Image source, Rex Features

The champagne was flowing at Trent Bridge where Nottinghamshire completed a win in the style of champions, beating Warwickshire by 10 wickets.

But with just one day of the season to go, the bubbles went flat elsewhere and nowhere more so than at Southampton where a season of toil gave way to an afternoon collapse for Hampshire which left them on the brink of relegation.

There may, of course, be plot twists to come and Hants will be hoping for a surprise happy ending when they resume tomorrow needing 33 runs for victory with just one wicket remaining.

Rahul Chahar, with 7-45, was chiefly responsible for their discomfort and with Durham and Yorkshire playing out a slow dance to what looks like a mutually beneficial draw at Headingley, the omens look grim on the south coast.

Sussex beat already doomed Worcs who showed they retain spirit, taking seven wickets as Sussex chased down a target of 61, with Tom Taylor finishing leading Division One wicket taker.

Essex are in reach of an unlikely victory after bowling Somerset out for 99 in the second innings and giving themselves a chase of 95 to win on day four.

In an already settled Division Two picture champions Leicestershire are favourites to end with a win as are Middlesex and Derbyshire.

There will be hangovers in Nottingham and sleepless nights in Southampton and Leeds but has the season got one last twist in it? Whether it has or not we will be here for you to guide you through it from 10:00 BST tomorrow.

Join us then.

Division One

Chelmsford: Essex 438 v Somerset 433 & 99 - Essex need 95 runs to win

Utilita Bowl: Hampshire 248 & 148-9 v Surrey 147 & 281 - Hampshire need 33 runs to win

Trent Bridge: Notts 374 & 20-0 v Warwickshire 258 & 133 - Notts win by 10 wickets

Worcester: Worcs 123 & 287 v Sussex 350 & 63-7 - Sussex win by three wickets

Headingley: Yorkshire 465-9 v Durham 346 - Yorkshire lead by 119 runs

Division Two

Cardiff: Glamorgan 265 & 241 v Lancashire 374 & 134-3 - Lancs win by seven wickets

Canterbury: Kent 271 & 136-5 v Derbyshire 698-6 dec - Kent trail by 291 runs

Lord's: Middlesex 634-9 dec v Glos 286 & 39-1 - Glos trail by 309 runs

Northampton: Northants 189 & 120-5 v Leicestershire 429 & 260-5 dec - Northants need to win

Essex will begin the chase tomorrow after bad light ends play for the day with 19 overs remaining.

Somerset made 433 in their first innings but Essex kept up with a first innings 438 and limited the opposition to just 99 second time around.

That was thanks in the main to some outstanding bowling from Jamie Porter, who looked close to unplayable at times.

He took 4-18, removing Kasey Aldridge and Craig Overton in successive overs.

Quite a turnaround for the hosts, who were among the relegation candidates going into this end of season match.

Kent ensure this contest goes to the final day thanks to half-centuries from Ben Compton and Joey Evison.

Luis Reece has 4-33 and if he gets one more dismissal tomorrow he will achieve 50 wickets in the season.

50 for Ben Comptonpublished at 17:38 BST 26 September

17:38 BST 26 September

Kent 271 & 134-5 v Derbyshire 698-6 dec

A characteristically measured knock from Ben Compton sees him reach 50 for the third time this season.

He is on 1,375 runs for the season and the only man ahead of him is Saif Zaib who is currently on 20 not out for Northants.

Compton is currently 12 runs behind Zaib.

George Bell and Matty Hurst guide Lancashire to victory in the last knockings of day three to ensure the visitors sign off the season with a smile.

Glamorgan are defeated but already knew before this game that they had been promoted to Division One.

So, everybody's happy.

Leicestershire will have to wait until tomorrow to try and wrap up this Northants second innings.

If they do so, the Division Two champions will end a superb season on seven wins in 14 matches - a stat already achieved by Division One champs, Notts.

Luis Reece is back among the wickets for Derbyshire - his fourth of the innings - and he only needs one more to reach 50 for the season now.

He dismissed Joey Evison for 53 and Olly Curtiss has just followed Evison into the pavilion after being bowled by Anuj Dal.

Ben Compton, who seems to have been in the 40s for an age, is now two away from a half-century.

95 in 19 overs would have been quite fun but the light is not good enough currently.

We may well have to revisit this one tomorrow, barring a considerable improvement.

David: Yes I’m further away than Kate - on Syros in Greece doing the same thing - watching Ryder Cup and following County Championship updates. Tomorrow I have to fit in Hull City and on Sunday Ellas Syrou.

David, I can safely say lots of people will be envious of your current location considering how leaden the skies are here! Excellent stuff, enjoy your holiday and the games! Anyone else? Who can beat the beautiful Greek isles?

Bad light has repeatedly interrupted day three in Leeds and they have finally given up the prospect of getting back on.

In between the breaks in play it is the hosts who have dominated, climbing their way to safety with a steady accumulation of runs with George Hill's 88 the standout.

Ironically, given Hants collapse at Southampton, Durham have not minded Yorks' occupation of the crease.

For all that they did not manage to gain an extra bowling point in 110 overs, the fact that Yorks were eating time out of the game probably suited.

Durham might even be tempted to let Yorks bat on and on in the morning to ensure a draw which, assuming Hants don't pull off an incredible last wicket chase could be enough to preserve their top flight status.

The players never got back on after the stoppage for bad light just one over post tea and that is where we leave things for today.

Glos start day four 309 runs behind and it'll be up to Middlesex to bowl them out to get the win.

Lewis Gregory again takes his right hand off the bat as he defends off Simon Harmer. This is a very tough situation for him and his team.

Bowled him! Beaten on the defensive push and hitting the top of off.

If play is going to resume tonight we will have 19 overs.

The Essex target is 95.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

Lewis Goldsworthy cleaned bowled by Simon Harmer and that is the ninth Somerset wicket.

They are going down in a heap and a pretty undistinguished heap as well.

This game is moving rapidly and it is a challenge to keep up both on and off the field.

It is gloomy and it appears we are playing on with spin only at this stage.

Lewis Gregory is back and across to Matt Critchley to flay the spinner off side for one.

Single to Jake Ball flashing through the off side and now the Somerset number 11 will face Simon Harmer.

A rare piece of respite for Northants as the umpires have ruled conditions unfit for play.

That might be it for tonight but we will keep you updated.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

Jack Leach decided there might be a single there but there but there never was. I don't know what on earth he was thinking of.

He went wondering down the pitch, he was sent back by Lewis Goldsworthy, couldn't get back in time and the easiest of run outs.

That is it for the night at the Utilita Bowl as bad light brings a premature end to a gripping day's cricket.

The story of day three is that Hants have been spun to the brink of relegation by Rahul Chahar who has taken 7-45 and put Surrey on the cusp of a win.

Hants faced a chase of 181 and looked in good shape after Fletcha Middleton and Ali Orr got them off to a decent start at 61-0.

But the introduction of spin twins Dan Lawrence and Chahar turned the match on its head and sent Hants into a tailspin losing nine wickets for 87 runs.

James Fuller, who is 29 not out, is their last hope and will resume with No 11 Brad Wheal, yet to score, in the morning with 33 still needed.

It looks a long way away given how much the pitch is offering Chahar.

If Hants lose and Durham and Yorkshire battle to a draw the south coast club will be relegated into the second tier for the first time since 2011.

Hope remains for a Yorkshire win, a washout or a stunning run chase but the omens look bleak.