It was a frustrating finish to the third day for Northamptonshire, with bad light halting their victory charge - and similar emotions for the visitors in the early stages today at Cheltenham.

Jack White finds the edge of Ryan Higgins' bat in the second over, but the ball flies just wide of Will Young in the slips and races down to the boundary.

Gloucestershire still need another 21 to make Northants bat again.

Ian Holland is into double figures with the first two boundaries of the day at Scarborough off Jordan Thompson.

There is cloud cover. And it is apparently more of a day for fleeces than floppy hats, but Yorkshire's bowlers are yet to start exploiting the overhead conditions.

Jordan Thompson starts the day at Scarborough with a maiden to Felix Organ.

First single of the morning comes in the next over, to Ian Holland off Ben Coad.

All the other games are underway too, execpt at the Riverside, where they have been delayed. An 11:15 start there, apparently.

Apologies again for our on-going problems yesterday.

But, whatever the "data feed issues" were, they do not appear to have been properly fixed yet.

And sadly we have been warned to expect further problems today.

Horse racing and football are also affected, as well as the cricket, so we won't feel too slighted!

All we can tell you at this moment in time is that, as of 11.00 this morning, they are correct!

Looks like there might be 'a bit of weather' around.

The BBC forecast says:

"Patchy rain will continue for northern England, accompanied by thicker cloud.

"Elsewhere will see patchy cloud and a few sunny spells, with some scattered showers later."

Image source, Rex Features

As far as the north is concerned, the more localised reports suggest that the games at Scarborough and Old Trafford might get away with it, but morning rain is expected more for the already all-but-dead game at Chester-le Street.

In the Midlands, the games at Cheltenham, Worcester and Nottingham should get completed.

And, in the 'beautiful south', it looks like a day of sunshine in store at Chelmsford and The Oval.

Every chance of a three-day win for leaders Nottinghamshire, who are 381 runs ahead of Sussex at Trent Bridge.

Haseeb Hameed (94) top-scored as the home side reached 284-7 - and whatever target Sussex are set already looks ominous - even if they might have the best part of two days to get there.

Earliest result of the day is expected at New Road, where fourth-placed Derbyshire need five more wickets to beat fifth-placed Worcestershire.

Anuj Dal went on to finish on 112 not out as the visitors were bowled out for 343 to set the hosts 289 for victory, before Ben Aitchison's three wickets left the Pears in trouble at 72-5.

Image source, Rex Features

They recovered to 108-5 at stumps - and Jack Haynes, their second top run scorer this season, is still there on 23. But Worcestershire still need a further 181 runs and Derbyshire look the favourites.

Division Two's other game looks a dead-set draw at the Riverside, where John Simpson's excellent undefeated 132 for Middlesex out of 417-7 snuffed out Durham's 421-7 declared.

All three of the main title rivals can still turn round victories today - but second-placed Hampshire have the best chance.

Kyle Abbott's 10-wicket match haul has left Hampshire needing a further 205 to win at Scarborough, having closed on 9-0 after bowling out Yorkshire for 272 in their second innings.

But league leaders Surrey endured a frustrating day against reigning champions Warwickshire at The Oval.

Sam Hain (87) and Will Rhodes (72) have so far shared an unbroken partnership of 127 to steer the Bears to 270-4, a lead of 207.

Josh Bohannon struck his second century in as many games to guide Lancashire to a lead of 252 at stumps against Kent at Old Trafford, backed up by Luke Wells (98) and Rob Jones (53 not out) as the hosts closed day three on 377-5.

Image source, Getty Images

Bottom club Gloucestershire look destined for another defeat at Cheltenham after limping to 135-5 in their second innings, still 27 short of making Northamptonshire bat again.

And, despite Matt Renshaw's highest Championship score of 146, Somerset could only reach 359-3, in reply to Essex's 505-9 declared.

They have at least avoided the follow-on target - but the only question remaining at Chelmsford is exactly what time the two sides will shake hands?

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex 505-9 dec, Somerset 359-3 (123 overs)

Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 317 & 135-5, Northamptonshire 479

Old Trafford: Lancashire 145 & 377-5, Kent 270

The Oval: Warwickshire 253 & 270-4, Surrey 316

Scarborough: Yorkshire 159 & 272, Hampshire 218 & 9-0

DIVISION TWO

Riverside: Durham 421-7 dec, Middlesex 417-7 (120 overs)

New Road: Derbyshire 130 & 343, Worcestershire 185 & 108-5

Trent Bridge (day two): Notts 240 & 284-7, Sussex 143

Image source, Rex Features

Hello and welcome back to our final day of BBC Sport online live County Championship cricket banter until September.

Just to remind you, there is sadly no Championship cricket in August on the fixture list this year.

But it's day four in seven of our eight current games - and there could be some exciting finishes in prospect, most notably at Scarborough.

Results are expected too at Cheltenham and Worcester - and possibly also in the Notts-Sussex Division Two game, which is still only on day three at Trent Bridge, but well advanced.

And exactly how the games will play out involving two other occupants of the Division One top three, Surrey and Lancashire, is anyone's guess.

There are two other games still going on, the inevitable draws at Chelmsford and Chester-le-Street. But they are both on death row. Funeral notices have been posted. No flowers please.