Day three roundup Ollie Pope made a glorious 245 and Jamie Smith his maiden County Championship century as Surrey made the most of a sun-kissed Oval to reach a mammoth 672 for eight declared against Leicestershire. Pope, whose form has been comparatively patchy, was pure velvet as he stroked his ninth first-class century for Surrey in just his 27th match – his footwork immaculate, his timing to sigh for in a seven-hour stay at the crease. Smith reached his hundred with a six and Surrey declared with a lead of 297, leaving Leicestershire to successfully navigate 17 overs. Elsewhere, a succession of run-chases were born. At Chelmsford, Durham were set 168 to win after Essex’s tail added 122 for the last three wickets. A start of 0 for 2 was not in the north-east script, but from 20 for three Scott Borthwick, with a leaden but valuable nine from 88 balls, and Jack Burnham tickled the score to a respectable 60 for three by the close. Earlier Simon Harmer had fallen to the third ball of the day but, from there, frustration at every turn for Durham as Paul Walter, with the help of a maiden fifty from Ben Allison, eked out a total with a frisson of challenge. Gloucestershire, set 153 to win, were 28 for one at stumps at Taunton. Somerset’s batting shuffled along in their typically topsy-turvy way, the top five wickets putting on 68, the second five 79, on a decent pitch. James Hildreth compiled a careful 64, as around him the top order toppled like dominoes. Down at the Rose Bowl, Middlesex, set an eyebrow-raising 531 to win, recovered from 33 for three to finish 208 for four, with Robbie White unbeaten on 73. Hampshire had batted on in the morning session, as Sam Northeast and Ian Holland stormed past 100, Holland finishing 146 not out. Steven Finn snaffled a couple of wickets. Nottinghamshire’s dream of a first Championship win since 2018 lives on, as they set Warwickshire 333, after losing three wickets in four balls to left-arm spinner Danny Briggs. Warwicks need another 248, with seven wickets in hand. Northamptonshire finished the day in deep trouble after being set 425 to win, a record fourth-innings total for victory at Old Trafford. Lancashire had declared after Steven Croft reached his hundred, his first century in the Championship since 2017. At 2.50pm, the two teams had lined up in front of the media centre, before the Old Trafford bell was rung and a minute’s silence was held in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh. Then the game, and every game in the Championship, paused for 80 minutes for the duration of his funeral. The day ended with Matt Parkinson bowling into the footmarks, a basket of fielders around the bat, and Northamptonshire three wickets down. Joe Root made a classy 101 as he and the in-form Adam Lyth, who whooped when he reached his hundred, stamped Yorkshire dominance all over the Canterbury grass. Set 445 to win, Kent lost two wickets in the elongated evening session. Kiran Carlson scored his second effortless century of the game as Glamorgan sniffed a pinch of hope. Carlson reached his century with one of 18 fours in his 129 not out. Ollie Robinson grabbed four wickets, to go with four in the first innings and a jaunty 67. The lead over Sussex is 62, with five wickets in hand. Matthew Critchley’s astonishing season continued. First he completed a five-fer, then made a dashing 84, as Derbyshire’s lead grew to 353 over Worcestershire. Pope out for a gorgeously golden 245. A fifty for James Hildreth as Somerset quietly reach a sufficiently-bolstered target for their bowlers: 126. After 6.2 overs Durham have at last got a run - and a leg bye: 2-2. Warwickshire 10-0 chasing Nottinghamshire’s wildest dream. Time for me to construct a round-up but I’ll be hanging on here, just below the surface, bubbling up for air. Keep your eye on Chelmsford and Taunton for me. And amid the Old Trafford torpor, Tom Bailey thwacks a six. Durham 0-2. 