Image source, Rex Features

The evening session at Trent Bridge yesterday was the very definition of 'add two wickets to the total'.

At 140-1, Notts were going very nicely with Haseeb Hameed and Freddie McCann both past 50.

Surrey, for once, looked a bit short of ideas. But Will Jacks suddenly found some big turn to remove Hameed and night-watchman Brett Hutton in the few minutes before the close.

Suddenly it feels like the champions are into the hosts' batting. Only seven wickets remain and they trail by 381.

The first ambition will be to reach 376 and avoid the possibility of following on.

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Durham looked doomed after slumping to 170-6 yesterday afternoon, but Brydon Carse and Ben Raine’s spirited counter-attack has given the visitors fresh hope of salvaging something from the game at Taunton.

Carse, making his comeback after a three-month suspension for breaching betting rules, led the Durham fightback as he and Raine both struck unbeaten half-centuries to reduce their side’s deficit to 220 with four wickets intact.

Somerset, who are desperate to close the gap on Surrey before the County Championship leaders visit Taunton in the next round of games, will be looking to their spin attack to find a way through this morning.

England cast-off Jack Leach claimed three wickets on day two, while 18-year-old debutant Archie Vaughan provided an impressive support act and collected his maiden Championship wicket by dismissing opener Ben McKinney.

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Jake Libby and Joe Leach faced five tricky overs in the lengthening shadows last night to leave day three intriguingly poised at Chelmsford.

Michael Pepper finished unbeaten on 112 in what could yet be a match-defining innings as he combined with Shane Snater (53) to haul Essex to a total of 404 after tea.

Tom Westley had earlier scored 68 while Ethan Brookes and Amar Virdi both took three wickets apiece for the Pears.

The first innings lead is still at 136 this morning, far larger than either side might have expected at this stage.

Reducing it little by little is the order of the day for the Pears, while Essex will be on the hunt for early wickets.

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Yesterday was Dawson Day at Old Trafford.

Liam Dawson's 104 not out while batting with rabbit Mohammad Abbas was inspired.

His bowling in the afternoon to take 4-46 off 28 overs leaves Lancashire up a creek.

The Red Rose are 196 runs behind and face a possible follow-on. Someone in their ranks needs to follow Dawson's example and impact this game otherwise they will sink to a damaging defeat.

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Will Rhodes made an imperious 201 from 295 balls and Ed Barnard added 65 as Warwickshire eventually posted 420 on day two, though Matt Parkinson and former Bear George Garrett picked up three scalps apiece to limit the damage somewhat.

Makeshift opener Harry Finch put on 116 with Daniel Bell-Drummond but after the skipper was adjudged lbw for 78, Finch was given out caught by Sam Hain at fly slip, both wickets going to Ollie Hannon-Dalby, some might say a little fortuitously.

The rock-bottom visitors find themselves in a perilous position going into the third day, still trailing by 107 with seven wickets remaining and a question mark over whether Tawanda Muyeye will be able to bat again after limping off with an apparent knee injury.

Jack Leaning and Joey Evison are the not-out pair, on 17 and 11 respectively, and their task is simple. Bat for as long as they can.

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No prizes for guessing the Middlesex plan for day three – it can only be to bat, bat and bat some more.

With Yorkshire racking up 601-6 declared on a flat Headingley track that has nevertheless offered some turn for the spinners, any prospect of victory is certainly out of the visitors’ reach.

Middlesex must now occupy the crease for as long as possible – while also trying to collect some batting bonus points that, as long as they keep wickets intact and return south with a draw, would maintain a razor-thin lead over their opponents in the promotion battle.

Sam Robson and Max Holden, who are unbeaten on 65 and 39 respectively, resume that task this morning with their side on 141-1.

They need the small matter of 311 more runs to save the follow-on, something Yorkshire will surely enforce given the opportunity. Expect spin duo Dom Bess and Dan Moriarty to be clocking up overs throughout the day.

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Division One

• Somerset 492 v Durham 272-6
• Warks 420 v Kent 156 & 157-3
• Essex 404 v Worcs 266 & 2-0
• Lancashire 193-8 v Hampshire 389
• Notts 144-3 v Surrey 525

Division Two

• Glamorgan 431-7 v Leicestershire 251
• Yorkshire 601-6 dec v Middlesex 141-1
• Sussex 607-8 dec v Derbyshire 178-6

Good morning cricket lovers!

Any joy with Oasis tickets this morning? No, us neither!

If you're in a queue or a queue for a queue, why not keep track of the County Championship as you try to inch a bit closer to a golden ticket?

The sun is out and we're set fair for a prompt start in our eight matches.