s: Middlesex 62-1 v Sussex 554-9dec

County Ground: Northamptonshire 301 v Yorkshire 362 and 0-1

While Jofra Archer flamed amazement at Edgbaston, Ben Stokes, in the second match of his own comeback, eased into full throttle at Chester-le-Street, coloured soles kicking behind him as he charged in for Durham – at fighting weight and at full pelt. Ten overs on the bounce in a match-winning spell of four for 23; eight for 77 in the match.

In the words of the century-maker David Bedingham (the first Durham player to ever make a hundred in four consecutive innings): “I think I’d almost hate to be captain as after six overs Scott [Borthwick] was wanting to take him off, but Stokesy was just like ‘no’.”

Durham’s innings victory, in less than five sessions, came after they had shimmied a first-innings lead of 94, thanks to a blousy last-wicket partnership of 66 between Ben Raine and Peter Siddle. This was particular frustrating for Somerset, who had reduced Durham to within touching distance at 199 for 9 (with five wickets for the concussion substitute Jake Ball). Downhearted, and hampered by sickness, they then disintegrated for 88.

At a sunny Old Trafford, while many eyes were cast Wembley-wards, the former Lancashire batter Alex Davies carried his bat for the first time in a Championship game, a disciplined 127 not out taking Warwickshire to a batting point on a tired pitch. Nathan Lyon toiled through 34 overs for his one wicket. Lancashire then lost three wickets in reply; though limpet-like Keaton Jennings, who took 32 balls to get off the mark, remains on 12.

Hampshire continued to grind Surrey into the dust at Southampton, building up a lead of 368 thanks to a maiden century from Toby Albert, in his sixth first-class match, and 103 for Nick Gubbins. Ben Brown was stranded on 99 at stumps. Ben Foakes, who had spent the last day and a half lying down on the physio’s table with a back spasm, will, reported the director of cricket, Alec Stewart, “bat if required.”

Jordan Cox had a happy return to Canterbury, thrashing 207 in 255 balls against Kent as Essex declared on 591 for seven. In reply, Zak Crawley, who’d danced a celestial 238 against Somerset, returned to earth, flicking Sam Cook to slip for 16.

At New Road, Worcestershire suffered a sobering day, bowled out for 80 after the groundstaff worked through the night to make the ground fit for play against Nottinghamshire. There were three wickets each for Luke Fletcher and Dillon Pennington, on his first return to his old home ground. Haseeb Hameed then celebrated Manchester United’s victory in the FA Cup with a century.

Matt Lamb hit a maiden first-class double century; and the Australian Beau Webster a best six-wicket haul at Bristol; John Simpson and Cheteshwa Pujara picked up centuries for Sussex at Lord’s, Peter Handscomb knocked up his second ton of the season for Leicestershire and Luke Procter his first in almost two years for Northamptonshire.

DIVISION ONE

Chester-le-Street: Durham 265 BEAT Somerset 171 and 88 BY AN INNINGS AND SIX RUNS

Southampton: Hampshire 495-4 v Surrey 127

Canterbury: Kent 118-4 v Essex 591-7dec

Old Trafford: Lancashire 66-3 v Warwickshire 284

New Road: Worcestershire 80 v Nottinghamshire 234-3

DIVISION TWO

Bristol: Gloucestershire 243-4 v Derbyshire 526

Grace Road: Leicestershire 280-5 v Glamorgan 387

Lord’s: Middlesex 62-1 v Sussex 554-9dec

County Ground: Northamptonshire 301 v Yorkshire 362 and 0-1

Well played that man! Smashing effort in a painstaking 284 The first time he’s carried his bat in fc cricket. One batting point for Warwicks, three bowling points for Lancs. Be interesting to see what Lancashire make of this wicket – thunder storms forecast tomorrow to thrown into the mix.

David Bedingham on 8-wicket Ben Stokes:

“I think I’d almost hate to be captain as after six over Scott (Borthwick) was wanting to take him off, but Stokesy was just like ‘no’.

“I think the effort Ben gives to any team he’s played for is probably the reason why he’s a world class player, so we’re really lucky to have him.”

DIVISION ONE

Chester-le-Street: Durham 265 BEAT Somerset 171 and 88 BY AN INNINGS AND SIX RUNS

Southampton: Hampshire 307-3 v Surrey 127

Canterbury: Kent 48-2 v Essex 591-7dec

Old Trafford: Lancashire v Warwickshire 271-7

New Road: Worcestershire 80 v Nottinghamshire 89-2

DIVISION TWO

Bristol: Gloucestershire 104-3 v Derbyshire 526

Grace Road: Leicestershire 161-3 v Glamorgan 387

Lord’s: Middlesex v Sussex 507-7

County Ground: Northamptonshire 176-6 v Yorkshire 362

Short and not at all sweet for Somerset. All over in a day and less than two sessions. Four for 23 for Stokes in this innings, eight in the match.

Chester-le-Street: Durham 265 v Somerset 171 and 88

Durham 20 points; Somerset 3.

