Storm Dave left its mark on the County Championship in the early hours of Easter Sunday, knocking over the camera gantry and untethering a cover at Chester-le-Street, leaving the pitch unplayable for Durham v Kent.Elsewhere, there were brickbats and chocolate eggs.Leicestershire made a hash of chasing an unlikely 481 against Sussex on a suddenly sun-dappled late afternoon at Grace Road.Rishi Patel was run out going for an optional second run in the second over, sent packing by a steaming direct hit from a crouching Jack Carson on the long-leg boundary.Wickets then tumbled with clockwork regularity, Jake Weatherald flashed at a delivery from Henry Crocombe, who then dismissed Lewis Hill for a pair.

Finally Rehan Ahmed dashed for glory at James Coles, but found infamy, out for 34,Essex celebrated the first win of the season, thrashing Hampshire by an innings and 137 runs,Jamie Porter, Sam Cook and Shane Snater ran through Hampshire’s first innings, before Matt Critchley – who had a match to remember – snaffled five for nine in 4,3 overs in the follow on, and Simon Harmer, in sunglasses and snood, three for 49,Middlesex’s Toby Roland-Jones zipped out five for 37 against Gloucestershire, who were forced to follow on at Lord’s.

Leg-spinner Mason Crane pocketed five for Glamorgan to put them in a great position against Yorkshire,Will Luxton became the second official ECB injury sub, replacing Jonny Bairstow,Northamptonshire’s Harry Conway made life tricky for the visitors at Wantage Road,At 6ft 7in the Australian pinged the ball like a stale Creme Egg, ripping out the heart of Lancashire’s second innings, removing Josh Bohannon, George Bell and Michael Jones in one over,However, Tom Bailey (35) and Ajeet Singh Dale (unbeaten on 44) rebuilt, leaving Northants 321 to win.

Shoaib Bashir, wind buffeting his trousers, grabbed his first wicket for Derbyshire, but later cost the club five penalty runs for “deception” after feigning to throw the ball when fielding.Nineteen-year-old Dan Lategan was Worcestershire’s mortar with 89 and 43 not out in the follow-on.Somerset’s James Rew left his calling card with a century against Nottinghamshire; Surrey are in fix at Edgbaston, still 47 short of innings defeat against Warwickshire, but on an increasingly generous pitch.Jamie Smith made an unbeaten half century.Gosh, lots happened in that final hour.

Congratulations to Matt Critchley and Essex.Thanks for your company today and sorry we struggled to get the comments working.Good night and a very Happy Easter!DIVISION ONESophia Gardens: Glamorgan 302 and 111-3 v Yorkshire 226Southampton: Essex 461-7d BEAT Hampshire 156 and 168 by an innings and 136 runs.Grace Road: Leicestershire 245 and 125-5 v Sussex 361 and 364 Leicestershire need 356 to winTaunton: Somerset 347 and 214-1 v Nottinghamshire 338Edgbaston: Warwickshire 544 v Surrey 328 and 169-3DIVISION TWOThe County Ground: Derbyshire 625-8dec v Worcestershire 312 and 68-1Chester le Street: Durham 335 and 83-2 v Kent 197 no play today, storm damageLord’s: Middlesex 445-9dec v Gloucestershire 216 and 120-3Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 258 and 9-1 v Lancashire 384 and 194Southampton: Essex 461-7d BEAT Hampshire 156 and 168 by an innings and 136 runs.A hat-trick ball at Grace Road for Henry Crocombe, after Weatherald had a needless flash and was caught behind and Lewis Hill was sent on his way for a pair.

Eskinazi survives but at 52-4, Leicestershire are in deep trouble,Right, time for me to write up,Do keep chatting BTL,In Division Two:So far so good in Worcestershire’s second dig, but they’ve only had three overs: 10-0, 301 behind,Three wickets for Anuj Dal,Gloucestershire are 88-2 following on, Charlesworth and Hammond the men in.

Both wickets to Seb Morgan.They still trail Middx by 141.And Lancashire have recovered well thanks to Bailey and Singh-Dale’s partnership of 54.Now 162-8, the lead 288.As we stretch towards the end of day three, things are moving along:Glamorgan are 21-0 in their second innings at Sophia Gardens, leading Yorks by 97.

Sam Cook has winkled out Jake Lehman at Southampton, Hants precariously 108-3, still 197 behind,Nick Gubbins 27 not out,James Rew and Tom Kohler-Cadmore have taken Somerset to 92-1,This one should peter out to a draw,A wicket here at Grace Road, as, from nowhere, Ian Holland chips Carson to midwicket.

Nice catch by Tom Clark.Rehan Ahmed joins Jake Weatherald.Leicestershire 34-2, and in areas by 400 plus.Surrey have lost Dom Sibley, lbw to Thompson for 27 in their long haul at Edgbaston.67-1, they still trail by 149.

As an antidote to the craziness going on elsewhere in the world, Jack Carson, in sunglasses, wheels in from Grace Road’s pavilion end.A young mum stands and rocks a romper-suited baby and a selection of people in big coats sit in spring sunshine on green bucket seats and drift off into the cricket.Leicestershire 26-1.This Somerset innings has James Rew century written all over it, He’s currently 29 not out.Somerset 63-1.

Simon Harmer, in early spring snood, gets his second wicket of the season – Prest lbw for 55, a super little innings with his side in a tight spot.Hants 86-2 following on, still 219 behind.Heck of a throw from Jack Carson, on one knee from long leg, throws down the stumps as Rishi Patel heads for a second.Sussex whooop a hoop, Patel slopes off.Leicestershire 11-1Play called off for the day because of a wet area on the pitch caused by a cover blowing off during Storm Dave (and landing in a stand).

