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12 April - not normally a type of date you associate with run fests in county cricket.

But that is exactly what we have seen today with no less than EIGHT players scoring a century.

Alex Davies' career-best 226 not out takes top billing as Warwickshire close 10 runs shy of 500 in a day!

Bowling with this Kookaburra ball does not look like much fun, although Alex Thomson's 7-65 with his off-breaks for Derbyshire away to Glamorgan was the pick of the day.

Thanks for your company today, as always.

We return at 10:45 BST tomorrow to see if the bowlers can strike back.

A good day for Derbyshire.

I almost forgot how to say that.

It's getting gloomy out there now.

The star of the day has been off spinner Alex Thomson, 26 overs, seven maidens, 7-65, career-best figures as Glamorgan were dismissed for 237.

They will return tomorrow with Derbyshire in the ascendency

Glamorgan need some early wickets, Derbyshire will be looking to pile on the runs.

Former Glamorgan batter David Lloyd and Harry Came see Derbyshire through to stumps.

The visitors, led by Alex Thomson's 7-65, have enjoyed a fine first day and close 191 runs behind with nine wickets in hand.

Former South Africa opener Dean Elgar made his 49th first-class century and first for Essex in his second game for the county earlier.

He told BBC Essex he wanted his side to push on in the morning," the 36-year-old said.

“I play the game to perform and am pleased to get some early runs but it’s a real team effort.

“You are aware the Kookaburra ball gets softer after about 10 or 12 overs and especially here at Chelmsford where the wicket is a bit lower and a bit more flat you can score runs.

“If you get in you can maximise scoring opportunities. We played low risk cricket out there and still scored at nearly four and a half an over.”

“We now have to capitalise on the start we have made.”

Three overs to go on day one in Cardiff.

Spinners Kiran Carlson and Mason Crane are whipping through the final stages as the light fades.

Can they grab another Derbyshire wicket?

It's been Surrey's day.

Somerset having been 196-1 were eventually bowled out for 285 and in reply Surrey have made largely untroubled progress, 42-0 with Rory Burns on 13 and 29 to Dom Sibley.

Both sides would say it's a nearly day, another wicket or two for Lancashire they would say they are happy with that.

I think for Hampshire maybe if they hadn't lost three people that had got past 50 before they got 100 they might say we'd be further on as well.

I suppose at the end of the day you could say that both sides have cancelled each other out a little bit.

Division One:

Chelmsford: Essex 421-6 v Kent

Utilita Bowl: Hampshire 305-6 v Lancashire

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 305-6 v Worcestershire

The Kia Oval: Surrey 42-0 v Somerset 285

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 490-1 v Durham

Division Two:

Cardiff: Glamorgan 237 v Derbyshire 15-1 (still in play)

Bristol: Gloucestershire 28-2 v Yorkshire 326

Leicester: Leicestershire 326-8 v Sussex

Northampton: Northamptonshire 311-3 v Middlesex

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That's stumps in all five Division One games, and three are also done for the day in Division Two.

They're still going between Glamorgan and Derbyshire where there was a slightly delayed start.

Still eight and a bit overs to go in Cardiff if the light holds.

Derbyshire are 13-1 in reply to Glamorgan's 237.

Very good batting from Rory Burns and Dom Sibley to reach stumps with their wickets intact.

That makes it Surrey's day after they bowled out Somerset, having won the toss and inserted the visitors.

Tom Lammonby's ton threatened to make a mockery of Rory Burns' call, but that spell of 7-20 in the middle of the afternoon may have turned this match decisively in Surrey's favour already.

Alex Davies having a dominant day scoring 226 not out and earlier Rob Yates made 191.

A great day for Warwickshire, Durham will have to lick their wounds and come back tomorrow. Ultimately they are going to have to bat well just to make sure they save the game.

Liam Dawson and Ian Holland make it through to the close unbeaten and with a chance to push on in the morning.

Dawson has 61 with Holland on 14, but it is a day that Hampshire may rue with James Vince, Nick Gubbins and Tom Prest all reaching 50, but none getting to three figures.

Considering the scores elsewhere, Lancashire may feel pleased with their efforts as they kept plugging away to stay in the game.

A word too, for Australia spinner Nathan Lyon after a mammoth opening day stint of 32 overs for a couple of wickets.

It's a gorgeous evening and it's been a beautiful day.

We've seen some great cricket all day today and the excitement is still there, right until the end.

Yorkshire are looking for just one more breakthrough and there it is, Ollie Price has to walk back, it's a huge wicket.

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What a day of cricket for Warwickshire.

They close the day on an absolutely humongous 490-1 as Alex Davies takes the applause, walking off 226 not out from 274 balls.

Rob Yates blitzed his way to 191 and Will Rhodes has chipped in with 60 not out, but it is Davies' day.

Durham will not want to remember this day, one that began with captain Scott Borthwick winning the toss.

What a tremendous day for Essex.

They won the toss and were reduced to 10-2 before Dean Elgar got them stuck into the day.

Elgar made his first century for Essex, 120, and shared 159 with Jordan Cox, who made 67, to put the home side firmly on top.

Matt Critchley took up the mantle after Elgar fell and has made 103 not out, his eighth first-class century.

Kent have at least picked up two bonus points but it's been a day in the dirt for them.

With less than two overs to go this evening, a single from Liam Dawson sees Hampshire bring up the 300.

A second batting point for them.

Maybe 500 is still on.

Alex Davies hits two fours and then a single off Brydon Carse to take nine off the latest over of Durham suffering.

Warwickshire need 14 off 12 balls!

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A very competitive day's play and Notts will be pleased having won the toss.

They lost both openers cheaply before Joe Clarke and Ben Slater took the score from 34-2 to 167-3.

Slater fell for 70 but Clarke went on to make 105, after his 104 last week against Essex.

Worcestershire managed to chip away either side of tea but Lyndon James, 41 not out, and Calvin Harrison, on 23, have shared a smart partnership of 67 to win the day for the home side.

If Rory Burns and Dom Sibley get through to the crease unscathed tonight, it really will be Surrey's day.

After their short knocks at Emirates Old Trafford last week, neither has been out yet this season.

He has gone about it very quietly but so effectively and Matt Critchley continues his excellent start to the season.

Scoring runs should never be taken for granted but Critchley has made it look effortless. Some glorious boundaries, canny accumulation and solid defence all adds-up to a formidable obstacle for opponents in the Essex middle order. He has a reputation of a bludgeoner of attacks but just four fours and one six shows he has the complete game for all situations.

Critchley has been well supported in partnerships with Elgar, Walter and Pepper.