A lively start from Glamorgan in this outside chase of 262 in 39 overs.

Eddie Byrom has struck three fours to go quickly to 16.

But he's flicked Rob Keogh's off spin down the leg side to fall in the final over before tea.

32.5 more overs to come and another 232 needed at seven-an-over.

A great stop by a weary Miggy Pretorius at point preserves a Tom Lammonby maiden.

Really Ben Slater could have run on the shot or again to the parry misfield, but decides not to.

Former skipper Tom Abell has a long chat with Andy Umeed before his next over..."try some leggies mate?"

Slater 159*.

A bowling change. Sam Robson will bowl some of his occasional leg spin.

A short leg and a slip come in but there's nothing either can do about this one, short and swung over the leg side for four.

A single off the fourth ball and the fifth is a half tracker slapped through cover by Alex Thomson for four.

That's the Derby 150 in the 57th over.

That looks painful.

The ball is 67.5 overs old and the bowler, James Fuller is not quick, but that tucks him up and hits him right on the end of the thumb.

Some delay here as the physio comes out.

Yes, Luke Hollman will continue.

Zak Chappell is playing the leg spinner with confidence, getting into line and pushing into the off side.

The last ball of the over is on leg stump and clipped to deep mid wicket for an easy single.

Alex Thomson tucks Henry Brookes into long leg for one.

That's a neat drive on the back foot by Zak Chappell, but the field is set deep and that's just one run to deep cover point.

10 minutes left in the session and most likely three overs if Luke Hollman continues with his leg spin.

Three fours from Sam Hain in this Kyle Abbott over takes him and Bears to round figured milestones.

And that is even with, or perhaps because of two silly mid ons being in place.

First 50 of the season for him this campaign, 54 50+ scores in his first-class career mind!

Now then. Is Zak Chappell going to have a go here?

Not yet. Maybe not at all in fact as he defends leggie Luke Hollman into the off side.

Oh, hold on! He has one hand off the bat as he swings one away to deep mid wicket but he doesn't take the run.

Maiden over.

By the way, those that listen to my commentary regularly will know that I still have not forgiven my fiancee for turning down baby sitting Tom Lammonby when they grew up next door to each other on Stoke Hill, Exeter. (He bounces back with a maiden.)

She has just walked in the room and instantly remarked at seeing Will Young on the TV, somehow remembering him from giving our Minehead mates free tickets for the Basin Reserve test two winters back.

Yes our minds are drifting as we see Andy Umeed continue his longest ever spell in a Somerset shirt and edges still going between fielders.

Alex Thomson defends Henry Brookes into the off side.

He gets into a bit of a tangle with the third ball, trying to nudge to leg and the ball balloons off the pad safely into the off side.

Thomson blocks out the rest of the over.

Image source, Rex Features

There's been very little to talk about today. The game is dead - at the moment.

Essex have put up really stubborn resistance and Durham have only managed the one wicket so far.

But credit to Dean Elgar, who has plugged away to bring up the 50th century of his first-class career. He's also put on 115 with Tom Westley, who has 39 from 157 balls.

The run rate has reached nosebleed territory at 2.2 but Essex don't need to worry about that. They still need 274 to win. Who knows, there may be an onslaught after tea, but quite frankly I would be surprised.

The more probable outcome is handshakes at 5pm. There are 43 overs to go. It's hot and humid in Chelmsford and airless too. And right now the game is lifeless.

Shot! Zak Chappell smashes Luke Hollman over long on for four.

He got right to the pitch and swung through the line with superb timing.

A couple more guided wide of the lone slip.

An eventful over. Chappell looks to be in the mood!

He punched Andy Umeed into the covers for one to get there.

317 deliveries, 19 fours and one six.

Serious effort in this heat to not get out tired or over-heated.

More than seven hours at the crease is impressive however flat and lifeless the pitch is.

Image source, Getty Images

An unexpected burst of hitting from Lewis McManus has allowed Northants the luxury of a surprise declaration, setting Glamorgan 262 to win in 39 overs.

It represented a superb fightback from the visitors who had only cleared their first-innings deficit with four wickets down.

McManus hoisted leg-spinner Mason Crane for four successive sixes to allow captain Luke Procter to pursue an outside chance of victory, while a Glamorgan chase looks less likely.

Procter himself made a chanceless 98 in a stand of 161 with McManus.

A 50th first-class century for Dean Elgar and his second for Essex.

It comes as a surprise, given how well he has played this season, that this is only the second time he has reached three figures - but there are five scores of 50 or more mixed in as well.

When the first ball of the day from Matthew Potts leapt up at him, he might have been preparing for something a lot more hostile than he has had to deal with but maybe it is just because he makes it look so easy, which is a rare talent.

The bad news for County Championship attacks is there will be at least two more years of this to deal with.

A sweet drive from Zak Chappell off Luke Hollman but mid off is set deep and that's only going to bring a single.

He's taken the strike again!

Chappell drives Henry Brookes off the back foot with a high elbow but that ball is picked up on the ground by Toby Roland-Jones at mid off.

A short ball hardly gets up at all as Chappell defends.

A single to long leg and Alex Thomson defends.

Kyle Abbott has a short mid-on and short mid-off in place along with his two slips.

Michael Burgess stands firm.

If a certain Mr Kimber had not just struck 243 off 127 from number eight I may have said Burgess the best number eight in the competition, but he may have to be limited to just Division One for that accolade now!

If you could pick a man to bat out the final day for you, Dean Elgar would be right up there.

He goes to a second hundred, and seventh score over 50, of a fine season.

175 balls and 12 fours.

It's the fiftieth century of his first-class career.

He's not giving Durham a sniff at the moment.

Another edge off Andy Umeed, another one to turf not human skin.

Stand-in for the stand-in skipper TKC cannot get hands on this one at slip as Craig Overton is off the field, Ben Green takes TKC's place in the ring.

Tom Lammonby, supposedly resting to bowl another six t'other end, has to chase to the boundary.

Middlesex want to change the ball but it passes the umpire tests.

Henry Brookes is in the attack now, bowling to Zak Chappell - who defends into mid off.

Chappell has one hand off the bat as he deflects the last ball into the leg side for two runs.

A quiet passage of play for Middlesex, who threatened to run through Derbyshire earlier today.