Summary

  • Use the audio icons in the 'watch & listen' tab for live BBC radio commentaries

  • Div One: Keith Barker takes 4-29 as Warks bowl out Essex for 164 to claim 41-run win

  • Hampshire's Sonny Baker takes 5-62 but Tom Abell's unbeaten century secures narrow win for Somerset

  • Div Two: Keaton Jennings hits 78* asLancashire beat Gloucestershire

  • Middlesex's Sam Robson scores 162 in draw with Northants

  • Get Involved: Let us know your thoughts by clicking on the yellow button on this page

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  1. Thank you for joining us!published at 17:35 BST 20 April

    #bbccricket

    Keaton JenningsImage source, Shutterstock

    What a superb four days play we've had in the County Championship!

    Thank you all for tuning in - we hope you've enjoyed the coverage.

    We had pretty much everything - beautiful weather, stunning knocks, superb bowling spells, matches which swung towards nail-biting, edge of your seat conclusions - and then the ultimate finale with a light-meter.

    Lancashire, Somerset and Warwickshire came out on the right side in games in which they all, at times, looked like they could lose.

    We will be back on Friday for day one of the fourth week of the 2026 County Championship season where there will be seven matches in total.

    Until then, it is ta'ra from us!

  2. Round four fixturespublished at 17:29 BST 20 April

    #bbccricket

    The County Championship keeps on rolling on Friday when there will be play at seven grounds. Here's the full list - and make sure to join us again.

    (Play starts 11:00 BST):

    Division One

    Cardiff: Glamorgan v Leicestershire

    Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire

    The Oval: Surrey v Essex

    Headingley: Yorkshire v Sussex

    Division Two

    Derby: Derbyshire v Gloucestershire

    Riverside: Durham v Lancashire

    Worcester: Worcestershire v Kent

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:20 BST 20 April

    Awful Essex, just awful. The sooner Westley and Cox are back the better. Absolutely no depth in the squad at all.

    John, Norwich

    Watched all morning but had to dash away from Edgbaston to pick up the kids, but great to win!

    Matt, Birmingham.

    Essex have Surrey then a week's break. The two games after against Hampshire & Leicestershire will help to see if it's another relegation battle this season.

    Kevin, Essex

    Great result for the Bears, always tricky against Essex, Sam Hain with the defining innings. Onwards and upwards!!!

    Richard, Downham Market

  4. A seam-dominant lower order!published at 17:18 BST 20 April

    bbccricket

    Sir James Anderson celebrating taking a wicket for Lancashire by punching the air.Image source, Shutterstock

    The ever-reliable Sam Cook took six wickets in 33.5 overs across the match with a five-for in the second innings - including four of the Bears' top five and the dangerous Sam Hain and he is in at eight.

    Back into the Bears lineup and straight into team of the weekend! Keith Barker led the Warwickshire seam attack with his iconic left-arm around the wicket, and swung the momentum of the game with a triple-wicket maiden in the second over of the final day to steer Warwickshire to their first win of the season.

    George Balderson played a vital part in Lancashire's win - taking nine wickets across both innings. His role in the scorecard of Gloucestershire's first innings is any fast bowlers delight as his five-wicket-haul dismissed five of the top six (the other one being a run out.)

    And finally, inevitably, Sir Jimmy Anderson makes the Team of the Weekend after leading Lancashire to victory in the second division. He took seven wickets across the weekend with a miserly economy of less than two runs an over.

    Honourable mention / 12th man - Sonny Baker

    Baker is maybe hard done by not making the starting XI after a fiery second innings five-fer which included all of the Somerset top three dismissed relatively cheaply and the potentially game-changing wicket of Gregory. Baker found himself on the losing side of an excellent game between Hampshire and Somerset at the Utilita Bowl.

    So there is our Team of the Weekend - dominated by seamers! But is that not the way it should be in April?

  5. Gregory as all-rounder?published at 17:09 BST 20 April

    #bbccricket

    Somerset bowler Lewis Gregory smiling.Image source, Shutterstock

    James Bracey was superb for Gloucestershire in their second-innings - becoming the first Gloucs player to score a century this season.

    It wasn't quite enough for his side today but it is something the Division Two side can build on. A classy innings from the left-handed wicket-keeper means he is in at six.

    Back to Somerset again and Lewis Gregory is our all-rounder at seven.

