Paul Edwards at Essex 161-0 v Middlesex
Looking considerably safer than the Bank of England, Alastair Cook has just reached his century (his third in ten Championship innings this year) off 135 balls and with 17 fours, six of them hit this morning when he has shown no ill-effects from being whacked in the jaw during morning catching practice. Just as importantly, Essex have made good progress in the pre-scone session and looks like a long day and evening for Middlesex.
- Live Update

George Dobell at Warwickshire (284-7) v Lancashire (273)
Good afternoon from Edgbaston, where Umeed and Patel, who has just reached his half-century, have added 100 for the eighth-wicket and we appear to be in the stage of the innings where the ball has stopped swinging. The pair have also earned Warwickshire a slender first innings lead. It’s overcast here and rain is a threat, but we might just escape it.