Summary

  • Use audio icons at top of the page to listen to BBC local radio commentaries

  • Northampton: Daniel Bell-Drummond hits 300* as Kent total 621. Northants four down.

  • Chelmsford: Warwickshire are bowled out for 381, setting Essex 83 to win

  • The Oval: Surrey slump to 43-5 chasing 208 to beat Lancashire - four for Tom Bailey

  • Southampton: Middlesex facing innings defeat by Hampshire

  • Taunton: Somerset beat Nottinghamshire by 399 runs

  • Gloucestershire reach tea on 369-6 at Headingley, trailing Yorkshire by 181

  • Worcester: Leus Du Plooy hits a double century as Derbyshire declare on 578-5

  • Leicester: Ben Raine takes three morning wickets as Leicestershire are bowled out for 422

  • Cardiff: Glamorgan seven down against Sussex but leading by over 300

Live Reporting

Ged Scott, Alex Hoad and Adam Lanigan

  1. Division One state of play

    #bbccricket

    Sean Abbott and Dan Worrall both hit half-centuries in their 130-run last-wicket stand against LancashireRex Features

    Sean Abbott and Dan Worrall both hit half-centuries in their 130-run last-wicket stand against Lancashire

    Some spectacular tail-end batting helped leaders Surrey into a first-innings lead of 86 at home to Lancashire, who limped to a 27-run lead at stumps for the loss of four big wickets, closing on 113-4.

    Second-placed Warwickshire look unlikely to close the gap after Essex posted 457 at Chelmsford before Simon Harmer's fivefer helped whip the visitors out for 158 in reply. The Bears were still 255 behind, following-on at stumps, with only nine wickets remaining.

    Liam Dawson hit a century and took six wickets as Hampshire posted 419 before reducing Middlesex to 142-8 at stumps, still 277 in arrears. Occasional spinner Josh De Caires picked up seven wickets for the visitors.

    Somerset have recovered well to take charge against Notts at Taunton. The visitors had a 23 run first innings lead, despite Matt Henry collecting 6-59 to bowl them out for 186, but George Bartlett's unbeaten 109 has hauled the hosts into a 245-run lead with six wickets standing.

    In the basement battle at Wantage Road, Daniel Bell-Drummond will resume on 271 as Kent seek to rewrite the record books and extend their 313-run advantage over Northamptonshire, having batted all of day two to close on 550-5. Tawanda Muyeye's maiden century saw him eventually depart for 179 after a 318-run second-wicket stand with DBD.

  2. Overnight scores

    How the games stand going into day three . . .

    Division One

    Chelmsford: Essex 457, Warwickshire 158 & 74-1

    (Warwickshire need a further 225 to make Essex bat again)

    Southampton: Hampshire 419, Middlesex 142-8 (52 overs)

    Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 237, Kent 550-5 (127 overs)

    Taunton: Somerset 163 & 268-4, Nottinghamshire 186

    (Somerset lead Notts by 245 runs with six wkts remaining)

    The Oval: Lancashire 274 & 113-4, Surrey 360

    (Lancashire lead Surrey by 27 runs with six wkts remaining)

    Division Two

    Cardiff: Glamorgan 242 & 46-0, Sussex 203

    (Glamorgan lead Sussex by 85 runs with all 10 wkts remaining)

    Leicester: Durham 516-7 dec, Leicestershire 200-3 (43 overs)

    New Road: Worcestershire 237, Derbyshire 349-5 (100.5 overs)

    Leeds: Yorkshire 550-9 dec, Gloucestershire 232-5 (57 overs)

  3. The Weather Forecast

    Today’s BBC Weather forecast for the whole of the UK is not that clever,

    "Turning cloudy with rain sweeping eastwards."

    It has already started in Worcestershire. Suspect that other places may suffer too.

  4. Good Morning and Welcome

    Kent double centurion Daniel Bell-Drummond hit the highest score in the County Championship this seasonRex Features

    It is day three in the latest round of County Championship fixtures.

    A day when English cricket followers have woken up to some pretty "uncomfortable reading".

    But in a week so far dominated by arrivals from Australia, the victorious mens and womens Ashes teams, and their preferred Kookaburra ball, having its first experimental trundle over here, there have been some heartening stories to report on too.

    Top of the list this morning will be Kent double centurion Daniel Bell-Drummond, who will resume on 271 not out at Northampton after a so far 398-ball knock, with an opportunity to rewrite a few records and then beyond in the 33 overs available to him before having to face a third Kookaburra.