    The veteran scored 25 before being bowled by the excellent Sonny Baker and grabbed 3-45 in Hampshire's first-innings, before a wonderful 5-42 to limit to Hampshire to 336 in their second as the hosts threatened to get away from them.

    But then, the league leaders completed that famous run-chase to claim victory on the south coast.

  6. Abell picks himself in the middle orderpublished at 17:04 BST 20 April

    #bbccricket

    Tom Abell raising his bat for Somerset.Image source, Getty Images

    With plenty of wickets falling over the course of the weekend, our tail is looking a little long - you will have to forgive us on that one.

    But at three, we believe Tom Abell's unbeaten century to help guide Somerset home to a thrilling two-wicket victory at Hampshire this afternoon means he is a must pick.

    At four, Abell's Somerset team-mate James Rew - a young player on England's radar and a player in fine form. Rew's 86 in the first innings, backed up with another half-century in the second, means he also makes our team.

    Warwickshire toiled in their opening innings on Friday, but their one shining beacon with the bat was Sam Hain. His 88 not out helped the Bears to a below-par but crucial total of 190 and one which helped propel them to their eventual 41-run victory against Essex at Edgbaston and he is in at five.

  7. Robson shines for Middlesexpublished at 16:56 BST 20 April

    #bbccricket

    Sam Robson raising his bat and helmet for Middlesex after scoring a century.Image source, Shutterstock

    A fine innings from Sam Robson of 162 in Middlesex's second-innings means he is a shoo-in as one of the opener's in our team of the week.

    Robson spent over six and a half hours at the crease for his side, helping steer them to a safe result at Northamptonshire, hitting 21 boundaries in a knock which showed both attacking intent and determined grit.

    Keaton Jennings was with Lancashire's run chase from start to finish today and his 78 not out was crucial in seeing the Red Rose home, meaning he also makes our side.

    They now sit top of Division Two and, with wickets falling around him, the experienced opener was crucial by standing up tall to help his side home in a four-wicket victory.

  8. Team of the weekpublished at 16:45 BST 20 April

    #bbccricket

    We have had a look back at the star performers from this round of County Championship action across Divisions One and Two to work out who deserves a spot in the team of the week.

    Remember this is a democracy, so don't be afraid to smash those like or dislike buttons and you can also send us your thoughts via the Get Involved tab near the top of your screen.

    Without further ado, let's open with the, err, openers....

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:37 BST 20 April

    There’s talk of James Rew opening for England. Tom Abell has actually scored centuries as an opener. The two of them love batting together. Why not?

    Nigel, Taunton

    County cricket is very dynamic and exciting, we have many youngsters coming through the ranks, yet the emphasis is being placed on the white ball game much to the detriment of our Test team, let’s get our priorities right. Come on you Somerset.

    Simon, Pembrokeshire

    Celebrating my birthday with a liquid lunch in Budapest and a Somerset win

    Bernard, Budapest

    Somerset won't win the County Championship without sorting our top three out, too reliant on the brilliant middle order.

    Aaron, Somerset

    We're getting plenty of messages from Somerset fans today - some at home and some further away. I think we've had Sweden, Germany and now Hungary covered so far!

  10. Match drawnpublished at 16:32 BST 20 April

    Northants 409 drew with Middlesex 341 & 353-3

    A few moments ago, the umpires took another light reading and wandered off. Now the players are shaking hands on the balcony.

    The inevitable conclusion to this match has been hastened by the fading light.

    Sam Robson's 162 was the highlight of today's play. He hit 21 fours until he fell to Liam Guthrie.

  11. 'We got over the line, despite not playing our best'published at 16:23 BST 20 April

    Lancs 240 & 203-6 beat Gloucs 136 & 305 by four wickets

    Lancs v GlosImage source, Getty Images

    Lancashire's four-wicket win over Gloucestershire has pleased captain James Anderson.

    Keaton Jennings' unbeaten 78 guided them over the line in a tense finish, as clusters of wickets threatened to undo their run chase.

    “It was a tough four days, but we have got over the line, again despite not playing our best cricket," Anderson said.

    “We did well to bowl them out on day two, but should then have gone on and got 300 in reply. We weren’t ruthless enough with the bat, allowing them back into the game, and then really had to dig deep.

    “The injuries didn’t help. To lose Ajeet Singh Dale on the first morning was a blow and then seeing Luke Wells suffer that awful shoulder injury had the lads rattled for a bit."

    For Gloucestershire, it's a third successive defeat.