And that’s the century – off 256 balls, as he cuts Nathan Lyon to the rope. He takes off his helmet and kisses the red rose Warwickshire bear. Excellent perspiration and grind.

A second double-century at Canterbury for Cox, what a cracking innings! Essex 591-6.

And a career-best for Shane Snater! 82 not out and counting, to who knows what.

…captain, my captain, a fan of the bowl yourself fit mantra. Somerset 51-4.

DIVISION ONE

Chester-le-Street: Durham 265 v Somerset 171 and 19-2

Southampton: Hampshire 204-1 v Surrey 127

Canterbury: Kent v Essex 449-6

Old Trafford: Lancashire v Warwickshire 166-4

New Road: Worcestershire 72-9 v Nottinghamshire

DIVISION TWO

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Derbyshire 526

Grace Road: Leicestershire 57-2 v Glamorgan 387

Lord’s: Middlesex v Sussex 385-4

County Ground: Northamptonshire 84-1 v Yorkshire 362

A first hundred for Derbyshire becomes a first double hundred for Derbyshire, Matt Lamb out at last for 207; Derby 487-6.

Pujara’s 65th first-class century, his second of the summer. Sussex steaming ahead at Lord’s. The partnership with Simpson (89) 167.

At Old Trafford, Nathan Lyon bends down to ties Bethell’s shoelaces and whispers sweet nothings in his ear.

David Bedingham needs another 206 runs this match to join the elusive 1000 runs before the end of May club….

After bowling 38 overs at Blackpool last week, Ben Stokes stormed in for 15.1 more at Chester-le-Street, grabbing four for 54 as Somerset were whistled out for 171. He was then lbw for a duck in Durham’s up and down 177 for six, one of three wickets for Jake Ball - who only switched into the team as a concussion substitute for Migael Pretorius, hit on the head during his innings of 53. David Bedingham’s unbeaten hundred crowned him the first Durham batter to score hundreds in four consecutive innings.

Surrey suffered a rare malfunction after being skittled for 127 at Southampton. The first five batters inched into double figures, but only Rory Burns (33) got out of the teens. Liam Dawson, bowling first change, pocketed the top three; Kyle Abbott (five for 25) rattled through most of the rest. In reply, Hampshire had reached 102 for one at stumps.

Clouds hung over Old Trafford but Warwickshire chose to bat first faced with the threat of Nathan Lyon on a fourth-day turner. Progress was lethargic – just 40 scoring shots in a truncated day – with three wickets for Lancashire’s previously off-kilter Tom Bailey. Alex Davies was stranded on 47 when bad light stopped play.

Kent chipped away at Essex on a sunny day at Canterbury, despite losing Wes Agar to a shoulder injury. Dean Elgar top scored with 77, while Jordan Cox got an unbeaten half-century against his old club.

In Division Two, Derbyshire raced towards maximum batting points against Gloucestershire with a first century for Matt Lamb since his move to Derby. Glamorgan survived Marnus Labuschagne being bowled for eight, thanks to half centuries for Eddie Byrom, Kiran Carlson and Sam Northeast against Leicestershire.

Sussex’s Cheteshwar Pujar collected an unbeaten 91 against Middlesex at Lord’s, while Adam Lyth’s third hundred of the season propped up Yorkshire against Northamptonshire. There was no play possible at New Road, as Worcestershire returned to the ground for the first time since eight floods ran amok during the winter.

Loved this from Alex Davies yesterday evening:

“It was tough graft out there - I played a few years at this club and I’ve not seen a pitch like that. It’s got grass on it so it’s nipping around but it’s also really bare at the ends so it was a tricky decision with the toss but we took the aggressive option and batted so we’ll try and get as many as we can first innings and back ourselves to bowl Lancashire out twice.

“I can’t blame Lancashire for the pitch - they have a world class spinner in Nathan Lyon and they have some good seamers so leave some grass on. Both teams need a result so it’s looking like, weather dependant, it will head that way.

“I’ve been looking forward to facing Lyon. He’s a world class bowler and as he reminded us out there he has played international cricket for 14 years and he’s not shy of letting you know. It’s a really good battle and you want to play against the best players and see how you fare and I did OK today.”

DIVISION ONE

Chester-le-Street: Durham 177-6 v Somerset 171

Southampton: Hampshire 102-1 v Surrey 127

Canterbury: Kent v Essex 287-4

Old Trafford: Lancashire v Warwickshire 89-3

New Road: Worcestershire v Nottinghamshire no play today

DIVISION TWO

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Derbyshire 434-5

Grace Road: Leicestershire v Glamorgan 352-8

Lord’s: Middlesex v Sussex 295-4

County Ground: Northamptonshire v Yorkshire 312-7

Good morning from a sun-dappled Old Trafford, the swifts swerving and the newspapers rustling . This might be the only full day Lancs and Warwickshire get, so much haste to get things going after yesterday’s slow, protracted progress.

It’s Saturday, get that second pot of coffee on. Play starts at 11am.