Image source, Rex Features

Once again, Surrey have shown why they have won the title for the past two seasons, piling up 444-9 before declaring against Lancashire, with captain Rory Burns making a superb 227.

There was some great batting too at the Utilita Bowl where Dean Elgar and Jordan Cox both made centuries for Essex as their game against Hampshire got under way a day late.

Neil Wagner marked his Durham debut with four wickets as they remain well on top against Notts, while in Division Two, Ben Charlesworth made an unbeaten 105 for Gloucestershire.

Join us tomorrow from 10:30 for full coverage of the third day's play.

Division One

Durham 531-7 dec v Nottinghamshire 220-8

Notts trail by 311 with two wickets standing

Hampshire v Essex 404-8

Surrey 444-9 dec v Lancashire 204 & 4-0

Lancashire trail by 236 with 10 wickets standing

Warwickshire 337 & 27-1 v Somerset 239

Warwickshire lead by 125 with nine wickets standing

Worcestershire 447 v Kent 171 & 104-2

Kent trail by 172 with eight wickets standing

Division Two

Derbyshire 429 v Glamorgan 168 & 39-0

Glamorgan trail by 222 with 10 wickets standing

Gloucestershire 227-3 v Leicestershire 402

Gloucs trail by 175 with seven wickets standing

Middlesex 250-7 v Northamptonshire 207

Middlesex lead by 43 with three wickets standing

Yorkshire 326 v Sussex 189 & 26-0

Sussex trail by 111 with 10 wickets standing

Image source, Getty Images

If you wondered what the fuss about Jordan Cox was all about, this was the day to watch.

Dean Elgar and Tom Westley (64) set the platform - after Essex had been put in - with a 144-run stand.

Elgar (136) converted to three figures for the third time this season but that was eclipsed by Cox's quick-scoring innings full of fun and most importantly, very watchable!

He eventually got 141 - moving past 900 Championship runs for the season in the process. Essex will be very happy he was released by England to play in this round.

Hampshire got a few wickets with the second new ball, but the day belonged to the visitors.

Spinner Dan Moriarty has a slip, leg slip and short leg as he starts his latest over. That's a very good leave by Daniel Hughes as it just misses off stump.

Unusually, left-armer Moriarty tries his luck from round the wicket but Hughes is solidly behind both. It's a maiden - and the umpires decide the light isn't good enough to continue.

Sussex will go into day three 111 behind despite Jack Carson's five wickets during the Yorkshire first innings.

Simon Harmer couldn't have been more plumb if he tried.

The Essex man is on the back foot in front of all three stumps as Liam Dawson finds a way past the bat.

Still a chance Essex get bowled out tonight, with three overs to go.

And that's the close after a competitive day at Marchant Taylor's School.

Middlesex wrapped up the Northants lower order without much further damage, taking the last three wickets for just 11 runs.

But their response has been tough going, with the scoring under three-an-over.

Sam Robson set things up with 58 and Leus du Plooy has led them to the close unbeaten on 66.

But Ben Sanderson's five-wicket haul has kept Northants in the game.

Middlesex ahead by 43 but this is still up for grabs tomorrow.

Ben Coad beats the outside edge of Tom Haines' bat as the Sussex opener pushes forward - but he then drops short and is cut away for four. Haines has 14 and there are eight more overs scheduled.

Toby Roland-Jones has come out to give Middlesex the ascendancy again going into tomorrow.

He's driven and flicked Ben Sanderson for fours before pulling Justin Broad wide of mid-on.

250 up and another point on the board.

Four overs to go - but the players are off for bad light.

Image source, Rex Features

It is indeed the end of the day at The Oval.

It's been a superb day for Surrey and a very special one for Rory Burns.

His 227 was the second double hundred of his career and his highest ever score.

He batted for seven-and-a-half hours, faced 348 balls and struck 29 fours and a six.

Burns helped Surrey build up a huge lead of 240 and they now have two days to go on and win the game and take another stride to yet another Championship title.

Make no mistake, this has been Essex's day with the bat - especially after they were stuck in.

But take out Tom Westly, Dean Elgar and Jordan Cox's tallies and the rest of their batters only have 37 runs between them.

It is definitely a 'get in and go big' pitch at Utilita Bowl.

As we thought when they went off for bad light, there will be no more play in Bristol this evening.

Ben Charlesworth will resume on 105 not out in the morning, having hit three sixes and 14 fours in an excellent innings so far.

Tom Scriven - who made 60 earlier in the day - and Josh Hull took the two wickets to fall and Leicestershire are 175 in front.

Sussex need a solid start to their second innings and Daniel Hughes strokes Jordan Thompson elegantly through the covers for four in the latest over at Scarborough.

There are another 11 to be bowled.

It actually does stop play now!

Every over break the light meter seemed to be coming out, they were permitted one more over but that is now it for day two.

Craig Overton is 1-19 off five overs.

Alex Davies sleeps on 18* off 25 balls and Will Rhodes 5* off 25 balls.

Warwickshire's day as now it does seem rather gloomy in the midlands, Somerset will hope the grey cloud continues into tomorrow to give their swing bowlers some serious assistance to knock over nine more Bears.

Not an end befitting of a quite incredible innings.

Jordan Cox prods into the offside and wants two, but Fletcha Middleton swoops and hits directly.

Runs: 141. Balls: 124. Fours: 18. Sixes 2. You can see what England like in him!

Two balls later and Ben Sanderson has another wicket!

Ethan Bamber pushes at one just outside off that leaves him a fraction and gets a thin edge to Lewis McManus.

Sanderson keeping Northants in the game.

That's the 21st five-wicket haul of his career and third of the season.

Will that be the close in SE11?

Will that be it for the day? The umpires decide the light isn't good enough for play to continue with another seven still to be bowled.

Ben Charlesworth is 105 not, after completing his century with two sixes, and Janmes Bracey has 34.

The home side are 175 behind after Leicestershire totalled 402.

Not the first time the players have been slightly confused by umpiring actions today.

But then the umpires decide the reading is ok, bluff by looking to be knocking the bails off, then 'just joking' turn them around like Stuart Broad trying to get Mr Labuschagne out and they crack on.

Seamers allowed to continue too, Craig Overton is 1-19 off five overs.

Alex Davies 18* off 25 balls and Will Rhodes 5* off 25 balls.

Every over break now the light meter is coming out!

Jack Leaning is solidly behind Ethan Brookes's final over of the day at New Road as Kent reach stumps on 104-2.

Tuwanda Muyeye has 80 not out from 84 balls to follow his 56 in the first innings, having deposited Joe Leach down the ground for four in the penultimate over.

Brett D'Oliveira made a superb 97 off 90 balls earlier in the day as Worcestershire batted themselves into a dominant position.

Kent will begin day three 172 behind and needing a special innings from someone to ensure the home side have to bat again.