Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart celebrates news of their winning the ChampionshipImage caption: Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart celebrates news of their winning the Championship
So on the 63rd day of a possible 64 of the Championship season, we had confirmed what most have thought likely all summer - Surrey are county champions for a 22nd time.
The moment came just before lunch when Essex were bowled out in their first innings at Northampton.
But it is congratulations to skipper Rory Burns and his squad, head coach Gareth Batty and director of cricket Alec Stewart for a deserved triumph, as they have been a cut above the rest in Division One.
That now means the last remaining issue going into the final day is at the bottom.
Will it be Kent or Middlesex who go down with Northants?
The smart money is on Middlesex, who need an incredible final day to turn their dire situation around.
Whatever happens, we will be there every step of the way.
Thanks for your company today, as always. We will be back again from just after 10:00 BST tomorrow.
Stumps at Cardiff
Glam 301-5d v Derbys 450-8d & 68-0
Plenty of time lost to bad light at Sophia Gardens this week.
But Glamorgan have their eyes on a run chase tomorrow afternoon after declaring 149 behind in the final session.
Both sides have nothing to play for - and Derbyshire are yet to win this season - so surely a deal will be struck and the final day of the season will hopefully bring some entertainment.
Close of play at Hove
Sussex v Glos 113-5 (Target: 513)
Off for the day at Hove now too where Sussex are five wickets away from finishing a decent season with victory.
128 from 19-year-old James Coles saw the home side rack up 505-7 before the declaration left Gloucestershire a nominal 513 to win.
The visitors have found nothing in reply and are set to finish the season winless for the first time since 2008.
Close of play at Trent Bridge
Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
As expected, stumps are called at Trent Bridge.
Middlesex will have a possible 96 overs tomorrow to turn a deficit of eight runs, three overs into their second innings, into a victory.
Captain Toby Roland-Jones will have to get negotiating with Notts skipper Steven Mullaney to allow for a possible declaration.
If not, it's hard to see how they won't be relegated.
Post update
The three games that are techincally still on today - at Hove, Cardiff and Trent Bridge - have all been suspended because of bad light.
I'd start putting the oven on for tea if I was you.
Close of play at Edgbaston
Warwickshire 273 v Somerset 215 & 90-2
That's it on another weather-affected day at Edgbaston.
Will Somerset and Warwickshire try and set something up on the final day? The visitors lead by just 32 at the moment.
Close of play at the Ageas Bowl
Hants v Surrey 112-6 (Target: 185)
And no more play will be possible beside the M27 so they'll come back in the morning to settle this one.
Hampshire favourites after getting through the middle order and still have another 72 to defend.
But Sai Sudharsan will come back on 31 and with the lower order, Surrey could still cap another fine campaign with victory.
Either way they will surely have a drink this evening having been confirmed as county champions for the 21st time earlier today.
Bad light stops play
Hants v Surrey 112-6 (Target: 185)
The light closes in with Hampshire moving towards victory.
Close of play at Durham
Durham 457-8 dec v Leics 143 & 13-0 (f/o)
That's the end of a very gloomy day three at Chester-le-Street.
Durham will need 10 wickets on the final day for victory and to cap a remarkable season.
WICKET Steel c Holland b Dawson 1
Hants v Surrey 101-6 (target 185)
Surrey are throwing their wickets away.
Cam Steel pumps Liam Dawson straight to Ian Holland at mid-wicket.
Surrey still need 84 and only have four wickets in hand.
WICKET Jacks c Dawson b Fuller 24
Hants v Surrey 96-5 (target 185)
Right, that's enough spin... and James Fuller does the job for Hampshire.
Will Jacks tries to launch the paceman into the Solent but miscues his shot and Liam Dawson takes a steepling catch.
Jacks goes for 24 off 14 balls. Hampshire are probably favourites now.
Bad light stops play at Trent Bridge
Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
Not good news for Middlesex at all.
Umpires Ben Debenham and Neil Mallender come together with light meters in hand and the signal is for the players to head off.
Sam Robson and Mark Stoneman are not happy, but they can't do anything about it.
Will that be it for day three at Trent Bridge?