    Skipper Cameron Bancroft said: “After the first two games we did a bit of soul-searching and had a few conversations, which seem to have had a positive effect.

    “To bowl Lancashire out for 240 from 120 for one was a great effort and there were a lot of other positives to take out of this game.

    “A few key moments didn’t go our way and hurt us badly. If those had changed, we would have had a few more runs to play with.

    “Jimmy Anderson has still got it and presents a real challenge with the new ball. George Balderson bowled really well too and had a big impact on the game."

  12. Bad light stops playpublished at 16:05 BST 20 April

    Northants v Middx 353-3 (lead by 285)

    I did tell you it might not be gripping. One over, one run, one light meter - and off we go.

    The players are trudging off. The umpires are out in the middle. No decision made yet on the future of this game.

  13. Play resumes at Northamptonpublished at 16:02 BST 20 April

    Northants v Middx 352-3 (lead by 284)

    This may not be the most interesting session of cricket there has ever been.

    But please stick with us. You never know, something may happen.

    Calvin Harrison is bowling. Leus de Plooy is batting.

  14. Warwickshire seamers win it for the Bearspublished at 16:00 BST 20 April

    Warks beat Essex by 41 runs

    Grace Ballinger
    The Blaze and Manchester Super Giants seamer

    I feel like I've sung the Warwickshire seam attacks praises plenty today, but that was a seriously special performance.

    They've been fired up since Barker's three-wicket over this morning, and they've dominated most of the game.

    It also seems fitting that Sam Hain took the winning catch, after his essential 88 not out in the first innings.

    I may be biased as a seamer myself, but does anyone else think lower-scoring games dominated by the bowlers are the best sort of fixtures?

  15. wicket

    WARWICKSHIRE WIN BY 41 RUNSpublished at 15:50 BST 20 April
    Breaking

    Warks v Essex 164 all out

    What a way for Warwickshire to win for the first time this season!

    With the field spread, Zaman Akhter decides he wants to ramp Beau Webster - and although he gets a decent bat on it, it's not enough and Sam Hain runs round to complete the catch.

    Victory by 41 runs on a remarkable final day at Edgbaston.

    Webster finished it off, but it was all started by Keith Barker's triple-wicket-maiden in the second over of the day.

    Essex tried to steady the ship and Akhter, together with Simon Harmer, almost got them close after a brilliant 51-run partnership, but the damage had been done.

    Click that 'Get Involved' button, Warwickshire fans, and tell us how you feel.

  16. Postpublished at 15:47 BST 20 April

    Warks v Essex 164-9 - 42 more runs to win

    Jamie Porter is untroubled by the final two Keith Barker deliveries.

    Zaman Akhter will face Beau Webster, once again with a spread field.

  17. Postpublished at 15:45 BST 20 April

    Warks v Essex 164-9 - 42 more runs to win

    Warwickshire have a slip in place, and eight fielders on the boundary. This cat-and-mouse of 'We'll let you have the single', 'Well we don't want it', might last a while.

    That's evidenced by the fact Akhter smears one to a fielder on the mid-wicket boundary and just stands there.

    He does take a single from the fourth delivery of the over.

    Those eight fielders now come in.

  18. Tea at Northamptonpublished at 15:45 BST 20 April

    Northants v Middlesex 352-3 - lead by 284

    Tea has been taken at Northampton and we will be back for the conclusion of this one in 20 minutes for what looks destined to be a draw.

    Middlesex captain Leus de Plooy (65 not out) and Ben Geddes (0 not out) will return for the final session on day four after Sam Robson was eventually dismissed for a wonderful 162 after over six and a half hours in total at the crease - extraordinary.

    What a day it has been across the County Championship this afternoon.

  19. Robson departs for 162published at 15:44 BST 20 April

    Middlesex 351-3, lead by 283

    Grace Ballinger
    The Blaze and Manchester Super Giants seamer

    Finally a wicket for Northants!

    Guthrie bowls a sharp back-of-a-length delivery after being hit for back-to-back boundaries and Robson is caught down the leg-side by the keeper after an excellent 162.

    A welcome breakthrough for Northants, it had started to look like middle-practise for the Middlesex top order.

  20. Postpublished at 15:44 BST 20 April

    Northants v Middlesex 352-3

    Big appeal for caught down the leg side by Northants and James Sales is up, as is the slip cordon.

    Umpire shakes his head however, not out. Ben Geddes (0 not out) remains at the crease.

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