Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Going into this game Worcestershire needed maximum bonus points from their final two games - and wins - if they were to have any chance of staying up.

They also needed snookers and miracles. And the fact they only managed two batting points means they will be relegated, providing the ECB and the counties do not change the whole structure of the County Championship next year.

This is their seventh relegation and only the second time they have managed to stay up for more than a year. In 2012 they also went down after two years.

They returned to Division One last season, along with Durham, who are currently in the other relegation spot and have not won a Cchampionship match since May.

I am struggling to see where the next win will come from and they could well be playing the Pears again in 2026.

Afghan debutant Shafiqullah Ghafari has just got his first wicket, Ben Gibbon fell lbw for 33.

A little milestone is negotiated by Surrey.

The target drops under 300 to...299...it's still something though.

Funny how innings can replicate each other.

Somerset first innings 21-1, 25-2, 43-3, 69-4, 99-5.... and 320-6.

Hampshire first innings 13-1, 27-2, 30-3, 58-4, 92-5...

Can Washington Sundar and Felix Organ replicate Tom Abell and Kasey Aldridge's 221 partnership?

We can see the floodlights reflecting off the helmets of the two batsmen at The Oval.

Notts have got three slips in for Rory Burns and he shoulders arms to the final ball of a Dillon Pennington over.

Play has been abandoned for the day in Birmingham.

The covers still haven't budged as the rain continues to fall.

Brett Hutton hasn't got his line quite right and he's down the leg side again for the ball to thud off Dom Sibley's thigh pad and run away for four leg byes.

It's swinging out there under grey skies.

I will remind you that one point separates these two at the top of the table.

Rory Burns clips Dillon Pennington away for the first boundary off the bat in this run chase.

We also have a T20 international today between Ireland and England in Dublin. It is Jacob Bethell's first test as England skipper and you can follow the game here.

Gibbon dropped on 28published at 14:13 BST 17 September

14:13 BST 17 September

Durham v Worcestershire 361-5

Ben Gibbon flashes at a wide one from Sam Conners and gets a thick edge that flies to Emilio Gay's right at second slip.

Gay gets a good hand to it, but can't hang on.

So Surrey are chasing 315 to beat Nottinghamshire at The Oval? It's a tough target but they are a team that knows how to get a job done. The winners will be clear favourites to wrap up the title next week. Who do you think is going to come out on top? Get in touch.

Dom Sibley takes a single from the opening ball of Brett Hutton's over and in doing so goes to 1200 first-class runs for the season.

He's the top run scorer in Division One.

Dillon Pennington bowls a maiden to Rory Burns.

How are we feeling then?

Thumbs up if you think Surrey have got this, or thumbs down if you think Notts can snag the 10 wickets they need.

Oh, Notts think they've got Dom Sibley caught down the legside off Brett Hutton, they're adamant and convinced.

The umpire isn't, not out.

There was a big noise.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Durham have lacked a cutting edge with the ball this season and have struggled to bowl teams out.

So it sums up their relegation predicament perfectly, to only gain one bowling point in such a crucial end of season game.

Worcestershire picked up just two batting points as well. It's perhaps a fair indicator of why these two are the bottom sides.

We lost 34 overs today after the morning was washed out, to go along with the loss of day one. But there are still 62 overs to go.

Gareth Roderick began the day on 95 and it took 8.2 overs for him to add another five runs to reach his first century of the season.

Brett Hutton bowls the first over and Rory Burns pushes the opening delivery away and then takes a single.

Before we start talking about highest successful run chases at The Oval, Surrey got 418 in the fourth innings to beat Essex last year.

So, this should be a cake walk#...!

Roland Butcher
Former England batter on BBC Radio Surrey

They now have to come out and do it with the ball. We'll have to see if the new ball does anything as it's been easy for the Notts tail end to bat.

With the overhead and damp conditions, batting has been relatively easy as the balls done nothing off the pitch or in the air.

We'll have to see what happens but I'm pretty sure it'll be a different ball game.

Sussex reach 150 as John Simpson whips a ball from Matt Milnes to square leg for a single.

Image source, Getty Images

Hampshire will need to score 288 to beat Surrey at the Utlilta Bowl and go through to face Lancashire in Sunday's final.

Surrey were all out for 287 in 48.5 overs with Freya Davies taking 4-39 for the home side.

Kira Chathli top scored with 81 off 76 balls before being caught off Bex Tyson.

Scorecard updates here.

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Fisher finishes with career-best figures of 11-134.

Brett Hutton is 42 not out and will now turn his attentions to putting the ball in the right areas.

This is all set up for us isn't it?