Sussex are closing in on victory at Hove and it's Brad Currie who makes the initial breakthrough this morning, persuading Zafar Gohar to dab at one outside off stump and Oli Carter takes the catch behind the stumps.
Rumours that Ed Middleton, who was injured yesterday, may not bat for Gloucestershire - and the fact Matt Taylor has come out ahead of him suggests that may be the case.
Post update
Kent 494 v Lancs 327 & 131-0
Nothing resembling a chance yet for Kent.
Lancashire are content at this stage to pick up ones and twos - the deficit is now 36.
WICKET Clark c Vince b Abbas 4
Surrey 114-7 - target 185
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Hampshire strike early.
Jordan Clark advances down the track to Mohammad Abbas, trying to upset the bowler's length.
Abbas pushes the ball out a little wider and Clark has nicked it low to a diving James Vince at first slip.
52nd wicket of the season for Abbas.
Final Day Begins at Trent Bridge
Notts 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
It goes without saying Middlesex must force the pace this morning if they are to set Nottinghamshire any kind of target and give themselves even a sniff of bowling the home side out to stave off relegation.
First task is to wipe out those first-innings arrears of 18... they need eight more as Jake Ball runs in to begin the day's entertainment, bowling to Sam Robson.
Delay at Edgbaston
Warwks 273 v Somerset 215 & 90-2
Sorry, folks.
Still a bit of moisture out there.
We had one pitch inspection here at 9.45 and we're told there will be another one at 11.00.
Final Day Begins at Southampton
Surrey 112-6 - target 185
No matter what happens today, the Championship title stays with Surrey after their closest rivals Essex were bowled out for less than 400 in their first innings at Northampton yesterday, missing out on crucial bonus points.
Surrey have won the Championship 21 times now.
But the race for third place is still on.
Hampshire will finish third if they take the last four Surrey wickets for less than 73 runs.
If that doesn't happen and Warwickshire manage at least a draw at home to Somerset, then Warwickshire pip the south coast county to third.
Sai Sudharsan and Jordan Clark both made crucial 50s for Surrey on first innings and they return to the middle to try and see their side over the line.
Mohammad Abbas will bowl to Clark.
Post update
Kent 494 v Lancs 327 & 126-0
Kent have an awful lot of work to do if they are to somehow force a win from this game.
Keaton Jennings and Luke Wells are 52 and 69 not out respectively and their first order of business will be to score 42 more runs to put Lancashire into the lead.
Jennings is on strike. Nathan Gilchrist will bow the opening over.
'The calm before the storm'
Kent 494 v Lancashire 327 & 126-0
Alex Hoad
BBC Sport at Canterbury
A lot of laughter and smiles on the field at Canterbury, some very serious football warm-ups taking place for both Kent and Lancashire.
Off the field however the Kent fans in particular are a little more quiet. There are plenty of earpieces on show already as they know their club's hopes of Division One survival will almost certainly be decided 192 miles up the motorway.
It feels very much like the calm before the storm.
Don't rule out an arranged run chase here either, should Kent get wind of a similar situation at Trent Bridge.
Alex Hoad BBC SportCopyright: Alex Hoad BBC Sport
Post update
Essex's title challenge petered out with back to back defeats by Hampshire and Northamptonshire and so thoughts begin to turn to next summer.
One of the big questions is whether Sir Alastair Cook will be back in 2024 to strap on his pads once again. But it looks like we're all going to have to be patient before we know the answer.
It's been a long season, and once again they have travelled many miles, but our BBC local radio teams are in place to bring you full coverage of the last day of the county season.
Choose an audio stream at the top of the page to listen to live commentary and we'll keep you up to date with events elsewhere with regular text updates.
Chapple leaves wonderful memories
Kent 494 v Lancs 327 & 126-0 (play starts at 10:30)
Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
It's the end of a era for
Lancashire today. After 30 years at the club, Glen Chapple leaves with
legendary status. Player, captain and latterly head coach.
His achievements as a
player alone would secure his place amongst the very best. Taking 1,373 wickets
for Lancashire in all competitions across 664 appearances. Bowling Lancashire
to victory for over two decades, bowling them to the title as captain in 2011.
As a player, he was unlucky to have missed out
on international honours, apart from a solitary ODI. As Lancashire's head coach, three times they finished
as County Championship runners up, and three times he took them to T20 Finals Day.
His
impact on the club, on and off the field can't be overstated. Still with a year left on his contract, the
club and Chapple are to part company. Seven years without a trophy, with the
exception of winning Division Two, is a long time without silverware for a club
that expects to win.
Chapple leaves Lancashire with wonderful memories, and a
squad which has consistently come close to the success that supporters crave.
Who's in your team of the season?
#bbccricket
County Championship 2023 ends today.
Over the past few days, you have been voting for your overall team of the season using our long list of candidates.
We will be bringing you the final XI, as selected by you, during the final day's play in our eight remaining matches.
The 2022 XI was Compton, Jennings, Abell, Brook, Pujara, Foakes, Barnard, Harmer, Roland-Jones, Abbott, Potts.
Will any of them keep their place for a second year in a row?
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Middlesex have to find way to set target - Helm
Notts 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Middlesex pace bowler Tom Helm says they have no alternative except to just 'go for it' as they try to avoid relegation on the final day of the Championship season.
As things stand, they still trail Notts by eight runs and need something approaching a miracle to better Kent's result against Lancashire and send them down instead.
"We are going to have to go at them. We are going to have to set them a score to have a chance to bowl them out and stay in the division," Helm told BBC Radio London.
"I can't put a number on it - that's a bit above my pay grade. It's going to be a really exciting day, there's a huge amount to play for."
