Tanya Aldred"s report from around the grounds Somerset rushed to victory in a topsy-turvy match at Lord’s having been on the back heel of the back foot three times in the game against Middlesex. An unbroken seventh-wicket stand between Lewis Gregory and George Bartlett won the match at a canter after a further wobble at lunch with Craig Overton out and Somerset still 98 short with only four wickets left. But some hoopla from Gregory got them home in some style. The win wipes out the eight point penalty carried over from 2019. A swashbuckling century from Graeme van Buuren and a more sedate 91 from Chris Dent took Gloucestershire to an eight-wicket thrashing of Surrey at Bristol. Surrey had looked serene as Ben Foakes stroked his way to 133, but lost 5-15 to allow Gloucestershire to saddle up their horses and go for the finish line. Worcestershire’s stoicism brought an end to Essex’s 11-game winning run. It was a long four days for Jake Libby who carried his bat to make the second longest Championship innings – 11 hours and 21 minutes – to finish on a stout and unbeaten 180. Ed Barnard also reached his highest first-class score of 128 and Dillon Pennington made his maiden first-class fifty as a weary Essex were on the receiving end of a wall of runs. A snow storm just after lunch kiboshed play at Old Trafford and Lancashire and Sussex had to settle for a draw. There was time for Saqib Mahmood to take a couple of wickets and the Sussex players to have snowball fight. The weather also threw the spanner in a potential run chase at Edgbaston where Warwickshire had been set 213 in 41 overs. Derbyshire had earlier turned around a day which started ominously, as Matt Critchley and Harvey Hosein turned defence into an art form, their partnership of 113 only broken mid-afternoon. A draw also in Northamptonshire, where 124 from Rob Keogh defied Kent’s best efforts on a sluggish pitch, before snow finished things off. And Nottinghamshire earned a morale-boosting draw against Durham after batting all day, with Lyndon James finishing a career-best 79 not out. Despite the attempted mind-games of Yorkshire captain Steven Patterson, throwing the ball to England captain Joe Root when his brother was in the nineties, Billy Root reached 100 with a couple of runs off his brother’s off-spin. A brotherly fist bump and a back pat followed. Set 379 to win, Yorkshire stumbled, Root J out for 13, until an unbeaten century from Adam Lyth and some inclement weather drew things to a close. Leicestershire lost two wickets in the first half an hour to limp to an innings defeat against Hampshire. The match referee spoke to both captains after the game over the controversial dismissal of Hassan Azad on Saturday, given out stumped after Hampshire wicket-keeper Lewis McManus knocked of the bails with his left hand while holding the ball with his right appealing for a catch – something spotted on the live stream. As a mark of respect, on Saturday 17 April all Championship games will pause for 80 minutes to coincide with the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, with time made up on the other three days. All recreational clubs have also been asked to pause play between 3pm and 4pm, alongside the national minute’s silence at 3pm, despite club houses still being closed. Notts draw with Durham The captains shake on a draw, after Nottinghamshire manage to bat through the day in a way that should give them confidence for the rest of the season. Lyndon James not out 79 - a career best. And that’s it from this round of matches. Thanks very much for all your chattery and fun. Simon and I will be back for the next round starting on Thursday - see you there! Just one game left - where Notts are theoretically chasing another 110 to beat Durham. Five wickets left. They’re going to call it off soon - aren’t they? Lydon James 73 not out Gloucestershire beat Surrey by 8 wickets! A fantastic win by Gloucester, and a brilliant run-chase by van Buuren (110 not out) and Dent (91 not out). And they’re back out at Bristol ... Gloucestershire need 43 off 20 overs. Easy pickings. Yorkshire have drawn with Glamorgan Yesterday’s snowfall, further unkind weather today and a century from Adam Lyth have frustrated Glamorgan. Essex draw with Worcestershire Another fabulous fightback from the little man. From 43-4 to 475 all out - Jake Libby, Ed Barnard, raise your bats. Warwickshire have drawn with Derbyshire A fabulous fight-back by Derbyshire from 34-4. Harvey Hosein unbeaten on 78, Critchley 83. Restart at Bristol due at 5.20 - weather permitting. As a mark of respect, on Saturday April 17 all Championship games will pause for 80 minutes to coincide with the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, with time made up on the other three days. All recreational clubs have also been asked to pause play between 3 and 4, alongside the national minute’s silence at 3pm. Rain at Bristol with Gloucestershire 43 short! I’m going to start writing up the round-up but will keep an interested eye on event at Bristol and even Headingley... Yorkies lose another wicket - Harry Brook for 60 - but Glamorgan have surely left this too late now...six wickets for