Close of play at Canterbury
Kent 494 v Lancashire 327 & 126-0
The players will not be returning today at Canterbury.
Stumps are called with Lancashire only 41 runs behind following that excellent opening stand between captain Keaton Jennings and Luke Wells.
Kent did their hard work this morning adding 149 more runs to make it almost impossible for them to lose this match.
Post update
Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
Excellent shot from Sam Robson wide of mid-on is the first four of the innings. Middlesex are going to need plenty of those.
Close of play at Headingley
Yorkshire 262-6 dec v Worcs 389 & 18-2
They went off for bad light at first, and now it's started raining in Leeds. That's all for day three.
Worcestershire will go into the final day of the 2023 season with a lead of 145.
Post update
Hants v Surrey 91-4 (target 185)
Oh wow, that's extraordinary.
Will Jacks nails a reverse sweep all the way for six!
The bowler, Liam Dawson, just stands there and watches it sail over the rope.
Jacks on the attack
Hants v Surrey 83-4 (target 185)
England all-rounder Will Jacks isn't hanging around it seems.
He gets down on one knee and hoiks Tom Prest over mid-wicket for six.
Jacks has 12 off five balls.
Middlesex start second innings
Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 & 2-0
In theory, we have 22 overs left at Trent Bridge as the Middlesex openers, Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson, come to the crease.
Brett Hutton has the ball and gives up only two singles.
The relegation strugglers still trail by 16 runs.
Post update
It's getting pretty gloomy out there now as the clock ticks round to 5pm.
They're off for bad light at Edgbaston, Canterbury, Chester-le-Street and Headingley.
The light isn't brilliant at our other four grounds either, but let's enjoy the action we have while we can!
Adrian HarmsCopyright: Adrian Harms
WICKET Foakes c Brown b Prest 8
Hants v Surrey 66-4 (target 185)
Another wicket for Tom Prest!
The young Hampshire off-spinner drifts one outside off stump, Ben Foakes prods forward and snicks it through to the keeper.
Prest has two of his three first-class wickets in this innings.
Live Reporting
Adam Lanigan, Alex Hoad and Gary Smee
All times stated are UK
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart celebrates news of their winning the ChampionshipImage caption: Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart celebrates news of their winning the Championship 
Adrian HarmsCopyright: Adrian Harms
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#bbccricket
So on the 63rd day of a possible 64 of the Championship season, we had confirmed what most have thought likely all summer - Surrey are county champions for a 22nd time.
The moment came just before lunch when Essex were bowled out in their first innings at Northampton.
But it is congratulations to skipper Rory Burns and his squad, head coach Gareth Batty and director of cricket Alec Stewart for a deserved triumph, as they have been a cut above the rest in Division One.
That now means the last remaining issue going into the final day is at the bottom.
Will it be Kent or Middlesex who go down with Northants?
The smart money is on Middlesex, who need an incredible final day to turn their dire situation around.
Whatever happens, we will be there every step of the way.
Thanks for your company today, as always. We will be back again from just after 10:00 BST tomorrow.
Stumps at Cardiff
Glam 301-5d v Derbys 450-8d & 68-0
Plenty of time lost to bad light at Sophia Gardens this week.
But Glamorgan have their eyes on a run chase tomorrow afternoon after declaring 149 behind in the final session.
Both sides have nothing to play for - and Derbyshire are yet to win this season - so surely a deal will be struck and the final day of the season will hopefully bring some entertainment.
Close of play at Hove
Sussex v Glos 113-5 (Target: 513)
Off for the day at Hove now too where Sussex are five wickets away from finishing a decent season with victory.
128 from 19-year-old James Coles saw the home side rack up 505-7 before the declaration left Gloucestershire a nominal 513 to win.
The visitors have found nothing in reply and are set to finish the season winless for the first time since 2008.
Close of play at Trent Bridge
Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
As expected, stumps are called at Trent Bridge.
Middlesex will have a possible 96 overs tomorrow to turn a deficit of eight runs, three overs into their second innings, into a victory.
Captain Toby Roland-Jones will have to get negotiating with Notts skipper Steven Mullaney to allow for a possible declaration.
If not, it's hard to see how they won't be relegated.
