Stokes comes down the pitch …. and dabs Sales into the offside for a dot. Silk and steel. Durham 126-3.

And the big news is Andrew Radd got a new rosebush for his birthday in traditional Northamptonshire colours: Abracadabra floribunda.

SCurran, Lawrence, Pope and Sibley: Surrey 42 for five. Young Tom has the power with him today.

As Stokes slams a Guthrie full toss through the covers for four more…

A short ball flat batted for four through deep midwicket to bring up a fifty off 51 balls, with ten full-power fours.

Hampshire’s innings continues to implode – Ali Orr shimmying Goodman behind. Hampshire 66-6, lead by 98. Which might be nearly enough in this game.

Harry Conway won’t want to replay that moment. Stokes, on 43, gets a thick top edges and Conway shifts left, shifts right and lets the ball through his fingers. Drops his head and wishes for a cold dark room. Durham 96-3.

Oooof, Stokes smokes Procter down the ground via Procter’s left hand. Ooooh, that feels like it could be a mess, the physio does something that probably hurt.

Surrey are 16 for three. Dom Sibley calls his captain for a single but hadn’t counted on Ben Kellaway’s quick arm. A not happy Rory Burns trudges back. Then Tom Norton with two more – through Sam Curran’s gate, and persuadeing run machine Dan Lawrence to nick behind to Cooke.

Lancs, batting second, have safely put six on the board without losing a wicket.

Vasconcelos comes up to the stumps to whisper sweet nothings in that pesky No. 38’s ear.

Sanderson the frugal is being bashed about here – as Stokes swivels and pulls in one move a short ball to the rope. A couple of balls later another disappears, another quickstep down the wicket, another boundary, backhand through midwicket.

England’s national selector Marcus North has been spotted here at CLS, just in time to see Stokes bash a 60-ball century.

Stokes has decided to deal in boundaries – gently onto the back foot, viciously square cut Sanderson to the rope. Tries to go for broke on the offside but Zaib saves the ball. Durham 56-3, Stokes 20 not out from 18.

Four cheap wickets for best of the bowlers Gus Atkinson in Glamorgan’s 358 – centuries for Cooke and Crane and a 80 in two parts for Colin Ingram – last man out.

And a first-innings lead of 203 for Derbyshire at Chesterfield – 75 for Ben Aitchison adding to Lancashire’s frustration. Two wickets at the last for Anderson.

Hampshire and Middlesex are batting in banana shoes today. Hampshire 19-4 in their second innings lead by just 55. Three wickets for Tom Price.

Middlesex have lost a third, but Holden and Falkner are doing their best to stop the rot: 47-3.

Stokes is prowling. After inside edging, he attacks Sanderson. Down the track, straight drive, four. The next screams between Sanderson’s legs for four more – 12 not out.

Wooosh! Stokes off the mark, hotstepping down to Conway and driving him through mid-off for four.

Two quick Durham wickets after lunch – McKinney and Bedingham both caught behind. The cherry capped Northants fielders bounce along at the change of ends – a bowling point already in their pocket. Durham 30-3.

In Division One:

Mason Crane has joined Cooke in the hundred club, frustrating Surrey at Sophia Gardens. 103 not out – his maiden century after he got close earlier this season. Glamorgan 332-7.

And after a prolific 2025, a first century of the season for Rehan Ahmed, showing England just what they are missing. Leicestershire 236-3 a lead of 51 over Yorks.

Notts have drawn level with Essex, but with only four wickets down.

Mousley (54) and Hain (55) are making Somerset toil at Taunton – Warwicks 129-2.

Six wickets for Kyle Abbot as Sussex are all out for 159. But Hampshire are 9-2 in their second innings.

(and an early wicket at CLS – Lees lbw to Sanderson – but McKinney has woofed two gorgeous fours – Durham 14-1)

This last wicket stand is really starting to be an annoyance to Durham now – 32 and counting – and counting no more – as Guthrie clips Parkinson to Lees at midwicket. Northants all out for a nice round 450.

Round the grounds and round the grounds we go. In Division Two:

Four wickets for Mitchell Stanley – tipped for England glory by Ali – in Derbyshire’s 265-7. Dal and Aitchison currently frustrating Lancs. A Derby lead of 106.

Kent, on a roll after the three-day defeat of Lancs in the last round, have just been out for a satisfying 416 against Middlesex. Chris Benjamin the highest scorer with 70 – and a maiden five-wicket haul for Seb Morgan. Four for Tom Helm.

And Gloucestershire lost their last three wickets for 32 this morning, Miles Hammond not out for an innings-propping up 139. Worcs 24-0 in reply.

Ben Raine replaces Stokes after a good hour of charging in.

A super idea from Hove – there’s free entry for all tomorrow to see team of the season Sussex and celebrate Father’s Day.

If you fancy celebrating with cricket on Sunday, you need to get the tickets in advance online – book here

Sunday lunch at the carvery can be booked here.

Stokes thinks he’s had Guthrie caught behind. He really thinks it’s out. A nasty ball, lifting off a length. Guthrie whips off his helmet – hit me on the head mate. The physio comes out for a concussion check and Stoke chunters and stares.

I’m not sure quite what he muttered to Potts but it works as Potts yorks the giant Conway next ball. Conway stays in place for a good minute replaying the shot if only he could go back in time. But he can’t and walks off for five.

A beauty from Potts! Broad leaves with a fancy twirl and the ball bruises off the earth into middle stump. Northants 406-8 and some hard work rewarded by Durham this morning.

There’s so much cricket to follow. Obviously you’ll be glued to CCLive! but you can spare a glance for England’s travails at The Oval

and Ash Gardener and Beth Mooney in the mood against Netherlands in the WWCup.

Catching up from my emails, yesterday. Romeo is doing a pet’s corner at his website, matching pets to CCLive readers. If you are interested in playing, send a photo of your pet to romeoromeotangocclive@gmail.com.

And a breakthrough for Durham as Potts fires one in, Vasconcelos swipes and is caught behind for a wonderful 187 -23 fours, two sixes, a highest career score. That, however, is little solace as he walks off with his head bowed and his shoulders slumped in devastation.

An early wicket for Gus Atkinson this morning at Sophia Gardens. Chris Cooke without adding to his overnight 101. That happens so often – it would be good to see some stats although that would be cheeky as I’m not going to do it myself. Stokes fires in, Conway leaves one that thinks about knocking out his stumps. Stokes puffs out his cheeks in frustration.

A change of ends for Ben Stokes this morning. With Potts at the other end, this is quite a test first thing for Vasconcelos and Conway. And I can recommend the cheese scones from the health club here at CLS – absolutely delicious.

Division One

Chelmsford: Essex 184 v Nottinghamshire 111-2

Sophia Garden: Glamorgan 244-6 v Surrey

Grace Road: Leicestershire 177-3 v Yorkshire 185

Taunton: Somerset 208 v Warwickshire 92-2

Hove: Sussex 121-3 v Hampshire 191

DIVISION TWO

Chesterfield: Derbyshire 197-5 v Lancashire 161

Chester-le-Street: Durham v Northants 388-6

Canterbury: Kent 356-7 v Middlesex

New Road: Worcestershire v Gloucestershire 258-7

Good morning from Chester le Street, where summer is wearing her most perfect summer’s blouse. The Durham players are having a gentle game of keepy-uppy – though Stokes is stretching from the sidelines. Play starts here and around the grounds at 11am.