Another intriguing day – with Surrey pressing the accelerator, led by a double hundred from Rory Burns, but Essex playing catch up thanks to a vibrant innings from Jordan Cox. Thanks for all your messages, till tomorrow – good night!

Close of play scores

With Surrey, and Derbyshire, batting on and on, time for me to write up for Friday’s early deadlines. Do chat on BTL.

A hundred for Dean Elgar, fifty for Jordan Cox, a duck for Ben Compton

Three wickets for Rushworth at Edgbaston: Aldridge still batting, on 62, but Rew (49) and a tub-thumping Overton both back in the pavilion. Somerset 211-7, still 127 behind Warwicks.

Lancashire in deep trouble at The Oval, Surrey steaming ahead. Rory Burns 178 not out, Ben Foakes (82) with his highest score of the year. The lead 138 and the new ball toothless. Lancs already hovering close to the relegation zone in Division One, and in deeper trouble if Worcestershire go on to demolish Kent. The one bright side for them? Tomorrow’s weather forecast.

Five wickets for Akeem Jordan: Kent bat again

And another! Yorkshire have a classic case of the middle-order wobbles. Tattersall gone for 16, consecutive wickets in consecutive overs for Carson. Yorks 224-6.

An absolute beauty just after tea, to the call of the gull, as Carson, in sunglasses, bowls Will Luxton in the first over after the break at Scarbados. Luxton gone for 59 – Yorks 222-5. Sussex keep plugging away.

Tea-time-ish scores

It looks gorgeous at Scarborough, though the brisk wind flapping at the fielders’ trousers will make sure no-one dozes off in the crowd. Yorks 209-4, a lead of 20 in this promotion-clash.

Northants have a breakthrough at Merchant Taylor’s, as Yuzvendra Chahal traps Max Holden for 25,Middx 119-2.

Surrey announce partnership with Cricket Brasil

And this time Jonny has to go, lbw to Carson for 57 off 72 balls, and he isn’t very happy about it. Much appreciation from the Scarborough crowd.

Whoops. Tom Haines and Ollie Robinson have a howler, running in together to catch a top edge from Bairstow. Haines leaves it to Robinson, who inexplicably lets the ball dribble through his fingers. They put their hands to their chins and almost-stare at each other. Next ball Bairstow pulls six into the wooden seating. Yorks 193-3.

Fifty for Jonny Bairstow and more!

Nottinghamshire trip up after the rebuild, losing Hameed (44) and McCann (51) within an over: 101-3. de Leede and Wagner the wicket-takers.

Elgar and Westley are easing Essex into a comfortable position at the Rosebowl – a century stand, and no reward for the Hampshire attack since the third over. Elgar already has fifty, Westley not long behind him. Essex 116-1.

Rew and Aldridge doing a brick-by-brick rebuild for Somerset from the sinkhole of 65-5. Rew, after his magical year in 2023, has struggled a little, only averaging 33 this summer, with one Championship hundred under his belt. Somerset 110-5, still 228 behind Warwickshire.

A hundred for Rory Burns...

A lovely ode to Joe Leach drops from Rob Knap: “Following the Pears v Kent online, with the Test match on in the background. Not a productive day but I feel like I should be enjoying every minute of the CC this year.

“Every year somebody moves on (usually to a bumper contract with Notts in our case), but for Worcestershire, losing Joe Leach next year really is a big thing. I wanted to give him a shout out for yet another fine performance yesterday. It was remarkable that coming back from injury, creaking as his knees must be - and after a very ordinary first spell - he managed his second best career bowling figures yesterday of 6-52. Kent are clearly struggling, but you still have to get them out...

“I once heard an opponent praise his bowling, then describing him as an ‘unfashionable’ cricketer, a word which seems to say a lot given the current context for the professional game. He’s been a classic county pro. It feels like he’s been with us all century, but he’s still only 33! Loyal, reliable with the ball and with the odd swashbuckling innings to enjoy, he’s had such a good career for us (460+ wickets at just under 27, 4000ish runs at 23.5) - his retirement feels not only like a goodbye to Joe the player but also another inexorable step towards losing his ‘unfashionable’ type of professional cricketer from the game.”

Perhaps aptly, the last picture the Guardian library has of Leach is during the Bob Willis Trophy.

At New Road, meanwhile, Worcs have moved onto 286-4, a lead of 115. Another fifty under the belt of D’Oliveira.

After Durham’s pre-lunch declaration, Notts have soaked up the early loss of Slater, Hameed and McCann scoring at almost a run a ball. Durham well on top, though they are missing workhorses Stokes and Potts from their bowling line-up.

Burns dabs a four off the second ball after lunch and the good ship Surrey sails on its way.

