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
Middlesex v Warwickshire 0-0 (target 58)
Image source, Rex FeaturesIs there nothing left from this game to surprise us?
It is teeming down at Lord's. There are puddles of standing water forming.
The start of Warwickshire's second innings at 4.25pm will be delayed... but will it be for long enough to save Middlesex?
This would be surely one of the greatest escapes of all time?
Surrey 185 & 142-0 f/o v Northants 357
The rain has arrived at The Oval and that's enough - the players shake hands on a draw.
Tension? Pah! Rory Burns and Dom Sibley have eased their side to safety.
Not the result they wanted, obviously, because they could have sealed back-to-back titles this week, but they remain in pole position heading into the final round next week, where they go to Hampshire.
Bowled out for 185 this morning, they were asked to follow-on but despite many scares, didn't even lose a wicket in their second-innings.
Northamptonshire are relegated - almost.
Northants were drinking in the last-chance saloon, needing a win to keep their survival hopes alive, and made all the running to set up a victory push - but it hasn't happened for them this afternoon.
Ever since beating Middlesex early season they've been pretty poor and the table never lies.
It was an excellent achievement to stay up last season but they haven't improved and this year have been nowhere near as competitive.
Middlesex 121 & 251 v Warwickshire 315
Tim Murtagh is bowled by Danny Briggs out of that useful rough to end the innings.
58 to win in 23 overs for Warwickshire... but what's this... the covers are coming on.... it might not be 23 overs after all. There is rain in the air and it is very dark.
Sam Robson carries his bat for a gutsy 107* - how crucial could it be?
Surrey 142-0 f/o trail Northants by 30
That's probably it at The Oval.
Somerset 404-4 dec v Kent 235 & 34-1 f/o
Now then. Josh Davey finds the edge of Tawanda Muyeye's bat and Tom Abell takes a fine catch diving forward at third slip.
A breakthrough for Somerset, hope for Middlesex.
Daniel Bell-Drummond is the new man.
Somerset 404-4 dec v Kent 235 & 30-0 f/o
10 overs gone. The run rate of three doesn't matter. The deficit of 139 doesn't matter.
Even Tawanda Muyeye's 20 not out doesn't really matter.
31 overs remain in the game.
Surrey 141-0 f/o trail Northants by 31
Dark clouds now gathering behind the Vauxhall End at The Oval and they coming to plunge Northamptonshire's season into darkness.
They haven't been able to strike in 62 overs of this Surrey second innings and shortly, their relegation will be confirmed.
Rory Burns and Dom Sibley have done tremendously well for Surrey - who are greedily admiring Hampshire's work at Chelmsford.
Worcestershire 313 v Durham 371-4
No hanging about for the umpires who decide that enough is enough as rain returns to New Road.
Scott Borthwick finishes unbeaten on 134 not out and now the celebrations for Durham's Division Two title win can really begin.
Worcestershire take eight points from the game and assuming Leicestershire draw their game, will only need four next week against Yorkshire to join them in Division One next summer.
Worcs 313 v Durham 371-4
No play anywhere in Division Two now as the players leave the field at New Road.
Graham Clark hit two fours and a six off successive balls from Kashif Ali and is 25 not out.
Captain Scott Borthwick is still there on 134 and Durham lead by 58.
Hants 124-4 - target 267
Image source, Rex FeaturesThe ball isn't doing as much for Simon Harmer as it was earlier.
Do Essex have a plan B?
James Vince and Liam Dawson have put on 92 so far - there are 28 overs left in the game.
Middlesex 121 & 251-9 v Warwickshire 315
Oliver Hannon-Dalby with a beautiful slower ball which Ethan Bamber can only nick behind to the keeper.
Nine down. 57 ahead. 27 overs remain.
Tim Murtagh strides out at Lord's for the final time.
Surrey 127-0 f/o trail Northants by 45
It's been easy going for Surrey after tea in the Oval sunshine.
Dom Sibley joins his captain in passing fifty, his in 158 balls with seven boundaries.
Nine more overs until they can shake on a draw.
Hants 116-4 - target 267
Another boundary for Liam Dawson as he cuts Simon Harmer away through point. They need 151 from 32 overs to win the game and deal what would be a huge blow to Essex's hopes of winning the title.
Middlesex 121 & 250-8 v Warwickshire 315
Ethan Bamber glances Chris Rushworth just past the keeper off his pads for four runs to fine leg to bring up the 250.
The lead is 56 and the floodlights are on in the gathering gloom.
Will those huge dark clouds come to Middlesex's rescue here?
Durham have lost a fourth wicket at New Road with Ollie Robinson caught off Kashif Ali for 84.
It is Kashif's first wicket in Championship cricket so a big moment for him.
Robinson and Scott Borthwick - who is 134 not out - shared a stand of 159.
Hants 112-4 - target 267
James Vince collects a single off Umesh Yadav and reaches 50 from just 45 balls faced. It was a bit of a leading edge but no danger as it ran into the covers.
It is his sixth of the season, to go with one century, and he is just two runs short of 900 for the season.
Quote MessageA high class knock in these circumstances."
BBC Radio Solent's Kevan James
Derbys 229-6 dec v Sussex 100 & 84-3
The second rain interruption of the day at the Incora County Ground. Will it be as brief as the first one?
Sussex are 45 behind with Tom Clark 36 not out and Dan Ibrahim on eight.
Somerset 404-4 dec v Kent 235 & 12-0 f/o
No news is good news from a Kent perspective.
Six apiece in the opening four overs for Tawanda Muyeye and Ben Compton.
The number that really matters now is 37 - the number of overs remaining.
Hants 106-4 - target 267
Simon Harmer floats one up outside off stump and Liam Dawson drives it through the covers for four runs.
He moves to 26 not out and James Vince is two runs short of a half-century.
Hants 101-4 - target 267
Three for James Vince off Umesh Yadav is the only addition in that over as Hampshire's score reaches three figures.
There are 45 overs left and this partnership is currently worth 69.
Quote MessageAs the ball gets older, you don't anticipate seamers taking wickets on this pitch."
BBC Essex's Nick Gledhill