Postpublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Scott Read
BBC North West cricket commentator
It has been a brilliant year for Essex and is thoroughly, thoroughly deserved.
Many, many, congratulations to Essex.
Summary
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
Postpublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
ESSEX WIN 2017 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
BreakingThat victory for Somerset sees Essex win the 2017 County Championship.
They are county champions for the first time since 1992.
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End of twitter postSOMERSET BEAT LANCASHIRE BY SEVEN WICKETSpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
BreakingTom Abell is the man to hit the winning runs!!!
Somerset beat Lancashire by seven wickets and...
Three to win for Somersetpublished at 12:01 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Somerset 335 & 65-3 (13 overs) v Lancashire 133 & 269
Whack! No nerves here.
A big six from Somerset's Bartlett off Parkinson. Somerset now only need three runs.
Your moment is coming Essex fans. Somerset are also going to earn a crucial win.
Postpublished at 11:59 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Anthony Gibson
BBC SomersetTom Abell is giving every impression of calmness personified.
The Somerset captain is ticking his side's total along. They need 13 to win.
WICKET Newton (b Meschede) 53published at 11:55 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Glamorgan 207 & 320 v Northamptonshire 310 & 124-2 (33.1 overs)
Rob Newton reaches a 99-ball fifty with a boundary off Craig Meschede, but the bowler takes revenge by removing his leg stump in his next over.
Newton's partnership with nightwatchman Simon Kerrigan added 90 to the Northants total and they now need 94 more for victory. Kerrigan is 44 not out after two fours in three balls off Andrew Salter.
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End of twitter postSomerset need 15 to winpublished at 11:55 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Somerset 335 & 53-3 (11 overs) v Lancashire 133 & 269
For once Lancashire's Matt Parkinson, who has been excellent with seven wickets in this match, strays in line.
George Bartlett takes advantage of the leg side delivery and hits it for his third four.
Somerset need 15 to win.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
#bbccricket
We want to know which of this year's county stars should make the plane to Australia this winter. Keep your thoughts coming.
Rubin Caaarter: Is Porter quick enough for Australian wickets? Overton seems to have that extra zip AND is hard to score off with the red ball
Ben Turner: I'm not sure Overton has done enough, but Leach should be on the plane no doubt. Most wickets of any bowler in CC since 2015.
Jordan Rawles: Craig very good this year and perfect bowler for Oz, but its Jack Leach who really deserves a call up. Outstanding past 2 years.
Somerset need 19 to winpublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Somerset 335 & 49-3 (9 overs) v Lancashire 133 & 269
Tom Abell gets off the mark first ball to take the runs required into the teens.
Somerset need 19 to win, a win which will hand Essex the title.
WICKET Adams (c Simpson b Helm) 2published at 11:49 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Middlesex 204 v Hampshire 15-1 (3 overs)
Jimmy Adams is surprised by extra bounce from Tom Helm and is caught behind off the shoulder of the bat. Joe Weatherley is 13 not out as Tom Alsop comes out to join him.
WICKET Hildreth (c Hammed b Parkinson) 0published at 11:47 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Somerset 335 & 46-3 (8.5 overs) v Lancashire 133 & 269
How are the nerves Essex fans!?
James Hildreth is out first ball and Somerset lose their third wicket, still needing another 22 runs.
Matt Parkinson is on a hat-trick. They couldn't, could they?
WICKET Trescothick (c Livingstone b Parkinson) 21published at 11:46 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Somerset 335 & 46-2 (8.4 over) v Lancashire 133 & 269
Trescothick goes again but this time holes out.
Trescothick in a hurrypublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Somerset 335 & 46-1 (8.2 overs) v Lancashire 133 & 269
Classic Marcus Trescothick and it'll be the most celebrated six in Essex today.
He launches Matt Parkinson into the stands.
22 to win for Somerset.
Somerset need 28 to winpublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Somerset 335 & 40-1 (8 overs) v Lancashire 133 & 269
Four more!
This time Somerset's George Bartlett attacks Stephen Parry and collects another boundary.
Lancashire are still sticking at it but their race is run.
for Zak Chappellpublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Leicestershire 404 & 183-7 v Worcestershire 493
Play has resumed at New Road and Zak Chappell smashes a six off Ravichandran Ashwin to reach a 63-ball half-century. Leicestershire's lead is approaching three figures and Chappell's partnership with Lewis Hill (34*) is now worth 72.
Division Two updatepublished at 11:41 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Darren Stevens has taken a third wicket for Kent at Bristol, having James Bracey lbw for 13, but Gloucestershire have moved on to 112-3, a lead of 111.
Sussex lost Angus Robson, who was caught off Hardus Viljoen in the third over at Hovem, but Luke Wells is 33 not out and they have reached 59-1, chasing a remote victory target of 390.
Somerset need 33 to winpublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Somerset 335 & 36-1 (7 overs) v Lancashire 133 & 269
Somerset are going to win this within the next half hour I reckon. The champagne can almost come out of the fridge at Chelmsford.
Two boundaries to George Bartlett in Parkinson's latest over and they need just another 33 runs to win.
It's a formality now, surely. Essex will be champions if/when Somerset win remember.
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End of twitter postNorthants looking comfortablepublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Northants 310 & 107-1 (28.3 overs) v Glamorgan 207 & 320
Northamptonshire are cruising at the moment as they chase down 218 to win against Glamorgan in Division Two.
They've reached 100 without losing any more wickets than the one they lost last night.
Rob Newton has 46 and Simon Kerrigan 34.
They need 111 to win.
for Shaun Marshpublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Surrey 592 v Yorkshire 394 & 104-1 (f/o)
Image source, Getty ImagesAustralian Shaun Marsh brings up his second half-century of the game with a boundary off Rikki Clarke at the Oval. It's taken him 129 deliveries and this time he'll want to make sure he converts it into a three-figure score. It's Marsh's final innings for the White Rose before returning home and they are still 94 behind after following on.
Four more to Trescothickpublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 15 September 2017
Somerset 335 & 25-1 (5 overs) v Lancashire 133 & 269
Lancashire may have a wicket but aren't doing themselves any favours.
Two fielders on the leg-side boundary leave the ball for each other and it results in a sweep shot from Marcus Trescothick going for four.
43 runs to win for Somerset.