DIVISION ONESophia Gardens: Glamorgan 302 v Yorkshire 226Southampton: Hampshire 156 and 83-1 v Essex 461-7decGrace Road: Leicestershire 245 v Sussex 361 and 364 Leicestershire need 481 to winTaunton: Somerset 347 and 32-1 v Nottinghamshire 338Edgbaston: Warwickshire 544 v Surrey 328 and 7-0DIVISION TWOThe County Ground: Derbyshire 625-8dec v Worcestershire 283-7Chester le Street: Durham 335 and 83-2 v Kent 197 no play today, storm damageLord’s: Middlesex 445-9dec v Gloucestershire 216 and 57-1Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 258 v Lancashire 384 and 113-8Rehan does Crocombe like a kipper, who charges up the pitch like an eager puppy and is stumped.Three for Rehan, three for Holland and a sleepy period of play comes to a sudden halt.On comes the heavy roller and they take tea.Well bowled! Yorkshire all out 226, Glamorgan have a tasty lead of 76.This was what Kiran Carlson said on media day:“We saw last year that when Mason gets it right, he’s still one of the best spinners in the country, no doubt.

And Kellers is young and is really exciting,If we get on the right surfaces and get ourselves into position with the bat to put pressure on the team, we can really turn the screw,”An update from Wantage Road, and it’s not pretty for Lancs,Hello Mark Gretton:“Poor George Balderson was neatly compact for 25 then suddenly lost his timing completely before being mercy killed by Harrison,As Tom Hartley departs, this continues to slide inexorably towards Northants.

”Sadly no chocolate bunnies for warmth and sustenance as you recommended, doing the best I can with draught cider,Needs must,”A poor substitution,Lancs 110-8, the lead 236,Nick Gubbins and Tom Prest have steadied HMS Hampshire to 59-1, following on at Southampton.

Yorkshire are nine down at Sophia Gardens, trail by 88Somerset surprise no-one by losing an early wicket, Josh Thomas lbw to Dillon Pennington for 6, Somerset 22-1.Ah, a wicket at Grace Road… are we getting a declaration…no we are not…a nonplussed Robinson sent on his way, caught behind to Rehan Ahmed (2-59).So out marches Henry Crocombe.Sussex 358-9.Warwickshire are all out for a huge 544, a lead of 216.

Eighteen year old Ralphie Albert wheeled through 20 overs, taking the last wicket of the egg-cracking Jordan Thompson, and finishing with 3-77.Now we get to see what Surrey 2026 are made of.No hundred for Tom Price who pulls Holland to midwicket for 73.Declaration time? No, here comes Ollie Robinson.Sussex 336-8, lead by 452.

Wind buffeting his trousers, he wheels in, long legs and longer arms, D’Oliveira prods, and is well caught by Ben Aitchinson at slip, who is almost knocked backwards by the ball,Bashir indulges in a little jump for joy,Worcestershire 275-6A little dance through the Division One blossom,At Taunton, Notts were all out nine short of Somerset’s score,Pretorius 4-65, Ogborne 3-81.

At Edgbaston, poor Tom Lawess got hit in the face by Jordan Thompson in his follow through.He seemed ok.Warwickshire a huge 518-8.Yorkshire are seven down at Cardiff, Crane 4-48.Trail by 108, 194-7.

Revis 39 not out,I meant to say that Josh Hull was going through his pace at lunchtime on the Grace Road outfield,Looked quick and pretty menacing,This strange period of shadow play continues – the lead now 437,A wicket for Rishi Patel in the sudden sunshine at Grace Road, no hundred for Jack Carson (85).

Leicestershire’s fielders, hands thrust deep in their pockets, every one, look lost in contemplation.Lancashire 67-5, another tasty morsel for six foot seven Harry Conway.Luke Wells providing the only stability.…and it isn’t a dream start.Cameron Bancroft bowled in the fourth over by Seb Morgan for 0.

Gloucestershire 4-1, trail by 225.They were dismissed for 216 in the first innings, done by TRJ (5-37) and old boy Zafar Gohar (3-47)A recovery of sorts by Hampshire, but still way under the follow on target – 156 all out, trail by 305.Cook 3-33, Porter 2-19, Snater 2-37.Killing time now at Grace Road, with Rishi Patel’s dibbly dobblies.Sussex 292-6, the lead 408.

Tom Price has 60 to cement the good impression he’s given today.And the stadium is now open.Make that 137 for 6.Scurrying run up, towel in his back pocket, and turns the ball past George Hill and into his stumps.Hill stays in immaculate defense for a good few seconds while Glamorgan leap about.

Much nervous peeling of silver foil in Yorkshire, who are in a bit of a pickle at Sophia Gardens Mason Crane picked up a third wicket before lunch and Adam Lyth wiffled a short ball from Hadley and to first slip afterwards.Yorkshire 136-5.A trying morning has segued into a trying afternoon for Lancashire: now 28 for four.Michael Jones is Harry Conway’s third wicket, whose current figures are 5-0-7-3Jack Carlson (53) and Ollie Price(39) have played beautifully at Grace Road, pulling Sussex from a position of fairly comfortable, to very comfortable – the lead 363.Says Paul Edwards, Leics will have to make the highest score of the match to win.

A round of the ground at lunchtime: the groundstaff were having a game of cricket outside their hut, as were a mother and son outside the pavilion,It is bloody freezing on the open east side of the ground, no wonder the players are rubbing their fingers and there is not a single spectator to be found,But if you can find a seat on the west side, and the sun is out, and you hunker down, it is actually quite nice,