A thrilling finish at Chelmsford ends a round of County Championship games played in glorious sunny weather.
Essex kept their title hopes alive by beating Middlesex and now have a week off as they ponder an 18-point gap to leaders Surrey.
It's more clear-cut in Division Two with Durham's win over Sussex (pic, above) leaving them just five points short of promotion.
Thanks for your company over the past four days. We'll be back again on Sunday for more of the same. See you then.
County Championship - round 13 results
Division One
Essex 304 & 319-7 dec v Middlesex 179 & 147
Essex won by 297 runs
Hampshire 308 & 330-3 dec v Somerset 137 & 316
Hampshire won by 185 runs
Northamptonshire 232 & 266 v Lancashire 524
Lancashire won by an innings and 26 runs
Division Two
Durham 505-9 dec & 57-3 v Sussex 266 & 295
Durham won by seven wickets
Yorkshire 297 & 520-9 dec v Derbyshire 247 & 293
Yorkshire won by 277 runs
'Well done Essex'
Essex beat Middlesex by 297 runs
Kevin Hand
BBC Radio London
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Essex have the win, Middlesex can't take it to the fourth day but to be honest it would have been nothing more than a frustration for Essex if they had done so.
From winning the toss it always felt like a matter of time.
Yet another fivefer for Simon Harmer.
Now, do I stay for the hotel breakfast?
BreakingESSEX BEAT MIDDLESEX BY 297 RUNS
Essex 304 & 319-7 dec v Middlesex 179 & 147
What a way to finish!
Toby Roland-Jones rocks back and smashes a short ball from Simon Harmer, and must have thought that was a guaranteed boundary.
However, he sees it ricochet off Nick Browne's back at short leg, and Adam Rossington does superbly to dive forward and catch the rebound one-handed.
Five wickets for Harmer, and Essex claim the win that they needed to keep the title race alive.
Post update
Middlesex 147-9 v Essex - target 445
Ethan Bamber flashes hard at Matt Critchley and picks up four via a thick outside edge.
I thought that was the last over of the day, but they are carrying on...
'Can Essex finish it off?'
Middlesex 143-9 v Essex - target 445
Kevin Hand
BBC Radio London
There goes, possibly, the talk of playing tomorrow.
Crucially it's Ryan Higgins, the last of the recognised batters.
Ethan Bamber comes out.
WICKET Higgins b Critchley 21
Middlesex 143-9 v Essex - target 445
Matt Critchley does the job for Essex!
It's a lovely delivery, the perfect leg-break, which beats the outside edge and ends Ryan Higgins' vigil.
Ethan Bamber is in at 11.
Post update
Middlesex 142-8 v Essex - target 445
Simon Harmer rattles through a maiden.
It's looking more and more likely that they'll be back tomorrow at Chelmsford.
Post update
Middlesex 142-8 v Essex - target 445
BBC Essex's Dick Davies is currently telling the rest of the commentary team how he's never taken a selfie, which probably tells you something about what's going on in the middle.
Critchley's over passes without incident, and there are four left in the day.
Post update
Middlesex 115-8 v Essex - target 445
Matt Critchley is into the attack with his leggies, so it will be spin from both ends for Essex.
Post update
Middlesex 134-8 v Essex - target 445
We will have the extra half-hour at Chelmsford, so Essex have eight overs in which to try wrap up this game tonight.
Simon Harmer to continue..
Post update
Middlesex 129-8 v Essex - target 445
Plenty of oohs and ahhs as Simon Harmer continues, but Toby Roland-Jones and Ryan Higgins play it well, taking eight runs from the over.
Next round of Championship fixtures
Matches start on 10 September (10:30 BST)
Surrey and Durham, the two divisional leaders, are not in action in the next round of games, so the focus will be very much on relegation/promotion. Here's the full list of games.
Division One
Canterbury: Kent v Nottinghamshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Middlesex
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Northamptonshire
Division Two
Cardiff: Glamorgan v Yorkshire
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Derbyshire
Hove: Sussex v Leicestershire
'Essex are on the verge of victory'
Middlesex 115-3 v Essex - target 445
Paul Newton
BBC Essex sport
I have to say the odds are now very much that the game will finish in three days.
It was a good, low catch, it went very sharply.
Simon Harmer is a wicket away from another fivefer.
WICKET De Caires c Browne b Harmer 1
Middlesex 115-8 v Essex - target 445
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Simon Harmer has another, as Josh de Caires is caught well by Nick Browne at short leg.