100 for Jamie Smith Runs swilling around The Oval, the partnership with Pope now 223. The partnership between Pope and Foakes was 229. Pop 239 heading towards his highest first-class score of 251. Ah. Durham 0-1. Sam Cook showing his superiority over Will Young. Lancs and Northants playing out time at Old Trafford, waiting on the declaration, a single beam of sunlight stretching out from the nets past the stumps at the Brian Statham end. The Lancs lead 360. While at Yorkshire, a similar impasse has been reached: Joe Root has passed fifty, Lyth sitting pretty on 116, the lead over Kent 327 runs. Durham set 168 to win So here we go ladies and gents. Your bets, please. The Ollie Robinson show reels onward at Sophia Gardens - just fifty and the eight wickets in the match (to date) as Glamorgan slip and slide towards a heavy defeat. His latest wicket Chris Cooke for 12. Kiran Carlson not out in what must be a fairly fluent 68 - 10 fours and a dash of style. Only a few minutes after the resumption: Essex have lost a wicket, but still they press on, determination grinding the bones of hope. Allison lbw to Carse for 52. Cook hanging on, 36 not out. Somerset are going to reach three figures, Hildreth defiantly 40 not out, but with only 9, 10, Leach for company. This feels lost, even though bowling opposition out for low scores in the fourth innings is their specialist subject. Wondering why Rossington’s Northants’ cap is embroidered with gold thread. A gift from a besotted fan? Because he’s the captain? Because he’s capped? If so there are lots of uncapped players in this Northants team. Anyone know? The players are back out for a ...blimey...45 over session. Tea-time scores Group 1 Derbyshire 390 all out and 78-2 v Worcestershire 305 all out DERBYS LEAD BY 163 Essex 96 and 318-8 v Durham 259 all out -ESSEX LEAD BY 155 Nottinghamshire 273 and 230-9 v Warwickshire 201-9 NOTTS LEAD BY 302 Group 2 Hampshire 319 all out and 290-4DEC v Middlesex 79 all out and 71-3. MIDDX NEED 460 TO WIN Somerset 312 and 92-7 v Gloucestershire 309. SOMERSET LEAD BY 95 Surrey 470-4 v Leicestershire 375 all out POPE 203 NOT OUT Group 3 Glamorgan 285 and 146-4 v Sussex 481 all out GLAM TRAIL BY 50 RUNS Kent 265-9 v Yorkshire 379 and 171-2 YORKS LEAD BY 285 Lancashire 305 and 205-6 v Northants 177 all out LANCS LEAD BY 333 A double century for Ollie Pope! 203 wonderful runs and a happy return to form after a unfulfilling winter. “A nice turnaround for Surrey after last week’s debacle” writes Guy Hornsby. “It’s great to see Ollie Pope in the runs too. If he has a better career than his doppelganger Ian Ronald Bell, I’ll be a happy man. He’s got time and talent on his side, so anything’s possible.” A minute"s silence in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh The two teams line up facing the pavillion, socially distanced, the support staff behind, the umpires in between. The Lancashire players remove their caps and place them in a line in front of their toes. The pavilion bell is rung and everyone stands for the minute’s silence. And off they go, for an hour and 20 tea-plus break. Lancs 205-6 and scores round the grounds to follow. A hundred for Adam Lyth - just 142 balls, taking the Yorkies to a big, fat lead of 283. Northants start an over on the dot of the official mourning period as the press box TV gets turned over to the blue skies of Windsor and the funeral procession. Down at The Oval, Ollie Pope steps in the the shadow of 200; while Jamie Smith is 67 not out. Lovely bit of batting practice this. Essex’s lead stretches to 148, defiant in the face of Rushworth. Notts seven down, a couple of wickets for Danny Briggs. And at the Rose Bowl, Gubbins and White playing for the funeral (13 mins). If Somerset were relying on some heave-ho from Coverton, well, they’re out of luck. Bowled for two, a third wicket for Higgins. Gloucestershire polishing their shoes and preparing for a victory trot. Somerset 77-6. A second (8th) for Mohammad Abbas - two for six so far in this innings, to go with six for eleven in the first