This is an emotional day Dane Vilas, who is marching down the pavilion steps on what will be his final game for Lancashire at Old Trafford.

The lead is already a healthy 136 and there's only one day left to force a result, but might Lancashire make a dash for at least one more batting point before declaring?

The two Georges, Bell and Balderson will bat on for now.

George Bell will face Ryan Higgins, who has five balls left in his over.

Image source, Rex Features

An unbroken stand of 113 on the evening of day three has hauled Leicestershire within 278 runs of a win which seemed unfathomable at the end of day two.

Colin Ackermann is unbeaten on 105 with Umar Amin 61 not out and Sussex captain Cheteshwar Pujara thinks the first hour today looks crucial, especially will a new ball after 16 overs.

"We have to focus on an hour at a time," he said. "The first thing is to try and break this partnership. We have seen over the first three days that there is a bit of help for the seamers in the first hour. If we can get a couple of wickets early then we will have a good chance.”

Leicestershire batter Amin added: “In cricket we know anything is possible although we also know it’s a huge ask. Even now with what we still have to get we are quite optimistic and we’ll try and bat for as long as possible.”

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Edgbaston

Image source, Ged Scott - BBC Sport

Different day. Different weather in Birmingham.

The sun is shining. And both sides have enjoyed their warm-ups far more today knowing that they might have a chance of actually playing some cricket after yesterday's miserable munge of a wash-out.

Only bottom club Northants have to win this one, in their desperate postion, so the Bears do not have to make a game of it. But, if the visitors start taking eatly wickets, that might make life interesting.

Image source, Rex Features

Evergreen Michael Hogan hopes Kent can conjure up five quick wickets and secure a priceless win in the quest for Division One survival.

The 42-year-old seamer has returned to the side after more than two months out, playing in the Championship for the first time since May, and has taken five wickets for 54 from 26 overs across the two Notts innings so far.

Although Notts still trail by four runs, Joe Clarke (61*) and Lyndon James (38*) put on an unbroken 99 before stumps to thwart Kent's hopes of an innings win.

“For us, being in the field for a five and a half hour session was a hell of a shift," said Hogan. "But, when we sent them in we knew there were going to be partnerships. It’s going to be a hard graft but at the moment we’d rather be in our position than theirs. There’s still a lot of work to do but we’re in a nice spot.

“I guess it’s offered a little bit of swing and the nicks have carried for us. It’s spinning a bit and both Aron Nijjar and Yuzi Chahal have bowled well for us so hopefully we can get the wickets early and chase whatever they set us."

“It was very needed," added Notts coach Ant Botha. "A quality session and it was nice for us not to lose a wicket. They played beautifully. Joe Clarke has played beautifully the whole game really."

Image source, Getty Images

Lancashire began this Championship round just 19 points behind Hampshire with a game in hand and have a chance to supplant the south coast team in third place if they can force a victory today in Manchester, which should looks set for fairer weather after lengthy delays on the first three days.

The Red Rose currently lead by 136, thanks in the main to 124 from former skipper Dane Vilas on what has now become the South African's Old Trafford swansong.

"It feels amazing," Vilas told BBC Radio Lancashire. "It's always good to get runs for the team, to get them here at a special place for me and also to put us in a good position after what's been a frustrating but good couple of days."

His 10th first-class century for Lancashire was his first this season and marked a return to form after a lean run of 239 runs in 15 innings - and it was a particularly poignant moment for the South African born player, in his final season - and in his final game - for Lancashire.

"Everybody's given me so much," he said. "They've shown so much faith in me and given me every opportunity to go out and score runs. It sort of hit me when I got back into the changing room. Yes, it was emotional. I got a lot of hugs and high fives from the guys."

Canterbury: Kent 446, Nottinghamshire 265 & 177-5

Old Trafford: Middlesex 194, Lancashire 330-5

Edgbaston: Northamptonshire 250, Warwickshire 142-4 (No play on day three)

Division Two

Cardiff: Yorkshire 500, Glamorgan 273 & 120-2

Bristol: Gloucestershire 377, Derbyshire 398-8

Hove: Sussex 262 & 344-9 dec, Leicestershire 108 & 221-3

Image source, Ben Hoskins - Getty Images

Welcome back to day four of this week's round of County Championship matches.

All six games still running, the sun is out seemingly almost everywhere, there are smiles back on faces and we'll have a bit of overtime to catch up on . . . and there could be some tense finishes!

What's not to like?