With Dom Bess picking up a wicket at Scarborough (Gloucs 130-3); Dan Lawrence picking up a wicket at New Road (Worcs 102-6); Essex and Lancs four down and in various stages of delight, an early wicket for OHD at Southampton, Tom Lammonby approaching his hundred, three wickets for Procter at Sophia Gardens, Reece closing in on three figures at Lord’s, Leicestershire in trouble and Rocky Flintoff 82 not out for England U-19s – time for me to write up for the paper. BTL remains open.

Paul Walter pings Callum Parkinson over the boundary and into the trees. The umps root around for another ball. Parky C’s shirt as untucked and crumpled as Parkinson M’s always is. Essex 178-4.

Success at last for Kent, Lancs losing two wickets in six balls. Bell for 26, Lavelle for o, reward for Stobo and Swanepoel. Wells was earlier caught for 150. Bohannon still there on 155. Bit late for Lancs-up now though. Lancs 353-4 lead by 109.

To Chelmsford, where Durham have removed Essex’s top four and they still trail by 434. Critchley and Walter chew the fat between overs as the sun bakes on. Potts (2-45).

Back to the Championship, where Toms Lammonby and Abell, with a half-century apiece, are batting prettily against Notts. A wicket each for Stone and Pennington.

The Aussies are taking rather a pasting . And as I type the full stop, Starc yorks Rohit fr 92.

Tea just over at Canterbury where Bohannon and Wells are gorging on cream buns and Kentish ale. At 308-1, they already lead Kent by 64. Tea being called round the grounds, scores to follow.

Just learnt something new on comms – the James Taylor of Surrey who has just removed Rob Jones with one that flew off the pitch, is the 23 year old brother of Tom Taylor of Worcs. Worcs now wobbling at 73-3. Libby still there on 29.

This is Taylor’s first game for three years.

With tea on the horizon, the umpires are riffling through a box of balls at New Road. Not sure what was wrong with old one but man of the moment Dan Lawrence gets a new one to start his first over of the innings. Worcs 67-2.

Chris Woakes isn’t going to be the man to haul Warwickshire to Hampshire’s 298, a sixth wicket for Keith Barker in Warwicks 235-8.

This was Woakes last night after his first Championship bowl of the season: ““I did feel slightly rusty out there but I am fairly pleased with how it went. It would have been nice to get some more wickets but I felt in a better rhythm after lunch.”

A second wicket at New Road, Kashif Ali not happy to be sent on his way after being caught by a diving Ben Foakes down the leg side. Worcs 59-2. A first wicket for Atkinson.

With mention of Andrew Radd below the line, his new book on Northamptonshire’s captains is now out. One for the maroon beach bag?

Jim is watching India v Australia so you can keep your eye on George Hill against Ben Charlesworth at Scarborough.

In Division Two: Marnus Labuschagne fell just short of his hundred, but Glamorgan continuing to push onwards with gusto. Carlson 62 not out, Glamorgan 244-4, in spitting distance of Northants’ 279.

At Lord’s, Luis Reece and Wayne Madsen holding the fort after Derbyshire wobbled at 57-2. Middx bowled out earlier today for 433, three wickets each for Chappell and Dupavillion.

Peter Handscomb and Wiaan Mulder have added 100 to steady HMS Leicestershire at Hove: Leics 152-4, three wickets for Ollie Robinson (that one).

And Gloucestershire having fun at the seaside at last, 52-0 after finally bowling Yorks out for 456.

Worcestershire making a perky start at New Road – nine from Jordan Clark’s heavily tattooed over. Worcs 30-0 – let’s potter post-prandially around the grounds.

Feeling some trepidation for Worcestershire as Dan Worrall runs in…

Schools day at Canterbury, where, unlike at Old Trafford, where Lanky is always racing in an anorak, the sun is shining.

Not so much for Kent CC though, who have turned their purse upside down but found only an old button. All there is to be pondered is whether Wells (93) or Bohannon (92) will get to three figures first. Lancs 204-1.

