Summary

  • Essex bowl out Kent for 101 to win by an innings and 96 runs at Canterbury

  • Division One games at Old Trafford and New Road end in rain-affected draws.

  • Northants hold out for final-over draw with Yorkshire after being set a target of 326

  • Derbyshire's Zak Chappell takes 5-58 as they draw with Gloucestershire

  • Middlesex pile up 613-9 before declaring in their draw with Sussex

  • Rain ends play early as Leicestershire and Glamorgan draw at Grace Road

Live Reporting

Chris Harby, Harry Everett, Paul Grunill and Deepak Mahay

  1. Runs continue to flow at Bristol

    Glos 403-4 v Derbs 526 AO

    First ball of the morning, Gloucestershire continue on their merry way, James 'Bobby' Bracey takes 4 off Dal and then gets a filthy legside dot next ball that no batter could ever get anywhere near, 'keeper does well to save from any byes.

  2. Kent asked to bat again

    Kent 394 v Essex 591-7 dec

    No surprise at the Spitfire Ground as Essex skipper Tom Westley enforces the follow-on.

    Kent need to score 197 to avoid an innings defeat and England's Zak Crawley will once again be opening the batting.

    Based on the evidence of the past three days, it should be a tough task for Essex to force a win in this game.

    But then, as has been said on countless occasions, cricket is a 'funny' game....

  3. Inspection at New Road

    Worcs 80 v Notts 234-3

    After a 10.30am inspection was curtailed by, what else, a rain shower, a further inspection has been pencilled in for 11.30am.

    Keeping everything crossed.

  4. Weather update from Old Trafford

    Delayed start - 11.30 inspection

    It has been a busy few months for groundstaff across the country, and it is no easier for many on the last day of Championship cricket in Spring.

    Covers are still on at Old Trafford following rainfall just before play was due to commence.

    Warwickshire lead Lancashire by 231 runs with seven wickets remaining as Alex Davies is having a decent run out captaining on his former stomping ground.

  5. Essex look to close gap on Surrey

    Kent 394 v Essex 591-7 dec

    Simon HarmerRex Features

    Surrey's heavy defeat on Sunday offers Essex the opportunity to move to within two points of the Division One leaders if they can force a win over Kent on the final day at Canterbury.

    They may, though, be a bowler light after Sam Cook suffered an injury earlier in the game.

    It may mean a heavier seam bowling workload for Jamie Porter and Shane Snater, but in years gone by, this is exactly the kind of situation in which Essex have been able to rely on Simon Harmer to spin them to victory.

    Will it be Harmer-geddon for Kent today?

  6. It's raining - again - at New Road

    Worcs 80 v Notts 234-3

    Umpires Nigel Llong and Surendiran Shanmugam were due to go out for a pitch inspection at 10.30am, but right on cue, early morning sunshine gave way to yet another shower and the covers were wheeled back in place.

    There remains hope of an exciting finale to this Division One despite losing two full days to rain. But the weather really needs to play ball.

    A damp outfield curtailed day one and the first half of Sunday before the rain returned to dash any hopes of play.

    But sandwiched in between, Nottinghamshire castled Worcestershire for just 80 in the first session of the match before piling up a 154-run lead by stumps on day two.

    Joe Clarke, who was able to enjoy a restful 28th birthday yesterday, finished unbeaten on 73 after being dropped on nought.

    A daring declaration from Notts skipper Haseeb Hameed could yet force a result, but first he will need assistance from the weather.

  7. Yorkshire aim to 'dictate terms' on final day

    Northants 301 v Yorkshire 362 & 156-5

    Yorkshire captain Shan MasoodRex Features

    Yorkshire hope to make it an uncomfortable final day for Northamptonshire at Wantage Road after building a 217-run lead before rain ended play early on Sunday.

    Skipper Shan Masood is 82 not out, his second half-century of the game, despite needing treatment from the physio for a wrist problem.

    "We've got a bit of work to do because we're five wickets down, and we don't want to get bowled out short of where we want to be," said Yorkshire batting coach Ali Maiden.

    "We're thinking another 120 runs we'd be happy with. The first hour will be key, trying to make sure we get into a position to dictate the terms, rather than be dictated to by Northants."

  8. Batting points focus for van Buuren

    Gloucestershire 399-4 v Derbyshire 526

    Graeme van BuurenGetty Images

    Gloucestershire skipper Graeme van Buuren insisted day three was still a "great" one for his team despite only one session of play being possible against Derbyshire.

    He and James Bracey both made unbeaten centuries in adding 156 in 21 overs during the morning and setting a new club record fifth-wicket partnership.

    "We were behind the eight ball at the start and I'm delighted with the way James Bracey and I were able to develop our stand," he said.

    "The aim will be to collect two more batting points and take things from there. With the rain having taken so much out of the match, it's hard to think beyond that."

  9. Bethell career-best may be costly

    Lancashire 149 v Warwicks 284 & 96-3 - and end of day three

    Jacob BethellGetty Images

    All-rounder Jacob Bethell believes a first Warwickshire victory in this season's Championship is there for the taking - weather permitting - following his career-best 4-20 against Lancashire on day three.

    They bowled out the Red Rose for 149 at Old Trafford and then extended their lead to 231 by close of play.

    "I was injured the whole of last year and couldn't bowl (much) so a career-best is nice. The boys tell me I've got to get a round in at the bar so that's going to be a dent on my credit card," the 20-year-old left-arm spinner told BBC WM Sport.

    "We'll look to score some quick runs, obviously weather dependant, and then bowl them out. The pitch is deteriorating, so it's only going to get harder to bat and easier to bowl."

  10. Weather outlook

    BBC Weather summary: "Rain in the northwest this morning with showers breaking out quite widely across the UK this afternoon, heavy and thundery for east Scotland and northeast England. The showers lasting around 30mins, so this still leaves long stretches of the afternoon dry with sunny spells."

  11. How things stand

    After third day's play

    Division One

    Kent 394 v Essex 591-7 dec

    Kent trail by 197 runs

    Lancashire 149 v Warwickshire 284 & 96-3

    Warwickshire lead by 231 with 7 wickets standing

    Worcestershire 80 v Nottinghamshire 234-3

    Notts lead by 154 with 7 wickets standing - no play on day three

    Division Two

    Gloucestershire 399-4 v Derbyshire 526

    Gloucestershire trail by 127 with 6 wickets standing

    Leicestershire 343-9 dec v Glamorgan 387 & 14-1

    Glamorgan lead by 58 runs with 9 wickets standing

    Middlesex 403-6 v Sussex 554-9 dec

    Middlesex trail by 151 with 4 wickets standing

    Northamptonshire 301 v Yorkshire 362 & 156-5

    Yorkshire lead by 217 with 5 wickets standing

    ---Sunday's result---

    Hampshire 608-6 dec v Surrey 127 & 203

    Hampshire won by an innings and 278 runs

  12. Good morning

    Essex kit bags at CanterburyRex Features

    The first half of the County Championship is almost done.

    By this evening, each team will have completed seven of their 14 fixtures and the competition will 'go into hibernation' for a month while the T20 Blast takes centre stage.

    Round eight hasn't been the best as far as the weather is concerned, but Durham and Hampshire have already won their games. Will anyone else improve the number in their W column on day four?

    Welcome to our coverage. Play is scheduled to start at 11:00.