Lunchtime scores

A third wicket for Glamorgan’s Ben Kellaway at the County Ground, but Derbyshire’s lead is already 77. Last night a tired Sam Northeast told reporters: “They weren’t easy conditions and we were rusty in the red-ball game, so we didn’t deal with it as well as we can do.”

Kent fans looking for succour won’t find it on the scorecard from New Road. Worcestershire are already 33 runs ahead, just four wickets down. Two wickets for new signing Jordan though, including Roderick for 63.

The world class keeper who will play no more internationals, Ben Foakes (25 Tests, two hundreds, four fifties, average 29, 69 catches, 10 stumpings), joins Rory Burns at the crease after Tom Aspinwall persuades Jacks to tee off to mid-off. Surrey 151-3, trail Lancs by 53. Tom Hartley comes into the attack for his first Championship game since May.

100 for Ashton Turner!

Durham continue to charge towards the weekend at CLS, poor Haseeb Hameed’s call at the toss proving to be a costly one. Currently 482-6, with Ashton Turner just four runs away from being the third centurion of the innings.

Not the dream start for Somerset. After winkling Warwickshire out for 337, Tom Kohler-Cadmore is caught off the second ball of the innings, charging to his doom. Somerset 0-1.

Good morning Gary Naylor!
”I know I bang the drum for this, but I think cricket should develop a means of calculating the carbon cost of each match. Obviously, there would be some estimation, but there would be hard data too and, once a methodology is agreed, simple comparisons can be made between organisations and over time. Set a target of 10% reductions year on year and use the fund to support bids for specific projects that can be scaled up if successful. Sports should take a lead on this and the summer game, obviously most under threat, should lead sports’ efforts.”

It’s a great idea. Edgbaston did calculate the carbon cost of their “Green match” last year, and I think Lord’s do it. I’ll do some digging.

Northant’s tail lasted nearly an hour this morning, all out for 207. Five wickets for Toby Roland-Jones at Merchant Taylor’s.

Tim Maitland has thoughts on the ICC’s “Test” fund:

“If the ICC’s multi-million plans for test cricket are limited to boosting match fees, I’d argue that it’s a short-sighted approach doomed to failure because it doesn’t address the problem and isn’t sustainable.

”The solution to Test cricket’s travails is more bums on seats and more eyes on more TV screens further down the ladder. I would suggest that that involves marketing the long-neglected, long form of the game. Why not promote it as “Proper” cricket or “Cricket for the Connoisseur”, leveraging contracts with broadcasters to push the message in a relatively cost-effective manner?

”Yes, throwing cash at match fees will tempt some bigger names back to the test fold, but how long can the ICC bankroll competing against the wages of franchise cricket, given that one of the effects of their efforts will be to make the T20 leagues up their offers in return.

”I just hope there are more strings to the ICC’s bow than this.”

Apologies about the slight delay, I couldn’t find my laptop charger for said machine which ran out of power at an inopportune time. It is beautifully sunny at The Oval, where Will Jacks has lofted six, as he can, and spectators are in shirt sleeves. Williams, a smear of suncream over his nose, and Balderson causing a few problems to the Surrey glitterarti.

Sussex’s innings is all over at Scarborough for 189 and Robinson and Unadkat are now reeling in to Yorkshire’s top two. Adam Lyth has score 13 of the 15 runs on the board.

And second morning wicket at The Oval – as Ryan Patel follows Sibley back into the pavilion, Balderson the bowler this time as Patel nibbles and gets an outside edge.

A classic CCLive dismissal! Mohammad Abbas, still slim as a pencil, fizzes one into Robin Das’s shinpads. Essex 12-1.

Lancashire have their first breakthrough as Dom Sibley opts not to play a shot at Will Williams. Surrey 86-1.

Correction: Tim Maitland, it turns out, is not sipping hot Bovril in Scarborough. “Full disclosure: I’m at a suitably safe distance from Scabrrr. Hong Kong, currently 32C and humidity in the 80s. It’s like breathing soup here.”

But, despite Lilian’s best efforts, a prompt start round the grounds, even at yesterday’s washout at Southampton. Hampshire have won the toss and are having a bowl.

Weather watch

A email drifts in. Hello Tim Maitland at (I think) North Marine Road.

”The spinners should get some nice drift at Scarborough this morning.

”This from Bridlington, 20 miles down the coast.

“As far as I can tell from G****e Maps, the pitch at North Marine Road seems to be aligned NNW-to-SSE, so the westerly winds should be cross winds from both ends.

“The Beeb weather forecast claims the 16C temperature at start of play will feel like 16C. Try telling that to the hardy souls desperately hugging their cups of Bovril for warmth.”

Positive news here on a dedicated fund to boost match fees for Test cricket. Be nice to see a dedicated climate fund too, as recommended by the Hit for Six report.

Thursday's round-up

Scores on the doors

Preamble