Adrian Harms
BBC Sussex at Headingley

A good recovery from Sussex who were in grave danger of losing their unbeaten Championship record after slumping to 48-3, still trailing by 100.

But Tom Clark has made the most of being dropped twice to reach his third half century of the season - and he has been ably supported by Ollie Carter as the pair added unbeaten 70 for the fourth wicket.

However with 43 overs still to be bowled today and an awful weather forecast tomorrow Yorkshire know that a couple of quick wickets after tea they may well be able to force a win today

Partnership for Kentpublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 21 July 2023

16:27 BST 21 July 2023

Essex 458-8 dec v Kent 207 & 194-4

Dan Lawrence is on to bowl some spin for Essex as they seek a partnership breaker after Harry Finch and Joey Evison's union reaches 51.

Lawrence's action is, er, unusual to say the least. There seem to be physical impressions of at least two animals in the run-up alone.

Effective though. Maiden over.

The deficit is 57.

Ball change at Trent Bridgepublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 21 July 2023

16:19 BST 21 July 2023

Notts 173-4 v Hampshire (chasing 411 to win)

With the Joe Clarke-Tom Moores resistance now having gone on for almost two hours, Hampshire are harassed enough to suggest that the ball has gone out of shape.

And umpires Paul Pollard accede Russell Warren to their wishes.

Let's see what happens with this one . . .

The light has deteriorated throughout the afternoon but Middlesex have got on with it and clawed their way within 32 runs at tea with five wickets remaining.

It's been a tricky session. There's cloud cover, the lights are on, Surrey's attack is potent on any day. It could definitely have been worse. Surrey claimed four wickets and will be intent on repeating that, at least in the 32 overs remaining after the interval.

for Harry Finchpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 21 July 2023

16:05 BST 21 July 2023

Essex 458-8 dec v Kent 207 & 182-4

A fifth career century for the 28-year-old and first since 14 July, 2021.

Impossible to say at this point in the match just how vital it might prove to be. If Kent, potentially aided by the weather, are able to deny Essex a victory here, and the points generated from a draw help Kent stay in Division One this season then it might go down as one of the most vital of the season.

It came from 183 balls and featured 11 fours with a leg-side clip for three off Doug Bracewell starting the celebrations.

Lancashire go to tea at Edgbaston with a lead of 233.

Keaton Jennings is on 41, off 146 balls, which has taken three hours and 16 minutes, with first-innings centurion George Balderson on 13.

Tomorrow's extremely dodgy weather forecast has so far not proved a factor in the way watchful Lancs have batted in this second innings.

Much like they did before lunch, Middlesex have started to find the ropes, though it didn't help them avoid the follow on or indeed register their third batting bonus point of the season in fairness.

Max Holden has moved to 23 while Ryan Higgins has 18 from 14 balls with three fours apiece.

The hosts trail by 37 runs with four overs remaining until tea.

Still pretty gloomy at Lord's.

Image source, Rex Features

Glamorgan declared on 450-6 after reaching the maximum of five batting bonus points against Gloucestershire.

The hosts have just come out to bat at Cheltenham College.

Tom Clark and Oli Carter continue to fight for Sussex at Headingley. They're 95-3 in their second innings and trailing Yorkshire by 53 runs.

Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse have put on more than 100 for Durham's eighth wicket. Both batters are in the 60s with Durham on 526-7 and leading Derbyshire by 83.

Harry Finch was narrowly shy of a half-century going into the lunch interval, he has now got 20 minutes staring at the number 97* on the scoreboard.

Joey Evison is 16 not out at the other end and Kent trail by 74 with at least five, maybe six wickets remaining, depending on the fitness of Joe Denly. How Kent will hope it doesn't come to that.

The light has been poor all afternoon and the forecast for tomorrow isn't great.

The Great Escape remains on.

Sussex are digging in against Yorkshire in their second innings. Opener Tom Clark has 36 from 94 balls in their 70-3. The hosts are running out of time to force a result at Headingley with rain forecast all day tomorrow. Sussex trail by 76.

Glamorgan's Billy Root has just fallen for 98 to Gloucestershire spinner Zafar Gohar at Cheltenham College, but Chris Cooke is smashing it around. He's up to 80 off 89 balls with his side on 440-6.

Adam Rossington has shown his class with the gloves, standing up to Sam Cook and Jamie Porter, but he's missed the chance to add a dismissal to the highlight reel here.

Porter's final delivery beats Joey Evison who jumps into the air as it goes past, Rossington is unable to gather cleanly and spills the ball to the floor, allowing Evison to return to earth and take a big step back into his crease. Relief etched on his face.

The deficit is 89. Harry Finch has 88 from 163 deliveries, Evison has 14 from 24.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Durham have reached maximum batting points for the sixth time this season and have moved into the lead in the last half hour as well.

But with the rotten weather forecast tomorrow, bonus points may well be what this match ends up being about.

It's been a stop-start day. We lost the first hour to rain. There were two more stoppages after that because of the weather, then Washer Gate.

Early in the afternoon session someone spotted something shining in the pitch. The umpires called the ground staff on. They all stood there looking at the turf for a few minutes and decided to play on.

There is a washer embedded in the surface and it would cause too much damage to dig it out, so they are playing on with it still there.

Nightwatchman Matthew Potts has also just scored a 50. His third in first-class cricket. Bowler Nick Potts has just reached his century. He's gone for 100 in just 11 overs.

Rain stops playpublished at 15:13 British Summer Time 21 July 2023

15:13 BST 21 July 2023

Notts 130-4 v Hants (chasing 411 to win)

Sure enough.

Off they come again in Nottingham!

It is only a very fine rain but, given the continued excellent standard of the tea and scones in the pressroom at Trent Bridge, there were certainly no complaints from anyone in the commentary box!

Half century for Joe Clarkepublished at 15:11 British Summer Time 21 July 2023

15:11 BST 21 July 2023

Notts 130-4 v Hants (chasing 411 to win)

Joe Clarke gets to his fifty with an edged four off the luckless Keith Barker that flies between keeper Ben Brown and skipper James Vince at slip.

Barker not happy . . . as the debate begins between keeper and slip about the appropriate spacing between the two of them.

The groundstafff are hovering again. And so is the hover cover . . .

Max Holden hit in the headpublished at 15:09 British Summer Time 21 July 2023

15:09 BST 21 July 2023

Middlesex 238 & 120-3 v Surrey 433

Max Holden has to have a concussion test after he takes the ball full on the bonce as he scampers through for a single.

The ball was whipped in from the deep, heading towards the stumps in fairness, but Holden's head prevented it reaching its target. A full toss too, hadn't even bounced.

Brief delay but thankfully he's ok to continue.

Middlesex 75 shy of making Surrey bat again, Mark Stoneman is into the 70s.

50 stand for Clarke and Moorespublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 21 July 2023

15:07 BST 21 July 2023

Notts 126-4 v Hants (chasing 411 to win)

Having at one point looked like this would all over today, Notts are digging in.

And Joe Clarke (46) and Tom Moores (22) have now put together a half-century partnership.