50 for Tom Westleypublished at 16:29 British Summer Time 26 June

16:29 BST 26 June

Essex 186-2 (Target: 433) v Durham

Image source, Rex Features

Tom Westley is a lovely strokemaker but he's put all that away today to help grind out a draw for his side.

A half-century in 198 balls will no doubt rank among his slowest fifties, if not the most patient of his career.

Another half an hour more to see out before they can shake hands on a draw at Chelmsford.

Jack Leach matches the hundred he scored for the Second XI at Taunton Vale last week, but this time off his bowling.

Benjamin Thomas Slater's first-class best is 225*, so he is not going to break that and Will Young has scored enough tons to not be in any rush to get there today either.

What has this match come to?

We have just noticed that it is not James Rew behind the sticks any more. Is that TKC with the village short-sleeve on and yellow gloves?!

Guess he may as well practise for any time Rew or Tom Banton get injured.

More punishment for Middlesex and Zak Chappell drives Luke Hollman down the ground, beating the outstretched hand of the bowler for four runs.

Another over ticks by comfortably for Derbyshire and the host team might be looking to the second new ball to wrap this up.

It will be not be available for 15 overs though.

Image source, Rex Features

Kent head coach Matt Walker pulled no punches following their innings defeat by Lancashire at Canterbury earlier today.

"It's pretty simple, we were outskilled from start to finish. It's a game of skill at the end of the day, and they performed much better than us over the four days," he told BBC Radio Kent., external

"Too many soft dismissals, too many mistakes, unfortunately. With the ball, in part we were good as usual, but not consistent enough. We didn't put enough in our areas, were unable to create pressure, create mistakes from them."

Kent are away to Hampshire next week and he added: "It's a hell of a competition with very good sides meeting week in, week out. At the moment, we're not able to put the side we want out on the park, but that can't be helped. It is what it is."

Zak Chappell flicks Toby Roland-Jones leg side for one.

Alex Thomson goes back with a roll of the wrists, pulling to deep square for one and Chappell gets one more nudged to leg.

It's about 29 degrees out there and bowling looks like very hard work.

Shot! Short from Rojo and Thomson pulls in front of square for four.

50 for Will Youngpublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 26 June

16:20 BST 26 June

Nottinghamshire 360 & 407-2 v Somerset 470

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Nearly missed this one, it has been inevitable a while, but the Central Districts opener and regular Notts number three (though at four after Olly Stone's nightwatch marathon) gets there without any dramas.

53* off 82 balls, as Notts lead by 297.

Batting has looked a far less precarious pursuit with the older ball as Luke Hollman strives for the eighth wicket of the Derbyshire innings.

A short delay now as crash helmets and shin pads are brought on to the field.

Slip, short leg and silly mid off. Two short extra covers.

Zak Chappell brings up the 50 partnership for the eighth wicket with a flick to backward square leg for one.

121 balls of resistance there.

50 for Michael Burgesspublished at 16:18 British Summer Time 26 June

16:18 BST 26 June

Warwks 254 & 217-6 v Hants 298 & 453-6 declared

Match saving or just in vain, we shall likely have to wait a couple of hours or four wickets to see.

108 balls it took him, Sam Hain is 56* off 137 balls, the 200+ balls they have taken out of today is exactly what the home side needed of them to secure a draw before their trip to Taunton Saturday night for Sunday morning's final Championship match of summer.

Glamorgan are back out after tea needing seven-an-over to steal the game after Northants declared just before the break.

Billy Root, 19, and Marnus Labuschagne, 21, are together with the latter having just slog-swept Liam Patterson-White's left-arm spin for six.

205 needed in 29 overs.

A hint of movement from Toby Roland-Jones as Zak Chappell moves forward to block and gets an inside edge into the leg side.

Chappell defends down the ground.

He'll get a single in front of square on the leg side as frustration builds for Middlesex.

Image source, Rex Features

This has been quite a turnaround for Derbyshire since 75-6 and Zak Chappell drives Luke Hollman confidently for two.

He tries to drive through long off but is stopped by Toby Roland-Jones.

He'll get one to the off side to the fourth ball though and Alex Thomson gets back and across to block out the over.

A slip and a short leg in for Luke Hollman, who gets a bit of turn as Zak Chappell gets forward to defend.

Middlesex captain Toby Roland-Jones will bowl from the Pavilion End and Zak Chappell flicks the ball leg side for two.

Single to leg off the second ball.

Two silly mid on fielders plus an extra cover in place.

Alex Thomson defends.

Me ole mate Anthony Gibson will soon be stuck in Glastonbury M5 traffic alongside the Somerset team bus.

Sadly most other fans inside the ground went home long ago.

Jack Leach commences his 41st over, still wicketless, nine shy of his bowling century.

37 overs for Hampshire to take four wickets, even if Louis Kimber dwarfed into a Warwickshire player they are not going to chase this...

Just the one wicket in the last session, Sam Hain 53* and Michael Burgess 45* have dug in well.

Keith Barker takes the first over of the last session, two off it.

There was a hint of Middlesex worry just before the break as the occasional spin of Sam Robson and Nathan Fernandes was brought into the attack to try and force an error.

The ploy nearly came off when Alex Thomson drove Fernandes and edged to Leus du Plooy slip.

Fortunately from a Derbyshire perspective, the sharp chance between keeper and first slip was missed.

Zak Chappell is on 27 and he'll face leg spinner Luke Hollman for the first over since the tea break.

Alex Thomson is at the non-striker's end unbeaten on 29.

The partnership for this wicket is worth 39.

Glenn Speller
BBC Essex sport

Image source, Rex Features

By modern standards this has been tedious, but never should the skills of concentration and stubbornness be eschewed from the game.

Dean Elgar and Tom Westley have all but got their side to a draw which will keep them in touch with the leaders Surrey ahead of their showdown on Sunday.

Elgar’s century has been typical of the South African and the fact Westley took 19 balls to get off the mark and 76 to hit a boundary tells you his mindset.

Durham have tried everything but the pitch has not helped.

Will Young takes afternoon tea (or is it a Kiwi eaten whole by New Zealanders?) on 48*.

Ben Slater is 159* off a mammoth 337 balls.

I would be very surprised if there is more than 47 minutes of play in this match after they resume at 16.03.

Just the one wicket in the session, Hampshire still need four more wickets for victory.

Sam Hain 53* and Michael Burgess 45* have dug in well.

It's turned into a serious snooze-fest at Chelmsford where Essex have avoided any drama at all so far on this final afternoon.

After the loss of nightwatchman Jamie Porter in the opening 20 minutes, Dean Elgar and Tom Westley have batted through the rest of the day.

Elgar takes tea 104 not out with Westley on 42 from a mighty 177 balls. Expert resistance but a tough watch.

Durham do have a new ball available in nine overs but they need to knock a few over very quickly to extend the game into the final hour.

Now Nathan Fernandes is coming on. He bowls a bit of slow left arm.

Occasionally.

Zak Chappell is forward and flicks one off his toes for one.

No! A quicker ball outside off draws Alex Thomson into a drive, edged to first slip and missed.

Leus du Plooy got a hand to it. That was a chance.

That's tea. Derbyshire have three wickets left and Middlesex have a minimum of 38 overs.