That will be stumps at a gloomy Chelmsford.

Worcestershire have taken the game to the final day, which was their minimum aim.

They have a lead of 165 with two wickets remaining in their second innings, thanks almost entirely to half-centuries from Jake Libby, Brett D'Oliveira and Adam Hose.

Essex will return in the morning seeking to pick up the final two wickets and rattle off the runs required to try and keep up the pace at the top of Division One.

It feels as if Yorkshire are rather going through the motions now - there doesn't seem to be a great deal of urgency in the field, although Middlesex still need another 15 to save the follow-on.

We'll have a couple more overs in the day.

Four balls in and the umpires come together. The batters are practically sprinting to the steps of the pavilion. It's all a bit farcical.

The stumps remain in place for now but that might be that for the evening, with 21.2 overs left on the board.

Timm van der Gugten is thrown the ball for the next over - clearly the light is better enough that Glamorgan can bowl pace without having to stick to spin.

Peter Handscomb is on 33 with Ajinkya Rahane on 47 - their partnership is 70 and if you missed it earlier, both have been dropped by Mason Crane this afternoon.

As expected, there will be no further play today at Trent Bridge.

Freddie McCann's 154 was the highlight of the day helping to ensure that Notts avoided the follow on.

Surrey will resume tomorrow 133 ahead with nine wickets in hand but it will take some special cricket to from someone to stop this match from being a draw.

Yorkshire have now bowled the day's minimum allocation of 96 overs, so we're effectively into overtime and that should be enough time for the visitors to put any possibility of following on to bed.

Ryan Higgins has just punched Adam Lyth for an off-side boundary to bring the deficit down to 170.

Lyth has just limped off the field, presumably with more than his feelings injured, so Yorkshire have a substitute fielder on for these closing stages.

The rain has stopped but the light is not great and the floodlights are burning bright...

We remain off for the foreseeable. Pears fans rejoice.

With this defeat, Lancashire remain deep in trouble in Division One.

They take just three points from this game and with Notts claiming three batting points today against Surrey, they are certain to stay ninth and remain in the relegation zone.

Hampshire take 22pts and jump to second with this result, although they are likely to drop back to at least third with results tomorrow.

Technically we have only lost a couple of overs during that 30-minute interlude - 22.5 remain.

The Glamorgan over rate is not too clever and they might want to bowl some spin to get through as many overs this evening as possible too.

But first up it's Dan Douthwaite to complete his interrupted over...

It is only fitting that the last wicket falls to Liam Dawson, who has dominated the last two days of this match.

He has Tom Bailey caught off a skier to end with figures of 5-52 in this second innings.

He had 5-47 in the first innings to make it 10-99 with the ball.

That would be worthy of player of the match in its own right without his brilliant 104 not out in the company of rabbit Mohammad Abbas.

Superb stuff from a terrific county cricketer.

Image source, Getty Images

We have lots of cricket grounds without any action now unfortunately.

Not what any of us wanted but hey.

In Taunton, one of the umpires seems to be using the delay to either practice signalling a six, or possibly just showing off his muscles.

An outstanding performance from Hampshire as they wrap a comprehensive win inside three days at Old Trafford.

It is their first win in Manchester since 1992.

Lancashire suffer consecutive innings defeats in the Championship for the first time since 1907.

All credit to Dom Bess, who's just sent down his 60th over of this Middlesex innings and has taken four of the 11 wickets to fall in the match so far.

Still a glimmer of hope for Yorkshire to force the follow-on, but it'll need something special now as their lead over Middlesex is down to just 176.

150 up for Lancashirepublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 31 August

17:31 BST 31 August

Lancashire 200 & 151-9 v Hampshire

Three singles in the John Turner over for the Toms, Aspinwall and Bailey, and that is the 150 up in this second innings.

We have had 77 overs.

They might have come off for bad light, but the clouds did empty while the players were back in the pavilion at Chelmsford - though not to the extent there is any standing water on the pitch and the air cover was in place.

The lights are however still on and it looks decidedly un-Augusty in Essex.

Liam Dawson is bowling and has his eyes on a fifth in the innngs and 10th in the match.

He has four close catchers as well as the wicketkeeper.

But Tom Bailey sees out a maiden.

Tom Aspinwall is the last man in for Lancashire.

He got a duck in the first innings. What price a pair?

100 for Ryan Higginspublished at 17:21 British Summer Time 31 August

17:21 BST 31 August

Yorks 601-6 dec v Middx 419-5

Image source, Rex Features

That's a nice way to reach your century, Ryan Higgins!

Higgins hammers Dan Moriarty back over his head and clears the rope, just about, for a six that takes him to three figures from 185 balls.

It's his fifth hundred in the Championship this season. Where would Middlesex be without him?

Image source, Rex Features

Three matches are currently delayed for bad light - well we had a good two-and-a-half days without any stoppages of that sort...

They were off earlier at Hove for a short time too but since coming back, Derbyshire's duo of Brooke Guest and Harry Came have been stoically sticking to their uphill task.

Came is on 29 from 97 balls and Guest 24 from 31.