It looks a wee bit gloomy at Chelmsford, but on we go.
Essex are really crowding the bat now, as they seek the final two Middlesex scalps.
Post update
A quick reminder that England women are in T20 action against Sri Lanka at Derby this evening.
Play starts in about 10 minutes and you can follow that game here.
'I'm beginning to think it will be over tonight'
Middlesex 113-7 v Essex - target 445
Paul Newton
BBC Essex sport
Just when Luke Hollman was looking in rather good touch, Hollman is out for 15.
Ryan Higgins is still there obdurately, not even in double figures after more than half-an-hour - a most untyipical Higgins innings. He's defended very resolutely indeed.
Josh de Caires is well capable of providing some stout defence too.
WICKET Hollman c Browne b Harmer 15
Middlesex 113-7 v Essex - target 445
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Get ready for an extra half-hour, troops - Essex need just three more for victory!
Luke Hollman pushes forward, looking to work Simon Harmer to leg, but instead skews it to Nick Browne at silly mid-off.
Josh de Caires, who has already taken 10 wickets in the match, is now required with the bat.
Post update
Middlesex 101-6 v Essex - target 445
Ryan 'Diggins' Higgins plays out a maiden from Jamie Porter.
We've got eight scheduled overs left in the day.
'It was a real team effort'
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Hampshire have two games left in which to secure at least a top-three finishImage caption: Hampshire have two games left in which to secure at least a top-three finish
Hampshire captain James Vince hailed Liam Dawson's showing in the win over Somerset, but insisted it was a collective effort which got them over the line.
Six Hampshire bowlers took wickets across the 185-run win and Vince said: "There was some hard graft. A couple of key wickets for Mo Abbas set us up, then a dry spell and then in that afternoon session we closed the game up nicely.
"We expected it to be reasonably tough. Daws bowled really well but it was a shared effort across the bowlers, who all contributed with ball in hand.
"We stuck to what we set out to do with the ball and got our rewards in the end."
Hampshire are third, 22 points ahead of Lancashire, who have a game in hand.
Vince added: "We want to win the two remaining games and finish as high as possible. We've been there or there about in the last few seasons. It is a good opportunity to look at a couple of young guys and finish as high as possible."
Live Reporting
Alex Hoad, George O'Neill and Paul Grunill
All times stated are UK
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features 
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features 
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Hampshire have two games left in which to secure at least a top-three finishImage caption: Hampshire have two games left in which to secure at least a top-three finish
Latest PostSigning off
A thrilling finish at Chelmsford ends a round of County Championship games played in glorious sunny weather.
Essex kept their title hopes alive by beating Middlesex and now have a week off as they ponder an 18-point gap to leaders Surrey.
It's more clear-cut in Division Two with Durham's win over Sussex (pic, above) leaving them just five points short of promotion.
Thanks for your company over the past four days. We'll be back again on Sunday for more of the same. See you then.
County Championship - round 13 results
Division One
Essex 304 & 319-7 dec v Middlesex 179 & 147
Essex won by 297 runs
Hampshire 308 & 330-3 dec v Somerset 137 & 316
Hampshire won by 185 runs
Northamptonshire 232 & 266 v Lancashire 524
Lancashire won by an innings and 26 runs
Division Two
Durham 505-9 dec & 57-3 v Sussex 266 & 295
Durham won by seven wickets
Yorkshire 297 & 520-9 dec v Derbyshire 247 & 293
Yorkshire won by 277 runs
'Well done Essex'
Essex beat Middlesex by 297 runs
Kevin Hand
BBC Radio London
Essex have the win, Middlesex can't take it to the fourth day but to be honest it would have been nothing more than a frustration for Essex if they had done so.
From winning the toss it always felt like a matter of time.
Yet another fivefer for Simon Harmer.
Now, do I stay for the hotel breakfast?
BreakingESSEX BEAT MIDDLESEX BY 297 RUNS
Essex 304 & 319-7 dec v Middlesex 179 & 147
What a way to finish!
Toby Roland-Jones rocks back and smashes a short ball from Simon Harmer, and must have thought that was a guaranteed boundary.
However, he sees it ricochet off Nick Browne's back at short leg, and Adam Rossington does superbly to dive forward and catch the rebound one-handed.
Five wickets for Harmer, and Essex claim the win that they needed to keep the title race alive.
Post update
Middlesex 147-9 v Essex - target 445
Ethan Bamber flashes hard at Matt Critchley and picks up four via a thick outside edge.
I thought that was the last over of the day, but they are carrying on...
