Graeme van Buuren certainly has the bit between his teeth after tea and he off drives Josh Hull for four to take the total to 250.

Hull's next ball is an above waist height full toss - a no-ball - which van Buuren steers for four, but following on from his earlier beamer, that is the England left-armer out of the attack for the rest of the innings.

No early fireworks in the lengthening afternoon shadows in SE11.

Rob Yates picks up the first boundary of the reply with a lovely swish through the covers off Gus Atkinson to move to seven, with Alex Davies on two at the other end after four overs.

Ben Brown sweeps James Coles past leg slip for four to take his team to 200 in 65.3 overs.

A bit risky given the field setting but quite honestly there aren't many risk free option on this pitch.

Brown is 66 not out.

50 for Chris Cookepublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 8 September

16:05 BST 8 September

Northants v Glamorgan 270-5

His fifth 50 of a season where Glamorgan may join Leicestershire as the promotion candidates by the end of September.

He goes back and across to Calvin Harrison, whipping the leg spinner through mid wicket for his seventh four to reach the landmark in 101 balls.

He also hit a six off the same bowler over square leg to bring up the 100 partnership for the sixth wicket with Asa Tribe in 183 balls.

Glamorgan very much in control in this session.

up for Durhampublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 8 September

16:03 BST 8 September

Essex v Durham 250-4

in the 70th over, brought up with two from Ben McKinney off Simon Harmer.

40 overs for Durham to try to find another two, at least, with Essex needing five more wickets for maximum three bowling points.

And yes, they could all be crucial in the final reckoning.

These sides were separated by just 12 points this morning, either side of the dotted-line, as things stand.

Postpublished at 67 overs

67 overs

Leics v Glos 244-4

Josh Hull to try his luck again for Leicestershire and Graeme van Buuren top edges an off checked pull shot, but still gets enough on it for the ball to clear the rope at fine leg.

The all-rounder pulls a short one for four to end Hull's first over after tea.

The ball balloons off Keith Barker's pad and flies to forward short leg.

No bat involved.

Ben Brown will now face off spinner Jack carson.

East is best today - which must be a bit frustrating for poets.

Beautiful hazy sunshine here in the south east as Hampshire resume their first innings.

Rain continues to disrupt play in Taunton and Worcester.

One ball left in the James Coles over having taken the wicket of James Fuller just before tea.

Keith Barker, once again a Hampshire player, will face.

His captain Ben Brown is 55 not out at the other end.

Dan Worrall takes the fresh cherry, with Rob Yates picking up a single from the first over, with Alex Davies negotiating five dot balls, one of which did beat his bat.

Lancashire's session.

Ben Dawkins (60) and Ben Compton (77) fell to Mitch Stanley, who has 3-71 and from 150-1, Kent have slipped to 238-5 at tea, with Joey Evison unbeaten on eight and stand-in skipper Harry Finch on five.

Expensive over from Justin Broad, conceding nine.

Asa Tribe steers a four wide of the slips and slaps a short ball outside off stump through point.

The 250 is breached in 68.3 overs and Northants are fading a little here.

Tribe is now 136 not out with 20 fours and a six.

Just 42 overs bowled so far because of rain at the County Ground.

There will be an inspection at 16:30 if the wet stuff stays away until then.

James Rew is 54 not out for Somerset and Tom Abell has three.

Mike Taylor
BBC WM commentator

Warwickshire’s approach in the field, and their team selection, seemed to indicate an all-in policy – they might as well lose the game as draw, but a win – given that they still have second-placed Nottinghamshire to play, might give them a late run at the title. With Surrey also setting out in their usual positive mindset with the bat, their first innings was all highlights, packed into two sessions.

All five seam bowlers were rewarded with at least one wicket, and all might feel that they were worth more, after a succession of deliveries that found the edge but flew safe. Warwickshire will be particularly encouraged by Nathan Gilchrist’s showing on his debut for the county. A three-year contract will begin in November, but he made the move early on loan to play in the final three games. He announced himself by dismissing Dan Lawrence, Jordan Clark and Tom Lawes in 17 balls in the middle of the session.

Ryan Patel, batting serenely at the other end, took no notice. He found a useful ally in Matt Fisher to add 58 for the ninth wicket, his timing the feature of an innings that included 11 fours, three of them in one Ollie Hannon-Dalby over, and a pulled six off Michael Booth.

Patel had raced to 72 without ever seeming in a hurry, but Booth prevented him going any further by knocking over Fisher and Dan Worrall in successive balls.

Roles will reverse for the final session – will both teams continue to attack?

Middlesex strike with the final ball before tea at Lord's as spinner Zafar Gohar has Anuj Dal caught behind for 36.

Derbyshire added 120 during the afternoon, but lost six wickets in the process, including Caleb Jewell and Harry Came for 56 and 64 respectively.

Things haven't gone to plan for Middlesex loan signing Olly Stone, whose 14 wicketless overs have cost 68, but Toby Roland-Jones claimed four in an excellent spell to put his team on top.

Adrian Harms
BBC Sussex

A captain's innings from Ben Brown has steered Hampshire towards a respectable total on a tricky surface.

A popular figure at Hove throughout his career, Brown has used all his previous experience of batting at this ground to good effect on a pitch where timing the ball has been difficult.

Dropped on 18 by his opposite number John Simpson, Brown has made the most of his escape and despite losing a wicket to the last ball before tea Hampshire added an invaluable 112 in the session.

Image source, Adrian Harms/BBC Sussex

Dick Davies
BBC Essex

It probably wasn't the break for tea that brought a rejuvenation about in the Essex ranks, it was just a coincidence.

Whatever it was, Essex will be pleased and the visitors less so.

Just a quick reminder that there is no play at present at either New Road or Taunton because of rain.

Worcestershire are 158-8 in the 47th over against second-placed Notts, while Somerset are 155-3 after 42 against Yorkshire, with James Rew 54 not out.

James Fuller defends on the back foot and then tries to work left arm spinner James Coles away to the leg side. No run.

He gets width outside off stump and slaps the ball through cover on the back foot for four.

Out! Squared up and pinned LBW on the back pad.

That ball straightened quite a lot.

Huge boost for Sussex and that's tea with one delivery remaining in the over.

Hampshire add 112 in the session but lose four wickets.

Ben Brown battles to 55 not out - having been dropped on 18.

Mike Taylor
BBC WM commentator

Warwickshire's seamers have knocked over Surrey in two sessions for 246 and although they scored pretty freely at times in that innings with some really lively half-centuries for Ollie Pope, Rory Burns and latterly Ryan Patel, who was left 72 not out, I think collectively for a Warwickshire team that must have been mentally on the floor 36 hours ago, that's a really creditable effort.

Surrey will come back just as hard because there's a title to be won.