Essex champions for first time since 1992
Somerset beat Lancs by seven wickets to give Essex title
Warwickshire are relegated after Middlesex draw
Worcestershire beat Leicestershire by six wickets to go top of Division Two
Northants defeat Glamorgan by seven wickets to stay in promotion race
Hardus Viljoen returns match figures of 15-170 as Derbyshire beat Sussex
Worcestershire 493 & 51-1 (11.3 overs) v Leicestershire 404 & 220
The rain has passed at New Road.
Worcester v Leicestershire is about to resume.
Worcester need 81 runs with eight wickets remaining to go top of Division Two.
Northants 310 & 204-3 (56.2 overs) v Glamorgan 207 & 320
It seems the rush for runs in Cardiff is because rain is coming.
Richard Levi whacks another six and Northamptonshire go pass 200.
They need another 14 runs to win now. It's a race against the weather.
Somerset beat Lancashire by seven wickets
Lancashire captain Steven Croft told BBC Radio Manchester:
"Massive congratulations to Essex, It was always a tough challenge. They've won eight of their games which is an incredible amount with two games to go.
"They are thoroughly deserved winners. We had a few close games. If a team has won eight games at this moment in time, it was always going to be a tough task to try and bridge that gap.
"Hopefully we will see the positives from this season. We were written off at the start of the year and finished off in a scrap to be title contenders."
Image source, Getty Images
Middlesex 204 v Hampshire 101-7 (26 overs)
The lid is slammed down on Felix Organ at Uxbridge as James Harris takes his second wicket of an impressive spell for Middlesex. They could find themselves batting again before very long at this rate.
From Andy P on Twitter: "Should @hantscricket, external declare when 8th wicket goes down. Won't get many more runs and puts pressure on @Middlesex_CCC, external".
Gloucestershire 385 & 194-5 v Kent 386
There will be no double century followed by century feat in this match by Gloucestershire opener Cameron Bancroft as he is dismissed by Adam Miine.
Their lead, though, is now 193 and Kent desperately need to knock over the rest very quickly to have any sort of chance of winning this game. Only 58 overs remain in the day's play.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Worcestershire 493 & 51-1 (9.1 overs) v Leicestershire 404 & 220
Now Callum Parkinson has 10-for!
Worcestershire have lost two wickets in three overs as they chase 132 to beat Glamorgan and go top of Division Two.
To make matters worse, the players are off for rain as soon as that wicket comes.
Northants 310 & 191-3 (54 overs) v Glamorgan 207 & 320
Northamptonshire lost a wicket just after lunch but it seems they're going to have too much for Glamorgan this week.
Richard Levi and Alex Wakely are finding the boundary with relative ease and now they need just 27 more to win.
They started the match third and will likely finish the day in that position in Division Two but will still have hopes of promotion.
Surrey 592 v Yorkshire 394 & 200-1 (69 overs)
So Surrey will have to bat again to win this match - assuming they get a chance to do so.
Shaun Marsh hits a four off Ryan Patel to move into the 90s and partner Alex Lees is now on 87 - his highest Championship score of a disappointing season.
Sussex 271 & 147-3 v Derbyshire 338 & 322-8 dec
Two in two overs for Hardus Viljoen and he has 10 for the match!
He gets Chris Nash caught at slip and now suddenly Derbyshire look the more likely to win at Hove.
They need seven wickets. Sussex need another 243 runs.
Middlesex 204 v Hampshire 92-6 (24.1 overs)
Two wickets in successive overs for Middlesex brings them their second bowling point. England's Steven Finn has Calvin Dickinson caught behind from only the third ball he faced. Gareth Berg is the new batsman.
Worcestershire 493 & 40-1 (9.1 overs) v Leicestershire 404 & 220
Wickets tumbling everywhere.
Leicestershire make their first breakthrough against Worcestershire and it's the big one of first innings centurion Brett D'Oliveira.
He's bowled by Callum Parkinson as Worcsestershire falter a little in their bid to go top of Division Two.
They need 92 with nine wickets left.
Middlesex 204 v Hampshire 89-5 (23.1 overs)
Middlesex will settle for a full haul of bowling points in this rain-affected encounter at Uxbridge and they need four more wickets after James Harris sends back Ian Holland. Felix Organ is 14 not out as Calvin Dickinson joins him - the two Hampshire batsmen aged 18 and 20 respectively.
Sussex 271 & 137-2 v Derbyshire 338 & 322-8 dec
All three results are just about still possible at Hove as Hardus Viljoen takes his ninth wicket of the match.
The South African quick has dismissed Luke Wells for 77 meaning Derbyshire are two down.
The batting side need another 253 to win. Sussex need eight wickets. The draw still most likely?
Northants 310 & 174-3 (50.2 overs) v Glamorgan 207 & 320
Northamptonshire may have just lost a wicket but Alex Wakely isn't going to take a backwards step.
He hits Colin Ingram for six to move to 24 not out and now his side need less than 50 runs to beat Glamorgan.
The top of Division Two could really be tightening up by the close today.
Northants need 44 to win with seven wickets left.
Yes, it's innuendo - but it's clever innuendo....
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Surrey 592 v Yorkshire 394 & 178-1
Yorkshire's second-wicket record partnership against Surrey is 196 by Herbert Sutcliffe and Edgar Oldroyd at the Oval in 1922.
That is a statistic we are fairly certain Shaun Marsh and Alex Lees will not be aware of, but they have now added 158 together and Yorkshire are only 16 runs short of parity in this match.
No joy since the 11th over for Surrey - and they will have to wait another 17 to get their hands on a new ball.
Northants 310 & 156-3 (47 overs) v Glamorgan 207 & 320
Simon Kerrigan falls for his joint-highest first-class score.
It is still a mighty fine effort from the Northamptonshire nightwatchman as he has taken his side 62 runs short of victory.
He is out bowled by Glamorgan seamer Michael Hogan.
Middlesex 204 v Hampshire 46-4 (14.3 overs)
Sean Ervine's departure, caught behind straight after lunch, brings the marvellously named Felix Organ to the crease for his first Championship innings. Will it be a case of 'the organist entertains' at Uxbridge*?
*one for all you Nigel Ogden fans there.....
If you are unfamiliar with young Mr Organ - here he is (below).
Image source, Getty ImagesGloucestershire 385 & 156-4 v Kent 386 - lunch
Matt Cole
Sports Editor, BBC Radio Kent
When negotiations between the two captains over a concocted run-chase to try and force a result broke down overnight, most of us at the County Ground assumed we’d be watching this game grind inexorably to a draw on the final day.
Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens had different ideas, shaking things up with the first over of the day, dismissing Chris Dent and Phil Mustard, and he went on to take a third wicket, and his 55th of the season, by trapping James Bracey lbw for 13.
The man standing in Kent’s way once again is Cameron Bancroft, pretty much flawless in his judgement throughout this match, he’s added 59 not out to his unbeaten first innings double century and has serenely seen off everything the visitors have bowled at him.
Lancashire's defeat by Somerset at Taunton has confirmed Essex as county champions for 2017.
But there is still lots of cricket to be played today, as the focus shifts to the promotion and relegation issues.
Warwickshire will go down today if Middlesex pick up two more bonus points against Hampshire, and Yorkshire hold out for a draw against Surrey.
The Division two promotion race looks set to continue with Worcestershire and Northants seemingly on course for victories, and Sussex trying to chase down a target of 390 to beat Derbyshire.