Image source, Getty Images

Durham assistant coach Will Gidman says the late wickets of Adam Lyth and Dawid Malan have “opened the door” for Durham to land a first win of the season, weather permitting.

Durham got within one wicket of victory in the last round of games, only to be denied by Warwickshire, but go into the final day against Yorkshire in a strong position.

And Gidman believes the final hour of day three, in which the visitors lost two wickets to go four down, could prove key.

“It was a really special performance from Ben Raine on a pitch that’s not offering a huge amount. He got the big wicket of Lyth late on, which Pottsy followed up by getting Malan," he said.

“Who knows, it may just have opened a little door for us.”

Glamorgan batsman Kiran Carlson has promised to make Middlesex “work hard for it” if they are to complete a first victory of their campaign at Lord’s.

Carlson resumes unbeaten on 54, in company with Chris Cooke, and with the visitors still trailing by 85 runs with just five wickets in hand.

“It’s going to be a tough scrap but we’re going to make them work hard for it and hopefully we can salvage a draw,” he said.

“Hopefully Chris Cooke and me can try and govern the play a bit and bat as long as we can, essentially."

Middlesex are heavily odds on to land a first win of their campaign after a draw with Lancashire and a loss to Kent in the first two rounds and batsman Ben Geddes said it was a case of making the most of the chances that come their way this morning.

“We’ll focus on what we can control and hopefully take five chances as quickly as possible,” he said.

Image source, Rex Features

Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace admitted his side looked "a little bit lost" on day three as centuries by Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence left Surrey just 45 in arrears at the end of day three.

Farbrace said losing overs in the final session because of the weather had been a "bonus" and added: "We have to be honest and say we didn't do particularly well today.

"After lunch we looked a bit lost in the field, searching for wickets rather than sticking to decent plans and conceded boundaries on both sides which is quite frustrating. We also dropped catches."

Lawrence is set to resume on 117 not out, including six sixes, and Farbrace added: "We know Division One is tough and for 10 days of the campaign we have been really good but today was a bit of a lesson for us."

Image source, Rex Features

Australian Caleb Jewell hopes consistency will eventually pay off with a first century for Derbyshire after again falling short of three figures on day three against Northants.

The left-hander passed 50 for the fifth time in six innings for the club but was caught off Justin Broad for 71 as his side moved into a slender nine-run lead by stumps.

"I'm hoping there is something more around the corner but I'm happy with how I'm playing, I just need to sustain it for a bit more," said Jewell, whose 28th birthday is today.

"In those situations you can probably just try and bat for time and hope you can stick in there long enough to dwindle it down but I think it's important to keep scoring the runs as well.... I know what's best for me and that was how it was today."

"Bands of showery rain in Northern Ireland and the south-west will move into much of Scotland and England" - that is the summary on the BBC Weather home page.

Doesn't sound great but it looks like there are gaps between and behind the rough stuff as it passes across the country so let's keep fingers crossed that we will still see plenty of action.

To quote Blackadder Goes Forth, we are playing the "mindless optimism card" very strongly.

Division One

Durham 427 v Yorkshire 307 & 132-4

Yorkshire lead by 12 with 6 wickets standing

Essex 179 & 317 v Worcestershire 202 & 185-6

Worcestershire need another 110 with 4 wickets standing

Hampshire 336 v Somerset 184 & 103-1

Somerset trail by 49 with 9 wickets standing

Sussex 435 v Surrey 390-3

Surrey trail by 45 with 7 wickets standing

Warwickshire 93 & 163-6 v Nottinghamshire 367

Warwickshire trail by 111 with 4 wickets standing

Division Two

Derbyshire 307 & 202-3 v Northamptonshire 500-8 dec

Derbyshire lead by nine with 7 wickets standing

Kent 393 v Gloucestershire 472 & 112-2

Gloucestershire lead by 191 with 8 wickets standing

Lancashire 263 & 16-3 v Leicestershire 491-8 dec

Lancashire trail by 212 with 7 wickets standing

Middlesex 470-9 dec v Glamorgan 199 & 186-5

Glamorgan trail by 85 with 5 wickets standing

Image source, Rex Features

"Keep on looking for a bluebird, and listening for his song, whenever April showers come along."

There may be time for a little birdwatching today, given the weather outlook, but let's hope they can dodge the wet stuff at most of the nine grounds in round three of the County Championship.

Yes, it's the final day of the latest set of fixtures and we have some potentially exciting finishes in store.

Play is scheduled to resume at 11:00 and we look forward to your company over the next few hours.