Martin Emmerson
BBC Newcastle commentator

Image source, Getty Images

With three going up this season it was a great opportunity for Durham to return to the top flight after three years in Division Two, but they lost their first four games, their worst start to a summer, and although they made a remarkable recovery, they fell just short in the end.

They need at least two batsmen to come in and add some steel around the top order. Bowling-wise you can’t really fault them.

The club is clearly in transition. They have a new coaching set up and a relatively new board. But the ECB wage cap, which they have worked under during the last three years, is now over and that might help with recruitment.

It’s been a poor season weather-wise with around 900 overs lost. And quite a lot of those were on the road, not in Chester-le-Street. Sadly the final game at home was restricted to only 84 overs, but as I write this, the sun is shining in the North East and it’s warm. Funny thing weather!

Still looking gloomy in north London.

Colin Ackermann is off the mark straight away with a clip to square leg for four off Gleeson.

Hassan Azad gets a single off Tom Bailey.

A bit of in-swing for Bailey and Ackermann drives into the on side for three.

Azad is beaten on the inside edge and the ball goes through to the keeper without disturbing the stumps.

WE WILL HAVE PLAY AT MID-DAY!!!

Finally.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Northamptonshire will be back in Division One next summer after their game against Gloucestershire was abandoned as a draw - confirming promotion for both teams.

“We do feel like we deserve it and we’ve got a chance to compete with the big guys next year. It’ll be lovely to turn up at those Test grounds and get the results that we know we can," batsman Alex Wakely told BBC Radio Northampton.

“We’ve had the success before in the T20s but winning games of four-day cricket almost feels more special, because they’re harder, you have to go through tough sessions of the game, it’s a grind.”

Image source, Getty

His view was echoed by head coach David Ripley, who said:“I think it’s deserved, over the 14 games, you get yourselves in to the position you deserve.

"The quality of our seam bowling in the second half of the season has been particularly good. Our quality has shone through and we’ve been well worth it.”

Only pride is riding on this game but this is an encouraging finale from Leicestershire.

They may be at the bottom of the table but they've pushed the Division Two champs all the way after falling to 155 all out on Monday.

As it stands there are 80 overs left. Lunch at 1230 and tea at 1510 BST.

Umpires James Middlebrook, Steve O'Shaughnessy are back in the middle.

Richard Gleeson will bowl to Paul Horton - who is 30 not out.

Hasan Azad is on nine.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

Image source, Getty Images

A draw looks all but certain for Surrey after a delayed start in the final Championship game of the season after an innings of 137 by Scott Borthwick helped them to reach a score of more than 400 on day three.

It was his second century of the season, giving him a seasonal tally of 705 runs.

He was well supported by Ollie Pope - who celebrated his recall to the England squad with 106 in a third-wicket partnership of 222.

Surrey all-rounder Scott Borthwick told BBC Radio London:

“It’s always nice to get a hundred and finish on a high personally. To get to 400, get full batting points and have a crack at them made it a decent day.

On the match situation: “Hopefully there’s a bit of cloud around and we can get the ball swinging. We’ve seen there’s a bit of spin there as well, so we’ll give it one big push.”

It's been a miserable start to the final day of the county season - but some people don't care.

Wonder what Northants are singing in the away dressing room at Bristol.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesex's England batsman Dawid Malan played down reports of a possible winter move to Yorkshire, external after completing 1,000 Championship runs for the season on day three against Derbyshire.

Malan, who is in England's T20 squad for the tour to New Zealand, has been on the staff at Lord's since 2008, and his current Middlesex deal runs until the end of the 2021 season.

“There are a lot of rumours going around this time of year. It’s always fun and games listening to rumours," the left-hander said.

“You still want to win games of cricket wherever you play. I haven’t sat down and thought about anything yet. I’m still contracted to Middlesex, so this is where I am at the moment."

Are we actually going to see some cricket today?

It looks like we might - play has been scheduled to start at 11:30, with a minimum of 80 overs to be bowled.

Can Division Two's bottom club end champions Lancashire's unbeaten record?

Should be fun finding out.

Nick Webb
BBC Wales Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Glamorgan missed out on promotion as their match in Durham was abandoned without a ball bowled on the final day. Only 86.4 overs were bowled across four days, leaving them fourth in Division Two.

Glamorgan finished with four victories, three defeats and seven draws - the first time since 2010 they have recorded more Championship wins than losses.

Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne topped the batting averages for the club with 1,114 runs at an average of 65.53 with five centuries.

Glamorgan captain Chris Cooke told BBC Sport Wales:

"It’s a disappointing way to end, but it wasn’t the reason we didn’t get promoted.

“We lost it in the couple of games before Leicestershire, but there's a lot of positives to take into next season.”On re-signing Marnus Labuschagne and future promotion chances: “It would be great to get Marnie back, he was a big part of our batting order, but we’ve got a big squad and if we can keep everybody fit I’ve no doubt we can do the same (challenge again)".

Division One

Kent 147 v Hampshire 80-3

Match abandoned as a draw - Kent 6 pts, Hants 8

Somerset 203 v Essex 25-0 - inspection 11:30

Surrey 402-6 dec v Nottinghamshire 77-1 - start delayed, bad light

Yorkshire 261-2 v Warwickshire - no play before lunch

Division Two

Durham 262-8 v Glamorgan

Match abandoned as a draw - Durham 7 pts, Glamorgan 7

Gloucestershire 220-7 v Northamptonshire

Match abandoned as a draw - Gloucs 6 pts, Northants 7

Leicestershire 155 & 40-0 v Lancashire 170 - inspection taking place

Middlesex 260 v Derbyshire 199-4 - start delayed, rain

Sussex 299-8 v Worcestershire

Match abandoned as draw - Sussex 7 pts, Worcs, 7 pts

Today marks the final day of Somerset and England batsman Marcus Trescothick's playing career.

He scored 26,234 first-class runs at an average of 41.05, with 66 centuries - plus more than 14,500 runs in limited-overs cricket, including another 30 tons - and played 76 Tests, 123 one-dayers and three T20 internationals for England.

The forecast should improve from around midday.

This week hasn't been the feast of county cricket we had all hoped for to round off another season.

But our BBC 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC local radio teams are at their posts again today to bring you ball-by-ball coverage of the games which have yet to be abandoned (four gone, and counting), whenever play gets under way.

Choose a commentary from the links at the top and right-hand side of this page and we will do our best to keep you in the loop with what's happening elsewhere.

The Oval is shrouded in autumnal gloom.

It's started raining again as well!

There will be an inspection at Taunton at 11:30 providing there is no further rain.

It really looks like game over now for Somerset, even though it isn't - if you see what they mean.

Have any crates of champers been delivered to the Essex dressing room yet?

A very gloomy end to the season at Sussex by the sea. Match drawn.

Sussex are currently sixth in the Division Two table on 156 points and Worcestershire are eighth on 125.

Middlesex can overtake the Pears if they manage a likely draw against Derbyshire at Lord's today.

The forecast is set fair but the field is too damp for play to start on time.