Summary

  • Somerset will stay up if they beat Middlesex

  • Middlesex down if they lose & Hampshire win or draw

  • Hampshire out for 116 at Edgbaston

  • Hants relegated if they lose & Somerset win

  • Worcs promoted if they take 9 Durham wickets inside 110 overs

  • Northants & Notts also chasing promotion

  1. Bad light stops playpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    They're off at Chelmsford and Hove for bad light.

    And that could well be it for the day at both grounds.

    Essex are 134-2, leading Yorkshire by exactly 250.

    Notts are 108-5, still 457 adrift of Sussex's mammoth first-innings total of 565.

  2. Picture perfectpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Worcestershire 335 v Durham 88-3

    Worcester cathedralImage source, Rex Features

    Ah yes! A cricket ground/cathedral shot. I'm sold.

    It's a thing of beauty at New Road (apart from the scaffolding).

  3. wicket

    WICKET Bailey (c Ambrose b Hannon-Dalby) 55published at 17:49 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Warwickshire 188 v Hampshire 102-8

    George Bailey's defiant knock comes to an end as he edges behind off Oliver Hannon-Dalby.

    How big a lead will Warwickshire take into their second innings?

  4. Elsewhere...published at 17:48 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Nick Browne (52*) and Dan Lawrence (73*) are demonstrating why Essex are champions.

    Their third-wicket stand is currently worth 126 and Essex are 132-2 in their second innings against Yorkshire.

    They lead by 249.

    Ahead of the Ashes squad announcement on Wednesday, England opener Mark Stoneman is 32 off 32 balls for Surrey at Old Trafford.

    Surrey are 53-0 in their second innings against Lancashire, trailing by 14.

  5. wicket

    WICKET Keogh (c & b Parkinson) 2published at 17:44 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Leicestershire 128 v Northants 171-4

    Hmm, this is a shaky end to day two for Northants.

    Rob Keogh is caught and bowled by Callum Parkinson for just two.

    Any batting bonus points Northants fail to get can be chalked off the 12 needed by Notts for promotion.

  6. Close of play at Tauntonpublished at 17:43 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Somerset 236 & 159-3 v Middlesex 142

    Paul Stirling has a huge appeal for lbw with the final ball of the day as he clatters James Hildreth on the pads, but the umpire shakes his head.

    And that's stumps.

    What a day for Somerset - they've given themselves a fantastic chance of staying in Division One.

  7. Postpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Worcestershire 335 v Durham 78-3

    There's not much going on at New Road at the moment.

    Paul Collingwood and Graham Clark have dug their trenches for Durham.

    Those six wickets for promotion may have to wait until tomorrow.

  8. 'Hampshire batting is not confident'published at 17:39 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Warwickshire 188 v Hampshire 93-7

    Kevan James
    Sport Presenter, BBC Radio Solent

    Warwickshire have bowled well but I’m not sure the Hampshire batting is confident enough to overcome anything that is thrown at them.

  9. wicket

    WICKET Berg (lbw Hannon-Dalby) 8published at 17:39 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Warwickshire 188 v Hampshire 93-7

    Gareth Berg becomes Oliver Hannon-Dalby's next victim.

    Hampshire are batting themselves into serious trouble.

  10. wicket

    WICKET Procter (b Raine) 82published at 17:38 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Leicestershire 128 v Northants 168-3

    That's a late boost for Notts.

    Northants opener Luke Procter is bowled by Ben Raine.

    Rob Keogh joins big-hitting Richard Levi in the middle.

  11. 100 runs

    partnershippublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Somerset 236 & 159-3 v Middlesex 142

    Tom Abell James HildrethImage source, Rex Features

    Five minutes left at Taunton as James Hildreth and Tom Abell bring up their 100 partnership.

    Middlesex must want to get off the field and regroup.

    The 2016 champions have had a bad day at the office - but all hope is not lost. Hampshire are in all sorts of trouble at Edgbaston.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    #bbccricket

    Simon Dolley: Complain to the ECB, I think this Taunton track is too flat. Hildreth and Abell making batting look easy

    Joe: People moaning at the Taunton pitch? Would you really rather have 600 v 500 - Draw? Embrace exciting cricket!

    Josh Caswell: All the talk of a terrible pitch but twice Somerset have made more than Middlesex and only been 3 down

  13. Middlesex hopes lie at Edgbastonpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Somerset 236 & 153-3 v Middlesex 142

    Ravi PatelImage source, Rex Features

    If you could sum up this final session for Middlesex with a picture, this does the job quite nicely.

    But the result at Edgbaston could save them still.

    If Hampshire are bowled out for less than 350 in their first innings and lose the match, Middlesex will be safe and Hants will go down, whatever the result at Taunton.

  14. wicket

    WICKET Holland (lbw Hannon-Dalby) 1published at 17:28 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Warwickshire 188 v Hampshire 81-6

    Hampshire are not going to be getting any batting bonus points at this rate.

    Ian Holland becomes the latest player to be trapped lbw - with Oliver Hannon-Dalby picking up the scalp this time.

    The visitors still trail Warwickshire's first inning total by 101 runs.

  15. 50 runs

    George Bailey reaches his half-centurypublished at 17:27 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Warwickshire 188 v Hampshire 81-5

    Despite the regular loss of wickets, George Bailey has reached a quickfire 46-ball half-century at Edgbaston.

    40 of those 50 runs have come from boundaries as he looks to drag his side close to Division One safety.

    The visitors are still 119 runs away from their first batting point mind you.

  16. 6 runs

    for Tom Abellpublished at 17:26 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Somerset 236 & 152-3 & 142

    Hello, where did that come from?!

    Tom Abell dances down the pitch and smacks Adam Voges for a straight six.

    The lead goes past 250 - surely Somerset can't lose this now? But of course, they need to win.

  17. Postpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Leicestershire 128 v Northants 159-2

    I'm not sure this day could have gone any better for Northants.

    While Notts are collapsing at Hove, Luke Procter and Richard Levi have put on 50 at around five an over.

    Procter, on loan from Lancashire, is on 77, South African Levi has 27 from 35 balls.

  18. More additions at Lancashirepublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Goodness me it's been a busy day at Old Trafford.

    They've also announced former England captain Andrew Flintoff will join Lancashire's board while Paul Allott is to be the club's new director of cricket.

    Flintoff to join Lancashire board

    Former England captain Andrew Flintoff will join Lancashire's board while Paul Allott is to be the club's new director of cricket.

    Read More
  19. Onions signs for Lancashirepublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 26 September 2017
    Breaking

    Seamer signs a two-year contract

    Lancashire have just announced their second big signing of the day from Durham.

    Graham Onions will join next season along with Keaton Jennings.

    More information will be on the BBC Sport website shortly...

  20. wicket

    WICKET Dawson (c Wright b Patel) 3published at 17:15 British Summer Time 26 September 2017

    Warwickshire 188 v Hampshire 64-5

    Liam Dawson becomes the latest Hampshire batsman to be sent back to the pavilion as he is caught at backward point off Jeetan Patel.

    If the hosts were to make 350 runs in this innings or draw this game they would secure their Division One status but that is not looking like a simple task at the moment.