Well what a day of twists and turns, tons and fiverfers that was... yet barely anything was ultimately resolved.

Worcestershire did, of course, rack up the runs required at Headlingley for the bonus point which ensured they will join Durham in Division One next year.

Despite being whipped out for 207 by Hampshire, Surrey have one finger on the Division One trophy as challengers Essex were held up by Northants, stuttering to 125-4 at stumps needing to score at least 400 inside 110 overs to keep the title race alive.

At the other end Kent and Middlesex piled on the bonus points in their quest to beat the drop.

Kent remain in the box seat and need just five runs in the morning to ensure a third batting point meaning Middlesex will have to BETTER whatever result they are able to get at home to Lancashire - whom they already lead by 18 runs with six wickets in hand.

With a better forecast in store, we'll be back bright and early at 10.15 BST to bring you all the action from a potentially decisive third day of the final round of Championship action in 2023.

The day began pretty much perfectly for Middlesex who plundered three batting bonus points, more than they had made in the entire season until then.

They were indebted to 136 from Ryan Higgins, 58 from Stephen Eskinazi and 56 from Jayant Yadav for getting them to 366.

Despite taking two quick wickets to begin the reply Middlesex's hopes of engineering a winning position have been hindered by both Notts - with Ben Slater and Joe Clarke adding an unbroken 57 for the third wicket - and the weather, as rain and bad light led to overs being lost.

As expected, the light has not improved on the south coast so that's stumps for Day Two, 20 balls into Hampshire's second innings.

Of course, we know Surrey remain firm favourites to win the Championship, but this is still an intriguing contest, with near parity on first innings.

Liam Dawson was the pick of the Hampshire bowlers with 5-44, but this was a great team effort where every bowler offered threat and control.

Jordan Clark kept Surrey in the contest with an unbeaten 50 before running out of partners.

He's not moving particularly easily after being struck on the hip by a ball earlier in the session but Ben Slater has hobbled within a run of a half-century in the gloaming.

Eight overs remain in the day but the umpires have taken the bails off as the light is so bad. The stumps remain in the ground for now but that will almost certainly be that.

Derbyshire have given themselves every chance of picking up a first victory of the season in Division Two.

Luis Reece's 139 set them on their way to a huge first-innings score but a rain-interrupted second day saw only 11 overs bowled in Glamorgan's first innings.

A hugely truncated second day comes to a close in Birmingham.

Warwickshire probably just hold the upper hand as they close 103 behind with seven wickets left.

Still playing at Trent Bridge where there are 10 overs and change remaining in the day.

The light isnt great either so not sure we'll see all of them.

How Middlesex would like to go to bed tonight with another bonus point in the bag. They are one wicket away.

That is stumps. It is the end of September after all...

Kent are five runs shy of the all-important batting bonus point which will ensure that Middlesex must BETTER Kent's result here.

If they'd picked that up it would have been a pretty much perfect day for the hosts. Ben Compton made 95, Tawanda Muyeye 46 and Joe Denly an imperious unbeaten 105 with able support from Harry Finch (24*).

Kent will have 21 overs tomorrow morning in which to add to their points haul, or indeed start working on trying to bowl Lancashire out for a second time.

partnership for Kentpublished at 17:54 British Summer Time 27 September 2023

17:54 BST 27 September 2023

Kent 345-4 v Lancashire 327

Back-to-back century stands for Kent.

Joe Denly has contributed 57 of them and Harry Finch 24.

The light is fading.

No news means bad news from a Middlesex perspective at this point.

Ben Slater has moved to 44 from 71 balls but has needed some treatment after being struck by a bumper.

Joe Clarke is 17 short of 1,000 Championship runs for the season at the other end and Middlesex need a wicket to claim their first bowling point.

The clouds are gathering over the Ageas Bowl and it surely won't get any brighter here tonight.

Toby Albert picks up a single off the first ball of Roach's second over and Fletcha Middleton defends as the ball swings into the line.

The sound of the wind is clearly picked up on the commentary mic and once again, we're off for bad light.

Hampshire have a slender lead after superb bowling from Liam Dawson in particular restricted Surrey to 207.

But Surrey can still wrap up the Championship title with a draw, or if second-placed Essex make less than 400 away against Northants.

Sussex's batters have shone on day two on the south coast and they go to stumps with a lead of 263.

Half-centuries from Ali Orr, Tom Clark and James Coles have put the hosts in complete control.

Gloucestershire look set to end the season without a County Championship victory.

It's largely been forgotten in the race for bonus points, but there is also a game of cricket going on, and in that game Kent have taken a first innings advantage against their visitors.

Harry Finch almost chopped on to his own stumps off Will Williams in the previous over but Joe Denly works a single off George Balderson to take the hosts past the Lancashire total with six wickets in hand.

22 runs shy of that magic third batting bonus point too. Nine overs and change remain tonight in which to get them.

Good over from Kemar Roach, finding bounce and movement outside off stump.

Dan Worrall gets some lovely shape on the ball, moving it away to Fletcha Middleton, towards the keeper and slips.

There's a huge appeal for LBW but it's not given.

Possibly a bit of late swing, moving the ball outside the line?

Back to back maidens.

No more play at Wantage Road tonight.

A pity as Essex were starting to gain the upper hand in that session.

Northants have kept the run rate in check with the softer ball though - and still lead by 244.

Putting the computations of the Championship title to one side, this game has become something of a one innings shootout, with just 12 runs separating the two sides on the first dig.

Hampshire's Toby Albert and Fletcha Middleton will open the innings.

Kemar Roach will bowl to Albert.

12 overs left before stumps - as it stands.

That might be it for the day, unless we get back on the field before 6.00.

As it stands, the light is not deemed to be good enough for play.

Essex are fighting their way back into this game but would have to do something extraordinary to upset Surrey's title challenge.

The need 400 runs inside 110 overs - and also need Surrey to lose what looks like a very close game at Southampton.

Tom Westley and Paul Walter survive the session on 37 and 36 respectively.

The partnership is worth 53.

Paul Walter is on the back foot to Tom Taylor, crashing the ball through cover for four.

Not quite out of the middle but firmly struck.

Walters gets a single off the third ball and Tom Westley is beaten outside off.

That ball kept a bit low.

for Joe Denlypublished at 17:27 British Summer Time 27 September 2023

17:27 BST 27 September 2023

Kent 318-4 v Lancashire 327

Form is temporary, class is permanent, as they say...

Joe Denly's first century of the season and what a time to get it. 11 fours and a six in a 137 ball stay.

The 37-year-old has flashed Tom Bailey away through the covers for three and off comes the helmet.

73 last week to help ensure a draw at Somerset and who knows what this century might mean in the grand reckoning for Kent.

Paul Walter miscues a drive to mid on off Tom Taylor but the ball lands safely.

Just one run scored in the over.

Jack White replaces Ben Sanderson in the attack.

His first ball is wide and driven to cover for no run.

More than a hint of variable bounce here as White gets one to take off outside off stump and another to keep low off nearly the same spot.