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Essex beat Yorkshire by one wicket as Shane Snater makes 65 not out
Division One title-chasers Surrey post 421 in reply to Northants' 339
Surrey's Hashim Amla completes 57th first-class century as Tom Curran registers his first
Somerset gain control of key game at bottom of Division One against Warwickshire
Middlesex in strong position against Division Two promotion rivals Glamorgan
Northants 339, Surrey 289-6
Another maximum for Tom Curran, almost a replica of the first although this time it comes off the spin of Saif Zaib.
He follows that with a nice drive that is run for three.
Curran is on 34 off 34 balls, going at a slightly faster rate than Hashim Amla, whose 110 has arrived off 226 deliveries.
Yorkshire 134 & 121-3, Essex 225
It will be a day to remember for 20-year-old Fin Bean whatever happens during the remainder at Headingley.
He registers his maiden first-class half-century by tickling Shane Snater down to fine leg for four.
His 50 comes off 111 balls.
Image source, Rex FeaturesSomerset 219 & 38-2, Warwickshire 196
12 overs bowled in the first 40 minutes at Edgbaston.
Even with a spinner on, that's quite an over rate.
Only 25 runs scored. It's hard work and tense. But the Somerset lead is slowly growing.
The Tom Tom Club, Lammonby (28) and Abell (10) are both looking solid.
But there is turn, inconsistent bounce and OHD is now on to replace Mohammed Siraj and asking a few questions of his own.
Northants 339, Surrey 270-6
Surrey realise the importance of building some sort of first-innings lead at Northants as they look to keep the pressure on Division One leaders Hampshire.
Tom Curran steps forward and launches Rob Keogh straight down the ground for a superb six.
Surrey have passed 300 in every first innings this season and look set to do so again.
A good start for Glamorgan at Lord's, where the visitors have removed Middlesex overnight pair John Simpson, for 76, and Ryan Higgins, for 40.
And Leicestershire have also struck early,
Tom Scriven has had Durham tailender Ben Raine caught behind.
Still no word on when play might start at Hove between Sussex and Worcestershire.
Yorkshire 134 & 103-3, Essex 225
An early wicket for Essex too.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore goes for just 12 as he edges Sam Cook into the hands of the bowler's namesake Sir Alastair at slip.
Northants 339, Surrey 244-6
Jordan Clark began the morning in positive fashion, with three boundaries but after hitting Lizaad Williams for four off one ball, he misjudges a pull shot off the next and finds the grateful hands of Emilio Gay at mid-wicket.
That's South Africa's Williams' first wicket for Northants since joining them at the start of the month.
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Yorkshire 134 & 103-2, Essex 225
Yorkshire began the morning four runs behind Essex but have nudged ahead as 20-year-old Fin Bean approaches his half-century on 45no.
Somerset 219 & 28-2, Warwickshire 196
Tom Lammonby gets the day truly underway with an early boundary at Edgbaston as Somerset look to build on their slender halfway lead.
Skipper Tom Abell then finds the rope too, before two more fours from Lammonby
After last night's use of both spinners in the fading light, Warwickshire have gone for a half and half approach, with both of their two India Test players in action, paceman Mohammed Siraj and off-spinner Jayant Yadav.
Sussex 220, Worcestershire 289-2
A frustrating start, or lack of rather, at Hove.
Particularly frustrating for Worcestershire, who are looking to build on their 69-run lead.
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Northants 339, Surrey 232-5
It has taken Hashim Amla just two balls of day three to turn his overnight 97 into his 57th first-class century.
The South Africa great tucked Luke Procter away to the leg side in successive balls for a two and a single.
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Sussex 220, Worcestershire 289-2
Despite that earlier promising weather forecast, it seems that the rain has not quite cleared from parts of the south just yet . . .
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Image source, Getty ImagesIt's all about the battle for promotion in Division Two.
The main game is clearly the meeting between fourth-placed Middlesex and second-placed Glamorgan at Lord's.
The hosts are ahead in that one, resuming this mornming on 286-5, with a 72-run lead and five wickets in hand, with John Simpson on 72 and Ryan Higgins on 35.
But, with third-placed Derbyshire sitting this round of fixtures out, wins this week for fifth-placed Worcestershire and sixth-placed Durham woud put them right back in the picture.
Weather permitting, the Pears are ready to resume against Sussex at Hove on 289-2, with a 69-run lead already and looking to build.