'Can Essex finish it off?'
Middlesex 143-9 v Essex - target 445
Kevin Hand
BBC Radio London
There goes, possibly, the talk of playing tomorrow.
Crucially it's Ryan Higgins, the last of the recognised batters.
Ethan Bamber comes out.
WICKET Higgins b Critchley 21
Middlesex 143-9 v Essex - target 445
Matt Critchley does the job for Essex!
It's a lovely delivery, the perfect leg-break, which beats the outside edge and ends Ryan Higgins' vigil.
Ethan Bamber is in at 11.
Post update
Middlesex 142-8 v Essex - target 445
Simon Harmer rattles through a maiden.
It's looking more and more likely that they'll be back tomorrow at Chelmsford.
Post update
Middlesex 142-8 v Essex - target 445
BBC Essex's Dick Davies is currently telling the rest of the commentary team how he's never taken a selfie, which probably tells you something about what's going on in the middle.
Critchley's over passes without incident, and there are four left in the day.
Post update
Middlesex 115-8 v Essex - target 445
Matt Critchley is into the attack with his leggies, so it will be spin from both ends for Essex.
Post update
Middlesex 134-8 v Essex - target 445
We will have the extra half-hour at Chelmsford, so Essex have eight overs in which to try wrap up this game tonight.
Simon Harmer to continue..
Post update
Middlesex 129-8 v Essex - target 445
Plenty of oohs and ahhs as Simon Harmer continues, but Toby Roland-Jones and Ryan Higgins play it well, taking eight runs from the over.
Next round of Championship fixtures
Matches start on 10 September (10:30 BST)
Surrey and Durham, the two divisional leaders, are not in action in the next round of games, so the focus will be very much on relegation/promotion. Here's the full list of games.
Division One
Canterbury: Kent v Nottinghamshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Middlesex
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Northamptonshire
Division Two
Cardiff: Glamorgan v Yorkshire
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Derbyshire
Hove: Sussex v Leicestershire
'Essex are on the verge of victory'
Middlesex 115-3 v Essex - target 445
Paul Newton
BBC Essex sport
I have to say the odds are now very much that the game will finish in three days.
It was a good, low catch, it went very sharply.
Simon Harmer is a wicket away from another fivefer.
WICKET De Caires c Browne b Harmer 1
Middlesex 115-8 v Essex - target 445
Simon Harmer has another, as Josh de Caires is caught well by Nick Browne at short leg.
It looks a wee bit gloomy at Chelmsford, but on we go.
Essex are really crowding the bat now, as they seek the final two Middlesex scalps.
Post update
A quick reminder that England women are in T20 action against Sri Lanka at Derby this evening.
Play starts in about 10 minutes and you can follow that game here.
'I'm beginning to think it will be over tonight'
Middlesex 113-7 v Essex - target 445
Paul Newton
BBC Essex sport
Just when Luke Hollman was looking in rather good touch, Hollman is out for 15.
Ryan Higgins is still there obdurately, not even in double figures after more than half-an-hour - a most untyipical Higgins innings. He's defended very resolutely indeed.
Josh de Caires is well capable of providing some stout defence too.
WICKET Hollman c Browne b Harmer 15
Middlesex 113-7 v Essex - target 445
Get ready for an extra half-hour, troops - Essex need just three more for victory!
Luke Hollman pushes forward, looking to work Simon Harmer to leg, but instead skews it to Nick Browne at silly mid-off.
Josh de Caires, who has already taken 10 wickets in the match, is now required with the bat.
Post update
Middlesex 101-6 v Essex - target 445
Ryan 'Diggins' Higgins plays out a maiden from Jamie Porter.
We've got eight scheduled overs left in the day.
'It was a real team effort'
Hampshire captain James Vince hailed Liam Dawson's showing in the win over Somerset, but insisted it was a collective effort which got them over the line.
Six Hampshire bowlers took wickets across the 185-run win and Vince said: "There was some hard graft. A couple of key wickets for Mo Abbas set us up, then a dry spell and then in that afternoon session we closed the game up nicely.
"We expected it to be reasonably tough. Daws bowled really well but it was a shared effort across the bowlers, who all contributed with ball in hand.
"We stuck to what we set out to do with the ball and got our rewards in the end."
Hampshire are third, 22 points ahead of Lancashire, who have a game in hand.
Vince added: "We want to win the two remaining games and finish as high as possible. We've been there or there about in the last few seasons. It is a good opportunity to look at a couple of young guys and finish as high as possible."