Five Successive sixes? Yes please says Dan Lawrence who doesn’t care that Shoaib Bashir was briefly England’s saviour this winter. He’s raced on to 175.

Durham all out for 587 just before lunch. Ollie Robinson 198, Harmer four wickets for rather a lot. (188)

A bit of Marnus with your sandwich? Glamorgan 147-2, just 142 behind Northants.

Thanks to Tim Maitland, who has been watching events at Scarborough – perched on the wooden benches?

“After the loss of four wickets in 10 overs this morning, Yorkshire’s number nine Jordan Thompson brought up the 400 with a four, slashed through point, and a six over wide mid-off from the third and fourth balls of his innings. It’s not yer grandad’s county championship cricket, is it?” Yorks are currently 442-9, have lost 8-100 after yesterday’s record-breaking opening partnership.

Just watching the stream from New Road – not sure if it is the angle as he approaches the crease but Matthew Waite makes Dan Lawrence look like a small man. Is he about six foot six? Surrey 424-8, Lawrence 126 not out.

Lancashire easing into the morning after Keaton Jennings fell last night. Both Wells and Bohannon have passed fify and are motoring nicely. Lancs 139-1, just 105 behind Kent at a sunlit Canterbury.

This has the feel of one of those matches for Somerset, first let Notts off the hook, then crumble for the first half of the innings until Craig Overton pancakes 74 at No. 8 to apply an emergency band-aid. Currently 20-1 (Umeed out to Pennington) 340 behind.

By the way, did anyone here go to Aaron Banks’ dinner date? Someone sent me a review of it on the Glos fans facebook page. According to that, there were free drinks, a barbeque, and AB wants to appoint a man called Nigel Birrell as chair, the CEO of an online gambling company based in Gibraltar. He was non-committal on the proposed ground move, supports Surrey and is intending to bulldoze his plans through at a Special General Meeting.

Keith Barker and Kyle Abbott having fun at Warwickshire’s expense, Yo Bears currently 84-5 with Mousely and Bethell left to clean up the mess.

A new highest score for t’other Ollie Robinson, as he eases to 175. A crumb for Essex though, with the wicket of Ackerman for 73. And another, de Leede for a two-ball duck. Reward for Harmer at last ( 3-149)

At Hove, Simpson is stranded in the 180s as Hunt becomes Holland’s fourth wicket. Sussex are all out for 442, and Leicestershire will be grateful not to be facing Jayden Seales as they velcro up their pads.

Here is Ali on Chris Jordan’s hat-trick during England’s victory over the USA yesterday:

Two Ollie Robinsons are batting. The Durham one has passed 150 (Durham 457-4, max batting points in the bag) and the Sussex one – actually he’s just been out for five (Sussex 441-9, and heading towards max points too). Simpson 183 not out, will be hoping for staying power from Sean Hunt.

And as the players jog out around the grounds, an email plops into my inbox and Jordan Clark is caught by Shoaib Bashir for 12 (Surrey 340-5).

Hello Tim Maitland. “I forgot these championship games were being squeezed in among the pyjama games. Isn’t it reassuring watching proper cricket being played in proper parched conditions?

”It’s certainly better than watching them huddle together for warmth like penguins during the preposterously premature prelude to the season.”

So true. This must feel like just reward for the players for their April endeavours (at least until the temperature gets too hot and uncomfortable). A bit like when you’re at home with young children, when summer is the glorious prize for ploughing through winter.

Such a lovely day for Whitby boy Adam Lyth yesterday at the run-fest at Scarborough. His 129 was his fourth Championship hundred of the summer, and his fourth at North Marine Road.

“This is my home club, friends and family have come down to watch. I said to Beany out in the middle ‘let’s try and make this count,” Lyth said afterwards.

“It wasn’t a typical Scarborough wicket, there’s wasn’t a lot of seam movement... so (for him) to get 160, I was disappointed I didn’t go on and make a similar contribution.”