Kevan James
Sport Presenter, BBC Radio Solent

It's easy to criticise the situation here at Uxbridge. Why play at an outground in September? etc etc, but you have to feel for the groundstaff.

I spoke to the groundsman last night and he told me yesterday was the 14th consecutive day of rain in some shape or form.

Counties have invested heavily in drainage systems over the years and we take it for granted that groundstaff get the covers on and off very quickly.

It's only when you come to grounds like Uxbridge where the water sits around a little longer, and where the covers take an extra minute or two to put over the playing surface just as heavy rain showers appear in a flash, that you appreciate the huge strides made in the last few years at main grounds to maximise the amount of play over four days.

Two more boundaries for Lancashire, one to Hameed and one to Davies. This partnership is now starting to look a little worrying for Somerset and in turn Essex although the visitors still trail by 131 runs.

As a result Somerset turn back to seam in the form of Peter Trego after a period of spin from Leach and Bess.

Where was this resilience from Lancashire yesterday?

A let off for Warwickshire's Matt Lamb as James Foster misses a stumping opportunity. You don't often see that from Foster. He's usually excellent with the gloves.

Lamb had come down the pitch to Harmer but missed and the ball went through the wicketkeeper. Foster then spilled the ball at the first attempt and by the time he took the bails off Lamb had made his ground.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say it won't make much of a difference to the match but a missed opportunity for Essex.

Two boundaries for Haseeb Hameed and Lancashire pass 50 without the loss of a wicket.

That boosts Hameed's strike-rate a little up to 24.71 which is slow but fine in my opinion given the match situation.

Hameed will still hope a good knock here can see him on the plane to Australia with England for the Ashes. He's 22 not out.

This is the wicket that has Warwickshire five down at Edgbaston.

It is Simon Harmer's fifth wicket of the match and means Essex are halfway through their hosts' batting line-up.

This is a really good catch from Ravi Bopara. He makes it much easier than it is.

Image source, Rex Features

There are plenty of smiles on the faces of the Essex fielders as they continue to do their job to close in on this title.

They might not be aware of the goings on at Lancashire as Hameed (13 not out) and Davies (27 not out) close on a half-century opening stand.

There has been just one boundary this morning but the Lancashire men are starting to rotate the strike well.

Essex will want Somerset to start taking wickets so they can start their celebrations today.

Derbyshire have lost Wayne Madsen for 31 at Hove, lbw to Sussex's Ollie Robinson, and are 85-2 as Alex Hughes joins Ben Slater, a lead of 152,

There has been no further success for Northamptonshire against Glamorgan, who are only 13 runs short of clearing the deficit on 90-3, with Kiran Carlson and Colin Ingram together.

Kent have lost Daniel Bell-Drummond for 58, but Joe Denly and Sam Northeast are going along nicely at Bristol, taking the score to 135-3 after 38 overs.

Sam Howlett: Porter's + Harmer's excellent bowling and each of the Essex batsmen scoring runs scoring runs in different games = Champions

Steve Peacock: Essex success. Very good coach to amazing bowlers right choice of overseas bowlers good consistent batsmen plus Cook

Rob Short: For me - Chris Silverwood. Largely same squad & his coaching has taken them to a new level. No surprise England are interested.

That is the worry for Essex with the England bowling coach position available...

Image source, Getty Images

That's a beauty.

Early in his second over of the day Jack Leach finds turn and bounce but the ball just misses the outside edge of Alex Davies' bat.

Davies has plenty of company with the spinner on. There are two slips in position as Somerset search for wickets. They could be out of the relegation places if they pull off this surprise win.

This will please Essex.

Jack Leach is into the attack at Taunton for Somerset against Lancashire. The spinner took 5-47 as the visitors were skittled for 133 in the first innings.

Opener Haseeb Hameed is as watchful as ever early though. Just the one run for him so far this morning in the first half hour.

Scott Lazarus: It has been a great team performance all season by the Essex cricket team so the credit has to go to the captain,Ten Doeschate

Daren Mootoo: The turn around in Essex's fortunes started with the appointment of Ronnie Irani who put Silvers in charge. The rest is history

Alistair Mathieson: That first game of the season when they chased down 300+ showed us they were a force to be reckoned with

Here is the fourth wicket for Essex.

Ian Bell shakes his head but he's out for a low score again this season.

It also means Essex need just six more for victory.

Lamb dropped by Westleypublished at 11:25 British Summer Time 14 September 2017

11:25 BST 14 September 2017

Warwickshire 201 & 32-4 (13.1 overs) v Essex 369-9 dec

Close to a fifth wicket for Essex.

A tough chance low to his right for Tom Westley but he'll be disappointed.

The batsman Matt Lamb goes for a risky late cut with four slips in and picks Westley at third slip but it's spilled and the ball hits the turf.

Image source, Getty

A victory may be out of reach in this game, but with the prospect of Somerset beating Lancashire at Taunton, Yorkshire need to eke as many points out of it as possible. The first batting bonus point has been achieved, with Gary Ballance now in partnership with Alex Lees, who is 37 not out.

Ballance began this match with 827 first-class runs behind him this summer at an average of 91.89. Surrey would love to get rid of him before he settles.

I'm pretty sure "let's get Bell and Trott early" would have been words said in the Essex dressing room this morning.

Jamie Porter and Sam Cook are moving the ball a fair distance off this third day pitch under cloudy skies.

Chris Woakes is the new batsman at number six and is beaten by a beauty from Porter. He smiles and shrugs at the bowler. He knows there wasn't much he could do and then drives the next ball for four.

Image source, Getty Images

James Gooday: The runs of Cook, the consistency of Browne/Lawrence and the wickets of Porter have helped but Harmer has won 3 games himself

Peter Macqueen: A true team - every player has pitched in with a match defining effort at some point. A group of friends, not just journeymen.

Dave C: Chris Silverwood, a good academy and self belief. Saving the first match against Lancashire set us on our way.