Image source, Getty Images

A frustrating day with three of our matches having an early finish, but we've not been starved of wickets!

A total of 13 fell at the Utilita Bowl as Somerset began to take control, while Jamie Porter put Essex in a great position, taking four scalps in the morning session at Edgbaston.

George Balderson also had a day out with the ball, taking four for Lancashire against Gloucestershire, while Middlesex had the best day with the bat, fighting back from early peril at Northampton.

There's positive news from the good folk at the Met Office with good portions of sunshine and dry weather forecast for the weekend.

So, plenty of time to catch up tomorrow. We hope to see you all then.

Division One:

Southampton: Hampshire 238 v Somerset 154-3

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 113-7 v Essex

Division Two:

Bristol: Gloucestershire 124-6 v Lancashire

Northampton: Northamptonshire v Middlesex 284-6

A glorious cover drive by James Rew with the final ball of the day and that is stumps at the Utilita Bowl! What a day it has been for Division One league leaders Somerset.

They have made all the running in this one, and despite losing the toss this morning, have been in full control of day one.

Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory claimed three wickets each as they limited Hampshire to 238 all out before going out to bat after tea.

Hampshire's Jake Lehmann offered some resistance for the hosts, top scoring with 76, but he quickly ran out of partners as Somerset kept a tight line and length to skittle out Hampshire inside 60 overs.

In reply, Somerset lost Josh Thomas early for a duck but a terrific fourth-wicket stand between James Rew and Tom Abell means they end at the close of play just 84 runs behind with seven wickets still in hand.

The league leaders are in imperious form right now and are strong favourites to claim a second consecutive County Championship victory. All they need is the weather to remain as good as it has been all day on the South Coast today!

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

That's just the shot to play in the penultimate over of the day, a reverse sweep.

He played it very well and it's just second nature of modern cricketers now for better or for worse.

The backward point's moved a little bit finer in response.

150 up for Somersetpublished at 18:39 BST 17 April

18:39 BST 17 April

Hants 238 v Somerset 150-3

James Rew runs one down to the third man boundary for four to move into the 70's and that's 150 up for Somerset in the final over of the day!

James Rew scampers through for two runs to move onto 69 not out with the first ball of the final over of the day.

James Rew plays an outrageous reverse sweep in the penultimate over of the day for four runs - wasn't expecting that with light dimming down in Southampton!

All in the arsenal of a modern day cricketer these days, though.

We will have one final over before stumps.

Codi Yusuf comes bustling in and wraps James Rew on the top of the pad but it looks high.

Rew padels a single into the off side with the final ball of the over to keep the strike. Two overs left today, starting with Liam Dawson.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

It's been a mixture.

Somerset certainly bowled Hampshire well this morning and after lunch I think that was down to some not very good Hampshire batting.

At the start of this innings with the new ball Hampshire were looking very threatening but as the ball's got softer, the batting's looked a bit easier.

Liam Dawson produces a much tighter maiden over as Tom Abell plays the final ball back to the spinner with no real threat to his wicket.

Somerset's deficit is down to exactly 100 now with two batsmen looking comfortable at the crease and seven wickets still remaining in their first-innings.

It's been an excellent day for the visitors who have four more overs to see out before stumps on day one.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

Beautiful shot. I love the high right elbow as he's a left-hander.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

Image source, Getty Images

If Messrs McCullum and Key are watching, as I suspect they might be, I trust they've been impressed by James Rew.

50 for James Rewpublished at 18:20 BST 17 April

18:20 BST 17 April

Hants 238 v Somerset 133-3

A beautiful off drive sees James Rew move onto 49 as the 50 partnership comes up in 69 balls between Rew and Tom Abell.

Two balls later, Rew's 50 comes up with almost a carbon-copy - dismissing Kyle Abbott's over-pitched delivery.

Rew's 24th first-class half-century.

Michael Carberry
Former England batter

It's gone a little bit flat for Hampshire in the last couple of overs.

They need a little bit of inspiration from somewhere.

It's where they've got to really bite down on the gumshield as a side, keep pushing for wickets, keep the pressure on these Somerset batters.

Even if you're not taking wickets the important thing is you're shutting down the scoreboard.

This has been a strong partnership by two players in form.

James Rew has settled really nicely and will hope to surpass the 48 he got last time out against Essex, currently 44 not out.

That's that for the day at Northampton, I'm afraid.

Bad light sent the players from the field as the gloom gathered during the evening session.

An absorbing day, with the morning belonging to Northants who reduced the visitors to 102-4 at lunch.

But then it was all Middlesex whose middle order battled back brilliantly.

Half-centuries from Leus Du Plooy (51), Ben Geddes (65), Zafar Gohar (62*) and Joe Cracknell (66*) has put a second batting point in sight.

Northants hopes will rest on the secnd new ball which is due in another seven overs.

James Rew tickles a single down to fine leg to move onto 44 not out with Kyle Abbott's third delivery of the over.

The singles are now coming rather easily for Somerset. They are halfway to Hampshire's first-innings score with seven wickets still in hand.

Codi Yusuf is back into the attack for Hampshire - the last half hour has got away from the hosts slightly.

However, he gets his line all wrong as back-to-back deliveries are sent to the leg side boundary by Tom Abell - who is now on 26 not out for Somerset.

James Rew times one into the leg side really nicely - gently nudging a couple.

He moves onto 42 not out with nine overs still remaining today.