the win, a minimum of 26 overs to get them in. Alastair Cook falls for 12 - bowled by Joe Leach - as a weary Essex go through the motions against Worcestershire. Stumps at Wantage Road: Northants draw with Kent The snow was the last straw and hands are shaken with Kent 41-1 in their second innings. Vasconcelos nad Keogh, Stevens and Podmore, you did your sides proud. The deficit is down to 108 for Gloucestershire with 39 overs to go. While Warwicks have a theoretical 41 overs to try and score 213 . Things petering out at Chelmsford, where Worcestershire were eventually out just 15 runs behind Essex, at Wantage Road, where Kent are going through the motions in their second innings (24-1), at Headingley where Glamorgan need seven wickets. Even at Trent Bridge where Durham would seem unlikely to take six Notts wickets, and Edgbaston where, if Derby lose one more wicket, Warwicks could theoretically try and hit 210 in a session. All eyes then to Bristol, where Gloucestershire are having a thrash - 98-2 need another 130 to beat Surrey. Chris Dent and Graeme van Buuren have put on 97. Lancs v Sussex: match abandoned as a draw 16 points for Lancashire, 14 for Sussex. Bad weather on the last two days ruined the chances of a result. Nice bit of batting practise though, especially for Tom Haines and Dane Vilas. Notts have lost a fourth wicket but snow has stopped play at Trent Bridge. They’ve taken an early tea and Durham have a session to take six wickets. Somerset beat Middlesex by four wickets All hail George Bartlett (76 not out) and Lewis Gregory (62 not out). I don’t think I can put it any better than Lawrence Booth on Twitter. “Amazing win by Somerset at Lord’s. At one point, they were 89-9 in their first innings in reply to Middlesex’s 313. Then Middx were 254 ahead in their second innings with seven wickets in hand. Finally, Somerset were 187-6 chasing 285. Back from the brink three times in a game!” Sun out here, snow all melted apart from the footsteps which were trodden into the clod. They’re taking and early tea but not sure if we’ll get back on - will be very soggy underfoot. Snowing now at Headingley with Yorkshire still three down. I’m back! Wow, those Ciderbastards are good. Bartlett 75, Gregory 55. Nine to win. Now snow stops play at OT. While at Bristol - Surrey are all out - Foakes 139. Four for Taylor, three for Higgins and Gloucestershire need 228 to win. I’m going to have to disappear for half an hour or so please entertain yourselves BTL. Despite the snow flurry, Lancashire and Sussex back out on time after lunch. Talk in the press box of how highly Lancs rate 23 year old Tom Hartley and his slow left arm (who incidently was also the last pick for the Manchester Originals for their Hundred squad). Interesting that he’s been picked ahead of leggie Matt Parkinson - who spent the winter touring with England but not getting a game. And the snow starts to fall at Old Trafford once more. Lunch-time scores RESULT: Leics 202 all out and 305 LOST TO Hampshire 612-5ddec BY AND INNINGS AND 105 RUNS Essex 490-9dec v Worcs 405-8 Worcestershire trail Essex by 85 runs with 2 wickets remaining Notts 267 all out and 88-3 v Durham 330 all out and 332-4dec NOTTS NEED 308 TO WIN Warwicks 221 all out and 88-3 v Derbyshire 189 all out and 159-5 Derbyshire lead Warwickshire by 127 runs with 5 wickets remaining Gloucs 326 all out v Surrey 220 all out and 328-8 Surrey lead Gloucestershire by 222 runs with 2 wickets remaining Middx 313 all out and 143 all out v Somerset 172 all out and 187-6 SOMERSET NEED 98 RUNS TO WIN Lancs 407 all out v Sussex 301 all out and 94-2 Sussex trail Lancashire by 12 runs with 8 wickets remaining Northants 394-7 v Kent 455 all out Northamptonshire trail Kent by 61 runs with 3 wickets remaining Yorks 193 all out and 32-2 v Glam 330 all out and 241-4dec YORSKHIRE NEED 347 RUNS TO WIN. Pre-lunch-action at Bristol. Two wickets in two balls for Ryan Higgins -Jamie Overton and Gus Atkinson. Surrey 327-8 with a lead of 222. Could be tasty this afternoon. All power to Northant’s unfashionable elbow - Rob Keogh has reached his century and they plough on, now only 71 behind Kent’s 455. Yorkies have lost a wicket - Kohler Cadmore for 4 - c (centurion) Cooke b van der Gugten. 19-1 from nine overs. Not sure they’re throwing the bat at this one. Be nice to see Joe Root make a century in the same match as brother Billy. Paul Edwards agreeably posing for the Guardian blog. Some heaters have arrived in the Old Trafford box in an attempt to raise the temperature above bitter. And now some lovely fleecy red blankets. We’ve had an hour and a half and I’ve not mentioned Somerset, who are wobbling at Lord’s, which had an icy outfield this morning. Abell was out for 84, Davies has just been out, lbw to Bamber for a duck - 181-5, need another 104 to win. A second Sussex wicket, and a second to Mahmood, as van Zyl is undoubtably lbw. Sussex 80-2. A stat from Ken Grime: only two of this Lancashire attack have a five-wicket haul. Plenty of time. A smart catch by Tom Hartley in the outfield, as Haines goes for 26 off Mahmood. Sussex 72-1. Meanwhile at Bristol, Ben Foakes has reached his hundred - impressive fightback