Post update
The three games that are techincally still on today - at Hove, Cardiff and Trent Bridge - have all been suspended because of bad light.
I'd start putting the oven on for tea if I was you.
Close of play at Edgbaston
Warwickshire 273 v Somerset 215 & 90-2
That's it on another weather-affected day at Edgbaston.
Will Somerset and Warwickshire try and set something up on the final day? The visitors lead by just 32 at the moment.
Close of play at the Ageas Bowl
Hants v Surrey 112-6 (Target: 185)
And no more play will be possible beside the M27 so they'll come back in the morning to settle this one.
Hampshire favourites after getting through the middle order and still have another 72 to defend.
But Sai Sudharsan will come back on 31 and with the lower order, Surrey could still cap another fine campaign with victory.
Either way they will surely have a drink this evening having been confirmed as county champions for the 21st time earlier today.
Bad light stops play
Hants v Surrey 112-6 (Target: 185)
The light closes in with Hampshire moving towards victory.
Close of play at Durham
Durham 457-8 dec v Leics 143 & 13-0 (f/o)
That's the end of a very gloomy day three at Chester-le-Street.
Durham will need 10 wickets on the final day for victory and to cap a remarkable season.
WICKET Steel c Holland b Dawson 1
Hants v Surrey 101-6 (target 185)
Surrey are throwing their wickets away.
Cam Steel pumps Liam Dawson straight to Ian Holland at mid-wicket.
Surrey still need 84 and only have four wickets in hand.
WICKET Jacks c Dawson b Fuller 24
Hants v Surrey 96-5 (target 185)
Right, that's enough spin... and James Fuller does the job for Hampshire.
Will Jacks tries to launch the paceman into the Solent but miscues his shot and Liam Dawson takes a steepling catch.
Jacks goes for 24 off 14 balls. Hampshire are probably favourites now.
Bad light stops play at Trent Bridge
Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
Not good news for Middlesex at all.
Umpires Ben Debenham and Neil Mallender come together with light meters in hand and the signal is for the players to head off.
Sam Robson and Mark Stoneman are not happy, but they can't do anything about it.
Will that be it for day three at Trent Bridge?
Close of play at Canterbury
Kent 494 v Lancashire 327 & 126-0
The players will not be returning today at Canterbury.
Stumps are called with Lancashire only 41 runs behind following that excellent opening stand between captain Keaton Jennings and Luke Wells.
Kent did their hard work this morning adding 149 more runs to make it almost impossible for them to lose this match.
Post update
Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
Excellent shot from Sam Robson wide of mid-on is the first four of the innings. Middlesex are going to need plenty of those.
Close of play at Headingley
Yorkshire 262-6 dec v Worcs 389 & 18-2
They went off for bad light at first, and now it's started raining in Leeds. That's all for day three.
Worcestershire will go into the final day of the 2023 season with a lead of 145.
Post update
Hants v Surrey 91-4 (target 185)
Oh wow, that's extraordinary.
Will Jacks nails a reverse sweep all the way for six!
The bowler, Liam Dawson, just stands there and watches it sail over the rope.
Jacks on the attack
Hants v Surrey 83-4 (target 185)
England all-rounder Will Jacks isn't hanging around it seems.
He gets down on one knee and hoiks Tom Prest over mid-wicket for six.
Jacks has 12 off five balls.
Middlesex start second innings
Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 & 2-0
In theory, we have 22 overs left at Trent Bridge as the Middlesex openers, Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson, come to the crease.
Brett Hutton has the ball and gives up only two singles.
The relegation strugglers still trail by 16 runs.
Post update
It's getting pretty gloomy out there now as the clock ticks round to 5pm.
They're off for bad light at Edgbaston, Canterbury, Chester-le-Street and Headingley.
The light isn't brilliant at our other four grounds either, but let's enjoy the action we have while we can!
WICKET Foakes c Brown b Prest 8
Hants v Surrey 66-4 (target 185)
Another wicket for Tom Prest!
The young Hampshire off-spinner drifts one outside off stump, Ben Foakes prods forward and snicks it through to the keeper.
Prest has two of his three first-class wickets in this innings.