Summary

  • Surrey will take 20-point lead into final games after Hampshire beat Essex

  • Northants relegated despite draw with Surrey at The Oval

  • Kent draw with Somerset after following on 169 behind

  • Lancashire & Notts draw game with only 84 overs bowled because of rain

  • Middlesex's Sam Robson scores 107 but they lose to Warwickshire

  • Durham's Scott Borthwick hits century in draw with Worcestershire

  • Derbyshire draw with Sussex and have yet to win a 2023 Championship game

  • Leicestershire promotion hopes fade following draw with Yorkshire

Live Reporting

Alex Hoad, Alex Winter and Paul Grunill

  1. wicket

    WICKET: Finch c Rew b Abell 26

    Somerset 404-4 dec v Kent 85-5

    Neil Wagner is replaced by Tom Abell and four balls later Harry Finch has nicked behind, trying to drive him to long off but instead feathering to James Rew.

    Kent's inexperienced tail is exposed as Marcus O'Riordan joins Joe Denly. Just 19 first-class digs in his career. Can he make the most of his opportunity here.

    Joey Evison is the only other remaining batter of note in the line-up.

  2. Surrey 4-0 f/0 trail Northants by 168

    Very tense stuff at The Oval. What a huge afternoon this is for both sides.

    Just four runs in the first seven overs of the follow-on.

    Still movement for the Northants attack but Rory Burns and Dom Sibley intact for now.

  3. Middlesex 121 & 151-3 v Warwickshire 315

    The Middlesex deficit is under 50 as Ryan Higgins moves into double figures with a couple of fours off the opening over of spin from Rob Yates.

    43 behind and the hosts will feel far more comfortable than they did 40 minutes ago.

  4. 50 runs

    for Matthew Hurst

    Lancs 272-7 v Notts

    A very sweet cover drive from Matthew Hurst brings him a half-century on his first-class debut.

    A wonderful moment for the 19-year-old from Wigan.

    112 balls and five fours.

  5. Essex 447-9 dec & 57-2 v Hants 334

    Tom WestleyGetty Images

    After 12 overs of seam, Hampshire call up left-arm spinner Liam Dawson to see what he can extract from this wicket.

    The visitors made good use of the sweep - orthodox and reverse - against Simon Harmer in their innings, will Essex do the same?

    Five from the over in ones and twos. Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence are both 19 not out and the Essex lead is 170.

  6. 50 runs

    partnership for Kent

    Somerset 404-4 dec v Kent 84-4

    Three straight fours by Joe Denly off the rather expensive Neil Wagner (0-32 off 15 balls) has taken him to 23 and brought up a half-century with Harry Finch in just eight overs.

    Kent remain in a very uncomfortable position, however these two have at least stopped the rot for now.

  7. wicket

    WICKET Lees lbw Allison 60

    Worcs 313 v Durham 92-2

    Alex Lees fails to turn his latest half-century into another 100 as he plays across the line to a ball from Ben Allison and is leg-before.

    Mind you, a total of 1341 runs at an average of 74.5 so far this season is pretty special.

  8. Middlesex 121 & 142-3 v Warwickshire 315

    There might be trouble brewing for Middlesex at Lord's. Nothing to do with on-field matters, though they still trail by 52, but rather the fare on offer in the player's canteen at lunch.

    Traditionally players are treated to steak on the final day of the final home game of the season at the Home of Cricket, however head coach Richard Johnson has had a special request granted today.

    Lamb Jalfrezi is now the order of the day. Wonder what the retiring Tim Murtagh makes of that on his last home game?

    By the by, anyone else hungry now?

  9. Redfern to be first female umpire in Championship

    Sue Redfern is to become the first female umpire to stand in a men's first-class match in England and Wales.

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  10. Essex 447-9 dec & 42-2 v Hants 334

    A couple of streaky boundaries boost the Essex total, one each for Dan Lawrence and Tom Westley via the inside edge.

    The home side lead by 155 and presumably have a score in mind before declaring.

    Bet they're happy with the news from the Oval.

  11. Division Two update

    Yorkshire have lost Adam Lyth at Grace Road, lbw to Will Davis for 60, and they are 150-4 after 39 overs, 72 runs in front.

    Alex Lees is now 59 not out for Durham at New Road following a boundary off Dillon Pennington and they are 85-1 in the 23rd over.

    Derbyshire are 185-4 against Sussex - Matt Lamb hit three fours in an over off Sean Hunt, but Leus du Plooy has just been caught behind off Jaydev Unadkat for 16.

  12. Somerset 404-4 dec v Kent 70-4

    Harry Finch creams Neil Wagner away for back-to-back boundaries to move to 23 from 19 balls with four fours.

    Don't call it a comeback, but that's 39 runs added for this fifth wicket between Finch and Joe Denly (11*).

    79 overs remain. 180 needed for a batting bonus point. 16 wickets left to ensure a draw.

    More tense than most expected after the weather interruptions.

  13. wicket

    WICKET A Cook c Brown b Abbas 16

    Essex 447-9 dec & 29-2 v Hampshire 334

    Alastair Cook cuts uppishly and a leaping Tom Prest is unable to hang onto the chance at backward point.

    It's a temporary reprieve for the former England captain as he tries to pull two balls later but it's not short enough for the stroke and he under-edges Mohammad Abbas through to the keeper.

    It was an innings where he had to play away from his natural game."

    BBC Essex's Nick Gledhill

    Alastair Cook is dismissedGetty Images
  14. 50 runs

    for Alex Lees

    Worcs 313 v Durham 80-1

    We've said it before and we'll say it again now - what a season this is for Alex Lees.

    The Durham opener reaches 50 for the 10th time in 2023 by pulling a short ball from Logan van Beek away for a single.

    Five of the previous nine were converted into centuries - is Lees going to make it half a dozen?

    Next over, he cuts Ben Allison away for his seventh four.

  15. Essex 447-9 dec & 23-1 v Hants 334

    A very unCook-like stroke as Sir Alastair lofts Kyle Abbott away over mid-off for the first boundary of his innings.

    The bowlers, though, still have Cook and Tom Westley in check with eight overs gone in the Essex second innings. The lead is 136.

  16. Somerset 404-4 dec v Kent 60-4

    Double bowling change for Somerset after a near perfect first hour for the hosts.

    Neil Wagner and Josh Davey have replaced Jack Brooks and Lewis Gregory who has made the most of favourable conditions to help his side take a stranglehold on... at least the innings, if not quite the match... yet.

  17. Somerset 404-4 dec v Kent 52-4

    To mark Jack Brooks' final home game before leaving Somerset at the end of the season, fans and commentators alike are doing their best to make it a send-off to remember for the 'Headband Warrior'.

    Commentators at TauntonBBC Sport

  18. Surrey follow-on

    Surrey 0-0 f/o trail Northants by 172

    A collectors item this, Surrey being made to follow-on.

    83 overs left in the day - can Northants pull off a huge upset?

  19. Middlesex 121 & 131-3 v Warwickshire 315

    Sam RobsonRex Features

    Sam Robson edges through the vacant third-slip position and picks up a streaky boundary.

    Oliver Hannon-Dalby looks understandably nonplussed.

    Tick, tick, tick... the overs and deficit are ticking down and the score is ticking up.

    Robson has 67. The deficit is 63.

  20. Somerset 404-4 dec v Kent 49-4

    Delicious leg-side clip off the pads from Joe Denly - vintage Denly - finds the deep square ropes and takes him onto eight and the parrtnership to 18.

    Might not sound a lot but building blocks.

    82 overs remain in the day.