Image source, Rex Features

So that's it now then for County Championship cricket until the 5th of September.

Even at a time when the whole English cricket landscape is changing - and the future of the county game is being debated as the publication of the much-feared Andrew Strauss Report moves ominously closer - it still seems hard to credit that there will be no Championship cricket in the month of August.

Even at the height of Covid, in 2020, there was red-ball county cricket in August!

But it all sets up some intriguing questions that will now need answering when the Championship returns following the One-Day Cup/Hundred break for an exciting denouement in 39 days' time.

Not just who will win the title? Surrey or Hampshire? Or even third-placed Lancashire, who host Surrey in their final game.

But can reigning champions Warwickshire stay up? Or will the West Country be without a top-flight side if both Somerset and Gloucestershire go down?

And which of Middlesex, Glamorgan or Derbyshire, or even Worcestershire or Durham, can accompany runaway leaders Notts up from Division Two?

Rejoin us then. And have a happy Hundred.

Thank you and goodnight.

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex (505-9 dec & 30-1, 12 pts) drew with Somerset (605-6 dec, 12 pts)

Cheltenham: Northamptonshire (479 & 205-8, 23 pts) beat Gloucestershire (317 & 363-9 dec, 5 pts) by two wickets

Old Trafford: Lancashire (145 & 436-9 dec, 19 pts) beat Kent (270 & 127) by 184 runs

The Oval: Surrey (316 & 252-4, 22 pts) beat (Warwickshire 253 & 310, 5 pts) by six wickets

Scarborough: Hampshire (218 & 214-3, 20 pts) beat Yorkshire (159 & 272, 3 pts) by five wickets

DIVISION TWO

Riverside: Durham (421-7 dec & 142-3, 14 pts) drew with Middlesex (455, 13 pts)

New Road: Derbyshire (130 & 343, 19 pts) beat Worcestershire (185 & 190, 3 pts) by 98 runs

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire (240 & 301, 20 pts) beat Sussex (143 & 142, 3 pts) by 256 runs

Image source, Rex Features

Surrey captain Rory Burns admits his team are now starting to think about winning the County Championship title after winning for the seventh time in 11 games this season to lead Hampshire by 16 points going into the August red-ball break.

“With three games to go in September and being top of Division One you can’t help but think about it,” England opener Burns told BBC Radio London.

“Yes, we will allow ourselves that dream but, when those last three matches come along, we will simply stick with our processes and concentrate on doing our jobs.

“Throughout the season different people have put their hands up and performed when the team need them. It shows the resilience of our squad, our real togetherness and also having the value of multi-skilled all-round cricketers right across the team.

“Kemar Roach’s spell was so skilful. He deserved his wickets for the way he has run in all match, especially following the injury to Jamie Overton. Jordan Clark also bowled really well in support of Kemar. To take their last six wickets in an hour was better than even we could have hoped for."

Despite losing those two wickets with the scores level, Northamptonshire scramble a tense victory!

Simon Kerrigan punches Ryan Higgins through mid-off for four with just 20 balls remaining.

Still no win for Gloucestershire, who stay rooted to the foot of the table, while Northants climb to fifth place.

Zafar Gohar has five wickets in each innings as Lewis McManus goes in exactly the same way as James Sales, skying one to David Payne.

Scores level...

Gloucestershire hand the ball to Ryan Higgins, hoping he can come up with something special even at this late stage.

That's not going to happen, however. Lewis McManus clips Higgins to the square leg boundary and Northamptonshire now need just six more for victory.

Five overs available, if necessary - and they shouldn't be.

Image source, Rex Features

Lancashire head coach Glen Chapple was very pleased with his title-chasing side's fifth Championship win of the season - and their second in succession after trailing by over 100 on first innings.

“The pitch had been used for the international the previous Friday so it was going to be a good surface," he told BBC Radio Lancashire, "but there was quite a lot of weather around and we lost the toss - and it did a fair bit.

“We knew if we played well we could still get back into the game and maybe force a result and I’m delighted how we went about it.

"There is no pressure on us now because really Surrey or Hampshire should go on to win the title. All we’re going to do is keep playing good, hard cricket and make sure we win as many games as we can.

“Josh Bohannon played superbly well but we had really good partnerships all the way down and to come back mentally from that deficit takes a lot for a team but they showed a lot of resolve."

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis McManus is marshalling this run chase expertly - he's kept a cool head and taken the boundaries when they've been available.

He and James Sales have added 39 after those three quick wickets and Northamptonshire are now on the verge of a victory that would lift them into the top half of the table.

The visitors need 14 more, with seven overs to go.

Ominous rumblings about the quality of the light as we go into the last nine overs of this match, with all results still possible.

Surely this has got to be played to a finish now?

James Sales has just driven David Payne through the leg side for four as Northamptonshire inch closer to their target. Another 26 needed.

A welcome boundary for Lewis McManus, thrashing Zafar Gohar to the midwicket fence as Northants edge a little closer to their target, and James Sales follows suit with a cover drive for four off David Payne.

Gloucestershire need wickets - a draw, given their position in the table, would do little for them and they're pinning their hopes on the combination of Zafar's spin and seamer Payne from the other end.

The target is now 41 from 11 overs.

No question that the rush of wickets has slowed Northamptonshire's scoring rate.

James Sales has gone in to join Luke Procter but they're approaching this a little tentatively now, maybe just having second thoughts about the 202 target.

Still plenty of overs left, 16 in all, for the visitors to score another 57 but Gloucestershire need just six wickets now.

It's all over too at the Riverside, where Durham and Middlesex shake hands.

Durham picked up 14 points frolm the game - and Middlesex 13, which lifts them above Glamorgan into second.

Will Jacks finishes things off in style, thumping three sixes from six balls to fire Surrey across the line after Ben Foakes had fallen with just 15 needed.

Hashim Amla finishes unbeaten on 80 and Surrey - as had looked likely ever since this morning - are back on top of Division One.

It's game over at Chelmsford, where hands are shaken.

It is a result that had looked on the cards right from the start on a lifeless track - and both sides collect their expected 12 points each.

But, while Essex stay fourth, now well out of the title running, the points will mean far more to Somerset.

They are now within five points of eighth-placed Warwickshire, with a game in hand to look forward to when the season resumes on 5 September.

Somerset will play that game in hand at home to bottom club Gloucestershire in what should prove an extra competitive West Country derby before heading to Edgbaston a week later on 12 September to face the Bears in what could yet prove a 'loser goes down' fixture.

Warwickshire then visit Gloucestershire before hosting title-chasing Hampshire in their final two games, while Somerset host Northants then head for Kent in their final two.

Steve Patterson has announced that he has stepped down as Yorkshire skipper, with immediate effect - and that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

“It’s been made clear to me over the last few days that my career at Yorkshire will come to an end when the season finishes," said 38-year-old Patterson, speaking in the wake of the Tykes' seven-wicket defeat home defeat by title-chasing Hampshire at Scarborough.

“With that in mind, now is the appropriate time to step back from the captaincy. It will allow me time to consider my future, and to enjoy the time I have left playing at the club.

“I will remain available for selection for the remainder of the summer, and if selected, will give my all for the team as I have done for the past 18 years.

"It's been an honour and a privilege to captain the club for the past five seasons. I would like to thank those who entrusted me with the position, my teammates for always getting behind me, and the members and supporters for their unwavering support."