innings. Middlesex 40-3 and not long for this round. Essex lead reaches 132 - Allison 43 not out, Cook 21 not out. But does this mean batting is suddenly easy? Shall we spin it as good news for Durham? And Steven Croft reaches fifty, off 99 balls, five fours and a hand in a couple of run-outs. Essex lead now 127....Somerset 68-5...Glamorgan 96-4....Middlesex 32-2. And an email! From Tom vd Gucht: “Hello, Sorry about the terrible pun, but Yorkshire’s opener is enjoying a Lyth-ly (works as lively or lovely) start to the season as the top run scorer so far and with an impressive strike rate of 70. “Is he trying to put in a Chris Rogers style late career bid to get back into the test team, or gunning for the 1000 runs before the end of May, or both? Either way, an opener with a bit more dash might compliment Sibley in the test side and scoring quickly now might negate missed opportunities due to bad spring weather in his stab for 1000 runs before June!” Just checking, before I press send, and Lyth is definitely till there 79 not out (Yorks lead over Kent 239). The tepid sun has gone to Lancashire’s head. Another run out, with Jones gone for 8, one head not watching what the other head is doing. A truncated 70-minute afternoon session begins with a run out (Dave Vilas) and a couple of near misses. A lunchtime stroll - not as warm as it looks- revealed white hyacinths in flower outside the ground and dandelions bursting into less obedient puffs outside the pathway between the tram station and University Academy 92. An empty car park apart from two forlorn coaches and a steward in the sun reading the paper wishing only for a beer. This is the waiting sesssion - the calm before the storm. Lunchtime scores Group 1 Derbyshire 390 all out and 23-0 v Worcestershire 305 all out DERBYS LEAD BY 108 Essex 96 and 277-8 v Durham 259 all out -ESSEX LEAD BY 114 Nottinghamshire 273 and 188-4 v Warwickshire 201-9 NOTTS LEAD BY 260 Group 2 Hampshire 319 all out and 290-4DEC v Middlesex 79 all out and 26-0. MIDDX NEED 505 TO WIN Somerset 312 and 47-4 v Gloucestershire 309. SOMERSET LEAD BY 50 Surrey 363-4 v Leicestershire 375 all out POPE 155 NOT OUT Group 3 Glamorgan 285 and 81-3 v Sussex 481 all out GLAM TRAIL BY 115 Kent 265-9 v Yorkshire 379 and 113-2 YORKS LEAD BY 227 Lancashire 305 and 162-3 v Northants 177 all out LANCS LEAD BY 290 Lunch here at Old Trafford, with Northants, plum caps on heads, strolling off after a largely dispiriting morning. Lancs 162-3 - Vilas 24, Croft 42. Lead a chucklesome 290. Umpires having a good natter, last off the field, as a member of the groundstaff strolls towards the middle with a large broom. Lunchtime scores to follow. In the games speeding towards completion: the Essex lead squeezes to 113; Allison a most Durham-frustrating 34 not out. Middlesex 11 without loss, despite four overs from Abbas. And Somerset 41-4 against Gloucestershire, who should be mentally preparing for some tail-end long-handle. Oh, correction! Hildreth was not out for a duck. Apologies all you Somerset fans. The bad news is that Somerset are 37-4. With Bartlett now out for a duck, Banton out for 18, Lammonby for a duck and Abell for 6. Hildreth is 7 not out and Somerset have a lead of only 40 over Gloucestershire. Gary Naylor pressing the case for time wasting. After an hour’s play: Essex have inched to a lead of 85, with only Harmer gone this morning, Worcestershire have reduced the deficit to 91 against Derbyshire, thanks to Ed Barnard (23) and Alzarri Joseph (40 not out). At Trent Bridge, Clarke and Hameed both out in the fifties - both to Olly Stone with a happy looking lead of 231. Wow, Ian Holland has got a hurry on, 143 not out, while Sam Northeast, who beat him to 100, is 118 not out. Hants’ lead a mere 546. Two wickets for Higgins, Somerset wobbling, 22-2, Lammonby out of a duck, Abell for six, Pope eases to 135 not out, while Foakes 84 not, as Surrey trail by just 56. A second wicket for Robinson - Glamorgan 44-2 -at Sophia Gardens ; Yorkies 