Essex chase 196 to beat Sussex in South group thriller
Rain denies Somerset win over Warwickshire at wet Edgbaston
Also in Central group, Worcestershire beat Northants by 78 runs
James Fuller takes hat-trick as Hampshire defeat Surrey at Arundel
Leicestershire draw with Durham as rain ends one-innings game
All 18 counties split into three regional groups of six
Each side will play five games
Two teams with most points contest five-day final
Crocombe b Porter 1 (Sussex 194 & 141 v Essex 140)
Game on at Hove as Jamie Porter knocks out Henry Crocombe's off stump to end Sussex's second innings.
Porter finishes with 3-28 but once again, the main bowling honours go to SImon Harmer for his 5-54.
So, Essex need 196 in 52 overs - it'll take some doing in the time remaining, but they are the reigning T20 Blast champions so they know a bit about chasing.
Vasconcelos lbw b Tongue 31 & Wakely c Leach b Tongue 2 (Northants 212 & 55-3 v Worcs 219 & 255-6 dec)
Image source, Getty ImagesWhat a turnaround at Northants.
They looked like they could win at 48-0 but now thoughts will turn to survival after three wickets in 11 balls.
Ricardo Vasconcelos follows Ben Curran by getting out lbw to Josh Tongue, who then has Alex Wakely caught for just two at mid-on by Joe Leach.
Worcestershire will be sniffing blood now.
Nottinghamshire 472 v Lancashire 173 & 22-0
Keaton Jennings collects the first boundary of his innings as Lancashire look to bat this one out for a draw. It's slightly wide of off stump by Peter Trego and Jennings opens the face to run it down to third man.
Jennings is five not out and Alex Davies has 17.
Middlesex 269 & 60-0 v Kent 191
Depending on the mindset of some of the clubs involved today, we could get some thrilling finishes.
If I were Middlesex I'd declare in an hour and try to bowl Kent out - their lead is up to 138 now as Max Holden (36no) and Sam Robson (23no) add to any slim Kent nerves.
Scriven b Virdi 8 (Surrey 172 v Hampshire 273-9)
Six wickets now for Amar Virdi after Tom Scriven steps from the crease and tries to loft the ball to leg. He doesn't succeed in making contact as it turns back into him. A bit ambitious that for a tail-ender.
A couple of days ago we likened Sir Alastair Cook's goatee beard to Ming the Merciless. It''s gone now.
Image source, Rex FeaturesCurran lbw b Leach 17 (Northants 212 & 48-1 v Worcs 219 & 255-6 dec)
Image source, Getty ImagesBen Curran's not sure about that one but it's the breakthrough Worcestershire needed.
The height of Joe Leach's delivery might have been an issue but it could have been clipping the top of the bails. The Pears get the benefit of any slight doubt as the umpire raises his finger.
Game on. Northants need 215 more runs to win, Worcestershire need nine wickets.
Dearden lbw Raine 23 (Durham 291-8 & forfeit v Leics forfeit & 69-2)
Leicestershire lose their second wicket in pursuit of a target of 292 and it's one of their former players, Ben Raine, who claims it.
Bowling round the wicket, he swings it in just enough to beat the forward defence of Harry Dearden and the umpire raises the finger.
Sam Evans is joined by skipper Colin Ackermann, who you feel may be key to the home side's hopes of getting this one across the line.
Northants 212 & 48-0 v Worcs 219 & 255-6 dec
Northants are fancying this run chase, you know. Have Worcestershire given them too much leeway with the declaration and subsequent 262 target?
They are 48-0 off 12 and while Josh Tongue has just bowled a maiden for the visitors, it is wickets that the Pears need to put the brakes on the hosts.
Rawlins lbw Harmer 40 (Sussex 194 & 137-9 v Essex 140)
Delray Rawlins attempts what looks like a premeditated sweep, but that's a full-length ball by Simon Harmer and he is gone.
It's yet another five-for by the remarkably prolific Essex spinner and he has given his team an outside chance of winning this game.
The Sussex lead is 191.
McManus c Roy b Virdi 8 (Surrey 172 v Hampshire 268-8)
Lewis McManus swings Amar Virdi to mid-wicket but the ball doesn't clear Jason Roy and that's five wickets for Surrey's off-spinner.
It's the fourth time Virdi has taken five wickets in an innings in first-class cricket. Hampshire's lead is 96.
Warks 121 & 138-7 v Somerset 413-9
Look away now, Somerset fans - but it is absolutely battering it down with rain in Birmingham.
I expect that 14:00 BST inspection is going to be put back.
Meaker b Harmer 6 (Sussex 194 & 1280-8 v Essex 140)
The perfect offie's delivery - pitched up outside off stump, turns back to beat the defensive prod and hits the stumps.
Four wickets now for Simon Harmer and Sussex, who lead by 182, have only two remaining. Could we be in for some final session thrills?
Delray Rawlins may have to use a bit of long handle now to try and push the lead out of Essex's reach.
Durham 261-8 dec & forfeit v Leics forfeit & 66-1
An early boundary after lunch for Leicestershire as Harry Dearden drives Paul Coughlin pleasantly through the covers.
With two defeats already behind them, you have to say that another one here will effectively end Durham's chances of a trip to Lord's.
Yorkshire 400-6 dec v Derbyshire 198-6
The umpires have taken a look, and plan another one at 14:00 with a view to starting today's play shortly afterwards. Too late for anything other than a draw, surely, unless Derbyshire lose their last four wickets for no more than two runs.
Warks 121 & 138-7 v Somerset 413-9 dec
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Image source, Rex FeaturesJohn Milner: Is there a better pace/spin tandem in country cricket than Porter/Harmer at Essex?
Ooh this one's gonna get tasty. I'm saying nothing - but anyone fancy raising John another county duo?
Harmer and Porter do have 13 wickets between them against Sussex so far - with three batsmen left.
Notts 472 v Lancashire 173 & 2-0
Rain during the lunch interval at Trent Bridge has taken three overs from the number Lancashire have to face to save this game. It's stopped now, though and play is expected to resume at 13:45, with 61 overs to go.
Warks 121 & 138-7 v Somerset
It's still raining at Edgy - and Somerset are going to get a bit more edgy with every over that's lost to the weather.
This seemed a surefire win but now...
What's the worst bowling you have seen?
This is what Leicestershire's Sam Evans and Hassan Azad served up at Grace Road this morning before Durham declared.
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