And, after a six-wicket haul from England new boy Matty Potts yesterday, Durham lead bottom club Leicestershire by 37 runs with five wickets in hand.
Yorkshire 134 & 87-2, Essex 225
Image source, Rex FeaturesThe title might be out of reach for both Yorkshire and Essex at Headingley but that doesn't mean there's nothing at stake - both collectively and individually.
There was a nice milestone for Yorkshire bowler Ben Coad on Tuesday when he reached 200 first-class wickets in just his 51st match by removing Essex middle-order pair Feroze Khushi and Adam Rossington.
Coad told BBC Radio Leeds: “It feels great, but it’s not something I think too much about as I think there are a lot more still to come.
“But it’s a nice milestone to get past and I can hopefully keep moving on. I’ve not set a target as I don’t want a limit on my cricket. I’ll just see where I get to over the next decade or so.
“I’d have loved to have been bowling yesterday, but we just had to do the job today. That’s how first class cricket happens as you don’t get the rub of the green all the time. We had to put that aside and we did it really well.”
Facing a first-innings deficit of 91, Yorkshire now trail by four runs with eight wickets in hand at 87-2, needing a strong morning from their top and middle order, including 20-year-old Fin Bean, who will resume on 41.
Somerset 219 & 13-2, Warwickshire 196
Another side happy with their overseas players this week are Warwickshire as the reigning county champions attempt to extricate themselves from a relegation pickle.
India paceman Mohammed Siraj took a 'five-fer' on his debut against chief relegation rivals Somerset before also nipping out the visitors' own new addition Imam-ul-Haq before the close.
And India spinner Jayant Yadav has so far taken a wicket in either innings, as well as making valuable runs.
"The India boys really showed their quality," said Bears fast bowler Henry Brookes. "Siraj bowled quick and showed his skills and Jay also bowled beautifully to nip another one out.
"They have both been brilliant around the team. It's always good to have some international talent around. It really boosts the squad and they are really good blokes as well. They bring a great cricket knowledge to the side."
Northamptonshire 339, Surrey 224-5
The lure of having overseas players in any County Championship team is to provide that extra touch of star quality when it is needed - and to do it on a regular basis.
It is no coincidence that, when Hampshire last won the title in 1973, the great Barry Richards and Gordon Greenidge were both in their prime.
And this year, the 95 wickets shared by Kyle Abbott and Mohammad Abbas have been a big factor in them challenging so strongly again.
But the importance of your big players performing on the big stage was never better illustrated than yesterday's efforts from Hampshire's title rivals Surrey.
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter West Indies paceman Kemar Roach took three scalps with the new ball to claim a 'five-fer' as Northants lost their last six wickets for 90 runs, then it was the turn of South Africa legend Hashim Amla with the bat.
Neither has produced the goods all summer long. Surrey's success has been down to many good invididual performances in a good team.
And they have not completely turned this game yet. But having them both perform together, just as India pair Mohammed Siraj and Jayant Yadav have done thjis week for relegation battlers Warwickshire, does make such a difference.
The BBC national weather forecast today says: "Rain clearing from the south to leave a bright day, with just the odd shower in the north. Breezy."
So look out Leeds.
But we should be set fair in Leicester, Birmingham, Northampton, Hove and London.
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Division One
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 339, Surrey 224-5 (68 overs)
Edgbaston: Somerset 219 & 13-2, Warwickshire 196
Leeds: Yorkshire 134 & 87-2, Essex 225
Division Two
Leicester: Leicestershire 202, Durham 239-5 (70 overs)
Lord's: Glamorgan 214, Middlesex 286-5 (81.3 overs)
Hove: Sussex 220, Worcestershire 289-2 (80 overs)
Image source, Getty ImagesWelcome back.
Glad you could join us again for the third day's coverage of this week's latest round of County Championship cricket fixtures.
The nation remains in mourning following the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, but the return of sport has helped both lighten the mood a little and given a chance for more members of the public to show their public appreciation.
And, for the next eight hours or so, we have six Championship matches - three in Division One and three in Division Two - to concentrate on here in these pages.
So many unanswered questions . . . can Hashim Amla complete another century and help Surrey leapfrog sole title rivals Hampshire back to the top of the table? Can Essex win without Simon Harmer, for a second week running? Who will edge the Edgbaston relegation tussle in Division One? And who will win the promotion battle at Lord's in Division Two?
Stay with us to provide some of the answers.