Alex Winter
BBC Radio Northampton sport

"Alex Wakely's declaration yesterday has set up an intriguing final day at Wantage Road. We're not sure what kind of deal has been struck, but Northamptonshire have been guaranteed some kind of run-chase. 

"How many Leicestershire will set them no-one yet knows. It will probably be a stiff chase because the wicket remains very good to bat on.

"For the moment, the game is drifting along with the Leicestershire openers ticking along some cheap runs to set up the declaration - it's not joke bowling yet though."

Image source, BBC Sport

It's been plain sailing so far for Leicestershire openers Paul Horton and Angus Robson, who have both reached 50 at Wantage Road. Horton passed 700 Championship runs for the season in the process, but Robson was the quicker to his half-century, off 85 balls.

The visitors lead by 233 - surely we're going to get a Northants run-chase at some stage to enliven the final day.

Image source, Rex Features

Haseeb Hameed follows his first-innings hundred with an 81-ball half-century in the Roses match at old Trafford, taking two runs off Ryan Sidebottom, before adding a boundary from the next delivery. 

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan reckons Hameed could make England's winter tour squads despite being only 19 years old. Tweet us at #bbccricket and let us know what you think.  

Hameed has now passed 50 in his last five Championship innings - and Lancashire are now 265 in front. 

Scoring 468 for victory would be something akin to a miracle and Notts have shown little sign of an audacious attempt to do so in the opening overs against Hampshire at Trent Bridge. 

Michael Lumb hit a boundary off Andy Carter, but apart from that it's all been ones and twos.

Smith reaches half-centurypublished at 11:19 British Summer Time 16 August 2016

11:19 BST 16 August 2016

Lancashire 494 & 99-0 v Yorkshire

Tom Smith collects three runs off Ryan Sidebottom to reach an 80-ball fifty for Lancashire - his fourth of the season - as they extend their lead to 233. Surely they must be contemplating a declaration - but how many more runs does skipper Steven Croft think they need? 

With Liam Norwell unable to bat after being concussed when hit on the helmet two days ago, Gloucestershire's final pair are only able to hold out for 17 balls at Hove.

Jack Taylor is the last to go, bowled by Steve Magoffin for 56, leaving namesake Matt on nine not out.

Sussex are the sole unbeaten team in Division Two, but that is only their second victory, with nine of their games ending in draws.

They remain in sixth place, 17 points behind leaders Essex, who look set to extend that by beating Derbyshire. Despite their third defeat of the season, Gloucestershire move temporarily above Worcestershire into fourth place.

There will be some mixed feelings around the Hampshire dressing room this morning, with uncapped all-rounder Liam Dawson included in England's squad for the one-day series against Pakistan, but batsman James Vince left out after his poor form in the Tests.

Durham's Ben Stokes and Mark Wood have been included after recovering from injuries. 

For the full list of names, click here.

The final day's play at Edgbaston looks like being a fascinating battle as Warwickshire try to chase down a huge target of 396 for victory against Surrey.

Skipper Ian Bell had some interesting things to say at the end of the third day's play. Here's what the England batsman told BBC WM:

“We have got to get out there and bat the day. In some ways it’s a good challenge for this group of players to get through,

“It’s a big day for us. Win this game, we are in the mix, Lose this game then we have got to fight for the rest of the season to make sure we are still in Division One.

“It’s not panic stations but I want the guys to be fighting for Warwickshire. I hope we have that mind set. It’s not about waiting for the next game. I want to make sure to everyone in the dressing room that this the most important day we have had this season.”

As usual, we will have ball-by-ball coverage of today's seven matches from our BBC local radio teams. Please click the live tab at the top of the page and choose the commentary you'd like to hear.

By the way, something is puzzling me this morning.....see the sign at Derbyshire's 3aaa County Ground below, how can you walk behind the sightscreen while bowling from that end? Surely you'll bump into it when you start your run-up?

Image source, Rex Features

Division One

Lancashire 494 & 70-0 v Yorkshire 360

Lancashire lead by 204

Hampshire 319 & 393-7 dec v Nottinghamshire 245 & 42-2

Nottinghamshire need another 426 for victory

Surrey 252 & 390 v Warwickshire 247 & 2-1

Warwickshire need another 394 for victory

Division Two

Essex 530-9 dec v Derbyshire 165 & 213-5 (following on)

Derbyshire need another 152 to avoid defeat

Leicestershire 519 & 49-0 v Northamptonshire 397-7 dec

Leicestershire lead by 171

Gloucestershire 367 & 149-8 v Sussex 527

Gloucestershire need another 11 to avoid innings defeat

Worcestershire 163 & 393 v Glamorgan 280 & 16-1

Glamorgan need another 261 for victory

Image source, Getty Images

Before we press on with today's action, a couple of pieces of injury news for you....

Warwickshire and Ireland paceman Boyd Rankin will not play again this summer after fracturing his left tibia ahead of the county's current game with Surrey at Edgbaston.

Meanwhile, Essex batsman Dan Lawrence is out for up to four weeks, having suffered a hamstring injury in their T20 Blast match against Notts eight days ago.

The weather is looking good for the Roses match at Old Trafford, where Lancashire opener Haseeb Hameed, 30 not out overnight, needs another 40 to reach 1,000 Championship runs for the season, which would make him the first teenager to do so since James Taylor in 2009.

For the prospects at the other six county grounds, check out the BBC Weather website or watch Philip Avery's video forecast.

County Championship leaders Middlesex threw down the challenge to their title rivals on Monday, with an innings victory over Durham at Lord's, which put them 35 points clear of the rest.

What can Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Surrey or Notts do about it today?

In Division Two, are Essex about to make their match in hand over Kent count with a victory over Derbyshire? It certainly looks that way, and Sussex are on the brink of a win over Gloucestershire.

Welcome to our coverage of the final day of the latest round of matches. Play starts at 11:00 BST.

Image source, Rex Features