by Surrey who now lead by 187. A statement from Leicestershire re the dubious stumping of Hassan Azad by Lewis McManus Leicestershire County Cricket Club release an official Club statement regarding the LV= County Championship match against Hampshire at the Uptonsteel County Ground. During day three of the fixture, an incident occurred in relation to the stumping of Hassan Azad by the Hampshire wicketkeeper; Lewis McManus. Leicestershire CCC Head Coach, Paul Nixon, had a discussion with the Match Referee, Stuart Cummings shortly after the incident occurred, to highlight and express the disappointment of the incident. Leicestershire CCC has been in contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) already and are fully aware that the ECB is taking this matter very seriously. Leicestershire CCC, CEO Sean Jarvis commented: “For everyone at Leicestershire, the behaviour displayed by Hampshire was extremely disappointing and has no place in the game. “I have written to the ECB following the completion of this fixture to express the concerns and disappointment of what happened. “I hope we can resolve this matter quickly and move on from the incident.” FYI: here it is Notts are in the throws of the first 2021 Notts-up - currently 34-2 now that Duckett has followed Hameed back into the pavillion. Both care of Rushworth. David Hopps rings from Headingley where he is improving the music at Hotel SuiteLanka watching the cricket to tell that Billy Root reached his hundred with a clip off his legs against brother Joe. Joe applauded him with his back turned, but when he took a run to the bowler’s end, he did it properly with an understated fist pump and a pat of his back. Proper brotherly love. Hampshire beat Leicestershire by an innings and 105 runs Leicestershire bow to the inevitable in the face of James Vince with a point to prove. Six wickets for Mason Crane in the match. Critchley and Hosein powering along, 106-5 at Edgbaston, a lead of 74 over Warwicks. Critchley just a run away from a steadfast half century. Keep this up till tea and they’ll have pocketed a draw from the clutches of defeat. Libby hits 150 as Worcestershire enjoy their batting practise against Essex. I heard someone say the pitch was much flatter than usual at Chelmsford -wouldn’t have thought that was a deliberate policy... Barnard still there too 124 not out and an enormous partnership of 221. Love this! Though still not sure I could pick it from 22 yards, let alone the boundary. A bit or argy-bargy at Old Trafford between batsman and fielders which the umpire bats away in a come-on-lads-its-Sunday-morning kind of way. The sun is out but it is still freezing. A bit of movement for Danny Lamb from the pavilion end, where the union jack is flying at half mast. Has and Slater are at the crease at Trent Bridge. I feel like early season is Hass’s best time of year - think that double century at Lord’s in a pre-season friendly in 2019. Notts need 396 or, more realistically, to bat all day. Start of play scores Essex 490-9dec v Worcs 350-6 Worcestershire trail Essex by 140 runs with 4 wickets remaining Notts 267 all out v Durham 330 all out and 332-4 Durham lead Nottinghamshire by 395 runs with 6 wickets remaining Warwicks 221 all out v Derbyshire 189 all out and 71-5 Derbyshire lead Warwickshire by 39 runs with 5 wickets remaining Gloucs 326 all out v Surrey 220 all out and 232-5 Surrey lead Gloucestershire by 126 runs with 5 wickets remaining Leics 202 all out and 279-8 v Hampshire 612-5dec Leicestershire trail Hampshire by 131 runs with 2 wickets remaining Middx 313 all out and 143 all out v Somerset 172 all out and 112-3 Somerset need 173 runs to win Lancs 407 all out v Sussex 301 all out and 38-0 Sussex trail Lancashire by 68 runs with 10 wickets remaining Northants 301-5 v Kent 455 all out Northamptonshire trail Kent by 154 runs with 5 wickets remaining Yorks 193 all out v Glam 330 all out and 161-4 Glamorgan lead Yorkshire by 298 runs with 6 wickets remaining Preamble Good morning from Old Trafford! I’ve made a unilateral decision not to cross the Pennines today as it took me until bedtime to warm up and I’m dubious about dampness on the Headingley outfield. So apologies to those Glamorgan fans who were hoping for an eye-witness as they bowl Yorkshire out cheaply at tea time this afternoon. I’m just a southern softee. In Manchester, the sun is out. When I walked the dog this morning, the woodpecker was chipping away at his trunk, the blue tits were singing from the bottom of their little throats but the ground was slushy underfoot. However, the drainage at Old Trafford is good and they’ll start on time – with Sussex looking likely to bat towards a draw. Round the counties: Somerset, or, in one my favourite BTL monikers, the Ciderbastards, have fought back at Lord’s, Worcestershire are frustrating Essex at a flat Chelmsford, Mason Crane has Leicestershire on the rack, Ben Foakes has rescued Surrey from an attack of the batting-vapours, Notts have got a fight on their hands thanks to Bedingham. Vasconcelos’s hundred has saved the day for Northants, while Hannon-Dalby has put Warwickshire in an excellent position against Derbyshire.