Championship debutant Freddie van den Bergh starts with a maiden for Surrey after claiming 3-84 in Yorkshire's first innings. He could have a big say in this game on the final day.

Shaun Marsh has 24 and Alex Lees is 16 not out aftre a boundary off paceman Stuart Meaker, with the visitors 145 behind with three of play remaining.

Former Essex and England spinner John Childs has been speaking to BBC Essex after they all-but secured the title.

Childs was head of the Essex academy for 10 years and brought through a number of the current players.

“Although I was only one piece of the jigsaw it is brilliant to watch these young lads come through and taste success. Hopefully it will lead to more in the future.

“I didn’t want it to take so long (to win first title since 1992). It is one of those things, you find sides have success for a period.

"I am sure our boys will be looking very closely at Taunton to see when they can celebrate."

Image source, Rex Features

More gasps at Taunton.

Stephen Parry first goes back to a straight ball from Leach that keeps a little low and then flirts with one outside off stump but misses.

Short leg has his hands on his head. Slip his hands over his face.

It's tense. Somerset know they really need the points from this game and whisper it quietly, the weather forecast for tomorrow isn't great.

If or when Essex do win the title a lot of the credit must go to Division One's leading wicket-taker Jamie Porter.

He took another three wickets earlier to take his total to 64 - one clear of teammate Simon Harmer - as Essex thrashed Warwickshire.

Three fielders are around the bat as Stephen Parry faces up to Jack Leach.

It seems the spinner was a tad fortunate with his third wicket of the innings but has been impressive once again.

But that's not his best effort. A full toss and Parry can flick the ball for four.

Lancashire lead by 26.

Alex Winter
BBC Radio Northampton sport

Northamptonshire have been frustrated by some excellent lower-order resistance. At 137-5 and the lead only 34, a three-day win looked likely, but Chris Cooke led the fightback with a controlled 69 and several useful stands have developed to frustrate Northants.

Marchant de Lange belted 39 - his best score for Glamorgan - and there will be work to do now for the visitors to win this game, facing a target of 218. There have been few demons in the wicket today and it's a game Northants must win to extend their bid for promotion.

Rory Kleinveldt (3-77) and Richard Gleeson (3-71) were the pick of the Northants attack.

Rain relief for Foxespublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 14 September 2017

17:22 BST 14 September 2017

Leicestershire 404 & 59-5 v Worcestershire 493

In the light of events since they began their second innings, Leicestershire are probably content to take a few minutes out of the game as they try to regroup. They are still 30 runs behind, with the prospect of an eighth defeat of the season very much on the cards.

Somerset are into the tail now and must be sensing a huge victory.

It could well see them out of the bottom two by the end of this week's matches.

Essex will sense it too. Is there time for this to be over tonight now the main man Livingstone has gone?

Lancashire lead by 15 with four wickets left.

Sit back and enjoy Essex fans.

Here are all 10 of the wickets as your side beat Warwickshire to move to the verge of a first title in 25 years.

Essex are going to be forced to wait even longer.

The Lancashire lead is now up to 13 with Liam Livingstone 57 not out and Ryan McLaren 10 not out.

It must be an odd situation for the Essex players.

After thrashing Warwickshire by an innings they have almost secured the title but it is not mathematically confirmed.

Plenty of smiles in the crowd though...

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Darren Stevens runs out of partners at Bristol, having made an unbeaten 65 off 58 balls, with a six and nine fours, as Josh Shaw claims Kent's last two wickets for figures of 5-118 - only the second time the 21-year-old seamer has taken five in a first-class innings.

Kent's first-innings lead is a single run and they now need something inspired from their bowlers to set up a victory that would keep them in the promotion hunt for a few more days.

for Livingstone and Lancashire leadpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 14 September 2017

16:51 BST 14 September 2017

Lancashire 133 & 207-5 f/o (97 overs) v Somerset 335

Lancashire are into the lead!

Finally, five wickets down in their second innings, Lancashire have passed Somerset's 335 in the first innings.

It is brought up with a four to Liam Livingstone which also takes him to another half-century.

How will Somerset respond now they know they'll have to bat again?

Adam Voges hit a couple of boundaries off Gareth Berg, but it's been steady progress by Middlesex since the belated start at Uxbridge. Voges is on 22 not out, with Max Holden on nine, while Kyle Abbott has sent down 10 overs for only 13 runs for Hampshire.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Shaun Marsh negotiate the first half-dozen overs from Rikki Clarke and Sam Curran at the Oval after Yorkshire were asked to follow-on. There are 17 remaining and it's crucial for the visitors that they avoid major damage before the close.