This has been a close contest so far, but Middlesex retain the upper hand with an unbroken partnership of 51 between Jack Davies (55) and Josh de Caires - who is on 25.

The 50 partnership came in 85 balls and was much needed after Max Holden was caught behind off Ajeet Singh Dale for 77, leaving Middlesex wobbling a little on 207-5.

Play will resume at St John's Wood at 1604 BST.

Image source, Rex Features

The rain and bad light relented for a short while in Essex - but only long enough for the hosts to add five post-tea runs.

Darkness has again set in and the umpires have led the players off the field.

Dropped catchpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 9 September

15:54 BST 9 September

Sussex 14-0 v Glamorgan 186

Billy Root drops a shocker.

Ned Leonard rushes Dan Hughes with an unexpected bouncer.

It's a trap with Root on the pull, and he doesn't have to move to catch the ball...but somehow that has gone down.

That was a straight forward chance. How costly will that be with Hughes in such good nick?

George Bell gets an inside edge off Matt Potts and the ball squirts away fine for four to take the Red Rose county to 100 in the 37th over.

Bell defends down the ground and then sees out the over with a well judged leave outside off stump.

One suspects Leicestershire and Yorkshire will fall short of completing their Division Two match inside a day - despite their best efforts on a day when 15 wickets have already fallen.

But such instances have occurred in the past - here's a pick of the bunch:

1953: Lancashire (158) beat Somerset (55 and 79) by an innings and 24 runs

Long-serving Somerset all-rounder Bertie Buse had the misfortune to select this as his benefit match. Arguably, he didn't help matters, taking 6-41 himself in bowling out Lancs before England spinner Roy Tattersall then took 13 wickets for Lancashire.

1947: Derbyshire (231) beat Somerset (68 and 38) by an innings and 125 runs

Buse also played in Somerset's single-day defeat by Derbyshire at Chesterfield in 1947.

1953: Surrey (146) beat Warwickshire (45 and 52) by an innings and 49 runs

Only three weeks before the Buse benefit in 1953, Warwickshire were beaten in a single day by Surrey at The Oval. Alec Bedser took 8-18 in the first innings and 12 wickets in the match. Jim Laker claimed a hat-trick in the second innings.

1960: Kent (187) beat Worcestershire (25 and 61) by an innings and 101 runs

The last such match, Kent beating Worcestershire at Tunbridge Wells in 1960. It was the first-class debut of future coach and captain of Pears legend Norman Gifford. He took 4-63 – and scored 0* and 4.

Image source, Getty Images

Two sessions and 15 wickets!

It's been a very long day already at Grace Road. As such, they're 40 minutes behind schedule.

A truly mad morning saw Leicestershire 15-7 and in danger of posting their lowest-ever total before Ben Cox whacked 51 to haul them to 98.

But they only managed to last 24.2 overs having lost the toss. It was a little desperate.

In reply, it's also been very tricky for Yorkshire and at 56-4 the game was right in the balance.

James Wharton's 41 has nudged the White Rose ahead but they still have work to do to take a decent lead.

Jonny Tattersall is 38 at the break with George Hill on 7.

Saif Zaib has been one of the few beacons of hope for Northants today, but he's last out for a battling 90.

The Northants number six is down the track to David Lloyd, trying to loft a drive down the ground.

He's missed it and keeper Brooke Guest completes a stumping.

Zaib added 73 runs for the seventh wicket with Justin Broad, who made 45, but nobody else made more than 23 and the day belongs to Derbyshire so far.

That's tea. Play will resume at 1600 BST.

George Garrett is struggling a tad with the slope at Canterbury.

Five front foot no balls today from the fast bowler - they quickly tot up.

Garrett has otherwise had a good day with the ball - he bowled Fletcha Middleton and had Nick Gubbins caught behind to balls that were almost unplayable.

And he almost adds Ben Brown to that list, but an uncomfortable edge falls short of the cordon.

Matt Potts will get the session started, bowling to George Bell.

A theoretical 44 overs remain - but that might change depending on how quickly the light goes, plus over rate.

George Bell is three not out and Matty Hurst is 24 not out.

Tom Haines and Dan Hughes head out presumably powered by cake and cucumber sandwiches.

They are ready to reply to Glamorgan's 186.

up for Somersetpublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 9 September

15:38 BST 9 September

Somerset 206-4 v Surrey

First over after tea and Tom Banton hits his ninth four - whacking a low full toss from Cameron Steel over midwicket.

James Rew then steers Kemar Roach wide of the solitary slip for his third four.

200 up for Somerset and another good session here will set them up very well in this crucial game.

Middlesex are keeping the pressure on promotion rivals Yorkshire, who are currently locked into a low-scoring contest against Leicestershire at Grace Road.

It's not the best of shots to get to 250.

The landmark comes via a Jack Davies top-edged pull to third man for four off the bowling of Tom Price.

That takes Middlesex past 250 and also brings a battling half century for Jack Davies in 71 balls with seven fours and a six.

Image source, Rex Features

Chris Payne: As a Somerset fan I have no qualms with Surrey signing Shakib. I don't want it to be if we win the title that Surrey say it's only because of England taking all their players, so want them to be as strong as possible.

UKfinfan: To the people questioning Surrey signing players. Who has produced the most amount of England players in all formats this season? We’ve got to replace the talent lost and we are allowed an overseas. Also add that academy player Ben Geddes is playing.

Image source, Ged Scott - BBC Sport

It's teatime at Worcester.

No cake today. Just cookies in the pressbox.

And you've never seen a plateful disappear so fast.

Meanwhile, out in the middle, Worcestershire are recovering well.

Brett D'Oliveira is on 44, while Matthew Waite has just reached his 50.

Waite is now on 52 - and the pair have so far put on 72 for the sixth wicket.

During that stoppage for bad light, tea was taken. That feels like common sense.

So that should mean we will have a 46.1 over evening session...if we get half of those in before it gets terminally dark it'd be a surprise.

Division One

• Durham v Lancashire 96-4
• Essex 161-4 v Nottinghamshire
• Kent v Hampshire 118-3
• Somerset 197-4 v Surrey
• Worcestershire 188-5 v Warwickshire

Josh de Caires leaves Zaman Akhter a fraction outside the off stump as Middlesex inch towards a crucial batting point in their quest to pip Yorkshire for promotion to Division One.

Short and cut past Miles Hammond at gully for four.

Four more flashed through backward point.

De Caires moves on to 20.

County cricket does have a salary cap Dave - but it's only really Surrey who are troubled by it.

Other counties could spend more but they simply can't afford it.