62-1, a lead of 181 over Kent, while Lancs, after an early wobble have a comfortable lead of 245 over Northants. A fantastic picture of Ollie Robinson’s slip cordon. Oh dear, poor Tom Lammonby, a pair in the match as Somerset slip to 6-1. Keep an eye on Taunton: Somerset are batting again with a first innings lead of three runs and Glamorgan are batting again at Sophia Gardens - 29-0 after Sussex all out for 481. Cancel that, they’ve just lost a wicket: Selman lbw to Ollie Robinson, who is having some game. Four wickets, 67 and a wicket and possibilities to come. At The Oval, a century for Ollie Pope, with a succession of boundaries. It is his first since the Test at Port Elizabeth 22 innings ago. Off just 123 balls, 15 fours. I can’t seem to upload a photo but he’s wearing a light blue headband and looks like a springtime crocus. Essex’s hopes dripping away with Simon Harmer out for 6 - they lead by 58 with three wickets in hand. What do we think? A sniff if they can edge to 120? Elsewhere, a hundred for Sam Northeast, and, alas, Hameed out for 53, a second wicket for Will Rhodes Live stream link Tap here for any of the nine games. And another! Alex Davies follows as Lancs lose two wickets in the first nine balls.64-2. Meanwhile, the king of spin has tapped out an ode of appreciation to Parky. Two balls later, he is out lbw. Lancs 64-1. And at The Oval play is delayed by pigeon poo. And a beautiful shot from Keaton Jennings off Sanderson to start the day, whizzing straight along the still damp grass, straight to the rope. Incidentally, am in mourning for Keaton Jennings’ 2020 curls - the 2021 look is far too brutal. Good morning from Old Trafford! The sun is out and the players are just going in after their warm-up. I’ve bought a coffee from Old Trafford’s own Cafe Nero and it feels like spring. Just to remind you all that all Championship games will pause between 2.50 and 4.10 as a mark of respect for Prince Philip’s funeral. Start of play scores Group 1 Derbyshire 390 all out v Worcestershire 243-7 Essex 96 and 208-6 v Durham 259 all out -ESSEX LEAD BY 45 Nottinghamshire 273 and 128-2 v Warwickshire 201-9 Group 2 Hampshire 319 all out and 204-2 v Middlesex 79 all out MOHAMMAD ABBAS 6-11 Somerset 312 v Gloucestershire 301-8 Surrey 253-3 v Leicestershire 375 all out Group 3 Glamorgan 285 v Sussex 481-9 Kent 265-9 v Yorkshire 379 Lancashire 305 and 60-0 v Northants 177 all out Preamble Good morning from Manchester where the sun rises gladly after Parky’s ball of the (new) century. Here is the man himself, mulling over his day’s work, “It’s very nice to play Championship cricket and pull the Red Rose on again. Having watched Simon Kerrigan bowl I knew I’d have a decent role to play and it was lovely to bowl a decent chunk of overs.”I was gutted to miss put on selection last week and just wanted to prove a point a guess.” On ‘that’ ball “I was very frustrated after Kerrigan slogged me for a few and just thought ‘sack it’ and tried to really rip it and luckily it paid off. There were decent foot holes there and I tried to bowl it quite fast. I know it’s doing the rounds on Twitter but to produce that for the team is fantastic and I’m very happy. It’s nice to have it trending on Twitter after the winter I’ve had but it’s nice just to play cricket.” Round the grounds, we’re expecting a result at the Rose Bowl after Sam Northeast and Ian Holland ground salt into the wound opened by Mohammad Abbass’s (un)believable 6-11 against Middlesex. Lancs are very on top against Northants, the Yorkies slept happy against Kent, Sussex batting out of their skins against Glamorgan, even stevens at Taunton and hundreds a-waiting to be collected by Pope and Foakes at Surrey, and Hameed and Clarke at Trent Bridge as Notts stare down that rare beast victory. The big question - can Durham really go on and beat the County Champions today, unbeaten at home for nearly three years? Essex just 45 ahead, a mere four wickets in hand. Nobody mention Simon Harmer.