Andrew Radd
BBC Radio Northampton

Image source, Rex Features

Holden going for a big swing, stump knocked back and Sanderson picks up his second wicket of the innings.

As we said in the first innings, ad nauseam, Ben Sanderson kept Northamptonshire in this match and he's doing so again.

Guy Swindells
BBC Radio London

It's the best weather we've had all day, so it doesn't look like the light will help Northamptonshire's cause much at the moment.

Max Holden is not going die wondering here.

Big shout for lbw turned down, a leading edge which flicks out into the off side.

And an attempted pull which ricochets off his glove and falls safely.

He has 14 from 12 and has clearly been given licence to have some fun.

A welcome boundary from Sam Robson, clipped off his legs again, leaves just 63 needed from 99 balls.

The umpires have been out there some time, but have called time on this game.

A tame end after James Rew's explosive fifty had stoked the dying embers of this match.

Warwickshire were on top for most of this match since recovering on day one.

Yet they could not force their first win of the campaign and will settle for 13 points which moves them up to seventh.

Somerset stay in second place after picking up 11 points but lose ground on leaders Surrey. They now trail by 35 points.

Hampshire have declared.

They don't think they can get to 450 so have pulled out to stop Essex from getting a ninth wicket - and a third bowling point.

A little bit cheeky that from James Vince.

Game over, points shared.

James Vince doesn't get hold of it as he chips to mid on.

Three wickets in four balls for Critchley and eyes on full bowling points for Essex all of a sudden.

Big shout by Ben Sanderson but Holden survives.

Probably the right call. Looked to be angling down leg.

No hat-trick for Matt Critchley...but boy that was close.

James Vince swishes his bat but misses. That was very close to clipping his inside edge.

Image source, Rex Features

Lovely lofted cover drive from Max Holden puts Luke Proctor in his place first ball. Another along the floor beats the fielder at extra cover.

An aggressive pull picks out the fielder at deep midwicket but the intent from Middlesex No 3 is not in doubt.

He's in double figures already from five balls.

Robson has just joined in the fun picking another off his legs to take 11 from Proctor's first over.

Matt Critchley is on a hat-trick!

Kyle Abbott is stone-dead in front.

Now it is time for James Vince - who has a niggling injury from fielding.

A second bowling point for Essex!

Liam Dawson's breezy 19 is ended by drilling Matt Critchley into short cover.

Three wickets for Critchley. He's plugged away.

Still no James Vince...

Guy Swindells
BBC Radio London

It was a lovely piece of bowling. It really pegged Mark Stoneman back.

He was struggling to get him off and struggling to pick him.

It's a terrific lbw shout. He's bowling round the wicket and very, very wide on the crease and to get the ball to straighten enough to get the lbw is absolutely terrific bowling.

Postpublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 25 August 2024

17:12 BST 25 August 2024

Hants 419-5 v Essex 438-8d

James Fuller picks up a shorter ball from Matt Critchley and dispatches for six.

As Kevan James says on BBC Radio Solent: "When Fuller hits a shot, it stays hit."

31 required from 36 balls for that final batting point for Hampshire - a wicket will give Essex another point.

Andrew Radd
BBC Radio Northampton

So far it's relatively untroubled progress.

Sanderson is permitting very few liberties, but he's gone for 10 and Broad has gone for 15 from the first couple of overs.

Another 85 needed in just over 20 overs but this is a strong start from the two Middlesex openers, both Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson finding the boundary early.

Another to conclude that over from Justin Broad, the Northants seamer drifting one on to Sam Robson's hips and seeing it race to the square leg boundary.

Image source, Rex Features

Two fours in the over for Mark Stoneman off Justin Broad, punched over deep midwicket and pulled.

Middlesex are off to a flier here and already have reduced the runs needed to under three figures

Liam Dawson rocks onto the back foot and takes two runs.

That means 400 runs and a third batting point for Hampshire.

Can they get to 450 in nine overs?

Leading edge off the first ball followed by a neat tuck off Mark Stoneman's legs for two.

Ben Sanderson responds by beating the bat of the Middlesex opener with a sharp rising ball outside off stump.

Sam Robson gets off the mark with two off the final delivery.

It is not going to a cakewalk but they are ahead of the rate needed.