Surrey retain County Championship after Northants bowl out Essex for 211
Essex needed to make 400 but lost six wickets in morning session
Essex then bowled out for 119 in second innings to lose by an innings
Surrey close on 112-6 in pursuit of 185 to beat Hampshire
Kent stay up if they match Middlesex's result at Trent Bridge
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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
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.
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.
Image source, Alex Hoad BBC SportIt'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.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 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.
Image source, Rex FeaturesMorning!
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...