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Live Reporting

Adam Lanigan, Alex Hoad and Gary Smee

All times stated are UK

  1. Latest scores

    Division One

    Hants 219 & 1-0 v Surrey 207

    Kent 345-4 v Lancs 327

    Northants 369 v Essex 125-4

    Notts 92-2 v Middlesex 366

    Warwickshire 112-3 v Somerset 215

    Division Two

    Durham 457-8 dec v Leics 96-6 - start delayed, wet outfield

    Glamorgan 22-0 v Derbyshire 450-8 dec

    Sussex 202 & 256-3 v Gloucs 195

    Yorkshire 24-0 v Worcs 389 - start delayed, wet outfield

  2. Middlesex need a morning to remember

    Nottinghamshire 92-2 v Middlesex 366

    Middlesex produced the right time to deliver their best batting performance of the season, inspired by Ryan Higgins' brilliant 137 to reach 366 and crucially, three batting points.

    Now attention turns to their efforts with the ball. Rain and bad light curtailed things yesterday, although Ben Slater and Joe Clarke had ominously put on 57 as Nottinghamshire reached 92-2.

    That is a deficit of 274 and Middlesex badly need wickets this morning with Kent in a strong position against Lancashire with a guaranteed first innings lead.

    Middlesex will hope bowling conditions are in their favour to grab these eight wickets and set themselves up with a chance to win.

  3. 'Kent seeking to make a point'

    Kent 345-4 v Lancashire 327

    Alex Hoad

    BBC Sport at Canterbury

    Five runs in 21 overs. That's what Kent require to secure a third batting batting bonus point which will change the complexion of the race for Division One survival.

    If they secure that point it means Middlesex would need to claim maximum bowling points at Trent Bridge and also better whatever result Kent achieve here at Canterbury - where they already lead by 18 runs with six first innings wickets in hand.

    No Zak Crawley in the Kent side but his England colleague Tom Hartley has been substituted in for Lancs in the place of Will Williams.

    That does leave the visitors slightly short in the seam department with Jack Blatherwick not allowed to bowl in this innings after sending in two beamers in an over in the gloom of the second afternoon. However Kent have two specialist spinners, and a couple of useful part-timers in their ranks, so you'd expect spin to become a potentially decisive factor.

    Players warm up at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence
  4. Battle to avoid the drop

    It's all still to play for in the fight to avoid relegation between Kent and Middlesex.

    Kent just need to match Middlesex's points total to stay up, and they're in control against Lancashire, but Middlesex are also handily placed at Notts.

    We'll be keeping a close eye on those two games today.

  5. It all comes down to this...

    Surrey bowler Kemar Roach pointing

    The equation is pretty simple when it comes to crowning the 2023 county champions.

    If Essex fail to score 400 in 110 overs at Northants, then Surrey will win the title. Essex resume on 125-4 and will need another 275 runs in 62 overs to keep things interesting.

    They also need Surrey to lose at Hampshire and then go on to beat already-relegated Northants. I think it's safe to say the champagne is probably on ice at the Ageas Bowl.

  6. Post update

    Players warming up at Trent Bridge

    Morning!

    Storm Agnes has swept through and prospects are much brighter on what is likely to be a pivotal day in the title and relegation battle.

    Can Essex stop Surrey winning back-to-back County Championship titles? Will it be Kent or Middlesex who avoid the drop?

    You're in the right place to find out...