Kent focused on own game - Cook
Kent 494 v Lancs 327 & 126-0 (play starts at 10:30)
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Kent will stay focused on their own game and not worry too much about Middlesex as they try to avoid dropping into Division Two next season, according to coach Simon Cook.
If Middlesex were to win against Notts and Kent fail to beat Lancashire, they would go down, but Cook said that despite the situation, the team's mood were pretty buoyant.
"We've tried to focus on what's going on here. Obviously there is one eye on what's happening over there. The guys don't have their phones on them so they're not checking them all the time but we've got analysts in our dressing room so they can keep track of the score when required," he added.
"Because we're in a good amount of control in this game means that we don't necessarily need to look at that game."
Prest looking to all-rounder future
Hants 219 & 172 v Surrey 207 & 112-6 (play starts at 10:30)
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Hampshire hope to take a little of the gloss off Surrey's Championship title win by inflicting only their second defeat of the season on the final day at the Ageas Bowl.
The champions need another 73 runs for what would be their ninth win of the campaign, while the home side need four wickets.
"We did pretty well to take six wickets. If we get a win, we'll end up finishing third, so that's we're striving to do," said Hampshire's Tom Prest, who dismissed Rory Burns and Ben Foakes.
"If I can really improve my bowling, it's another opportunity for me to get in the team and stay in the team - Daws [Liam Dawson] gets runs and wickets most games, and hopefully in the future I can do something like that."
Du Plooy hoping to sign off with a win
Glamorgan 301-5 dec v Derbyshire 450-8 & 68-0
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Derbyshire skipper Leus du Plooy admitted to being "slightly surprised" by Glamorgan's declaration 149 runs behind on day three at Sophia Gardens.
Du Plooy joins Middlesex for next season and is hoping to sign off by leading Derbyshire to what would be their first Championship win of the season.
"The declaration was not discussed with me and we were slightly surprised, the ball's in our court and we're looking forward to the challenge," he told BBC Radio Derby.
"The worst thing that can happen (in deciding a Derbyshire declaration) is that we fail, but we grow as a team, it's fine. We'll try to get a result out of it."
Today's weather outlook
We've had a fair amount of rain in the last couple of weeks but it looks like the weather gods are in a generous mood on the final day of the County Championship season.
"Looking like a fine Friday for most of us with sunny spells" is the BBC Weather verdict.
How things stand
After third day's play
Division One
Hampshire 219 & 172 v Surrey 207 & 112-6
Surrey need 73 to win with 4 wickets standing
Kent 494 v Lancashire 327 & 126-0
Lancashire trail by 41 with 10 wickets standing
Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
Middlesex trail by 8 with 10 wickets standing
Warwickshire 273 v Somerset 215 & 90-2
Somerset lead by 32 with 8 wickets standing
Division Two
Durham 457-8 dec v Leicestershire 143 & 13-0
Leicestershire trail by 301 with 10 wickets standing
Glamorgan 301-5 dec v Derbyshire 450-8 dec & 68-0
Derbyshire lead by 217 with 10 wickets standing
Sussex 202 & 505-7 dec v Gloucestershire 195 & 113-5
Gloucestershire need 400 to win with 5 wickets standing
Yorkshire 262-6 dec v Worcestershire 389 & 18-2
Worcestershire lead by 145 with 8 wickets standing
---Thursday's result---
Northamptonshire 369 v Essex 211 & 119
Northants won by an innings and 39 runs
Good morning
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
It all began on Thursday 6 April and here we are 176 days later, ready to bring the curtain down on the 2023 County Championship.
Surrey are champions for the second year in a row, Durham and Worcestershire have made certain of playing Division One cricket next season.
There's only one thing left to settle. Will it be Kent or Middlesex who join Northamptonshire in dropping out of the top tier?
Welcome to our coverage of the final day of the final round of games. Play starts at 10.30.
Live Reporting
Ben Kosky, Ben Pheazey and Paul Grunill
All times stated are UK
WICKET Zafar c Carter b Currie 3
Sussex v Gloucs 122-6 (target 513)
Sussex are closing in on victory at Hove and it's Brad Currie who makes the initial breakthrough this morning, persuading Zafar Gohar to dab at one outside off stump and Oli Carter takes the catch behind the stumps.
Rumours that Ed Middleton, who was injured yesterday, may not bat for Gloucestershire - and the fact Matt Taylor has come out ahead of him suggests that may be the case.
Post update
Kent 494 v Lancs 327 & 131-0
Nothing resembling a chance yet for Kent.
Lancashire are content at this stage to pick up ones and twos - the deficit is now 36.
WICKET Clark c Vince b Abbas 4
Surrey 114-7 - target 185
Hampshire strike early.
Jordan Clark advances down the track to Mohammad Abbas, trying to upset the bowler's length.
Abbas pushes the ball out a little wider and Clark has nicked it low to a diving James Vince at first slip.
52nd wicket of the season for Abbas.
Final Day Begins at Trent Bridge
Notts 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
It goes without saying Middlesex must force the pace this morning if they are to set Nottinghamshire any kind of target and give themselves even a sniff of bowling the home side out to stave off relegation.
First task is to wipe out those first-innings arrears of 18... they need eight more as Jake Ball runs in to begin the day's entertainment, bowling to Sam Robson.
Delay at Edgbaston
Warwks 273 v Somerset 215 & 90-2
Sorry, folks.
Still a bit of moisture out there.
We had one pitch inspection here at 9.45 and we're told there will be another one at 11.00.
Final Day Begins at Southampton
Surrey 112-6 - target 185
No matter what happens today, the Championship title stays with Surrey after their closest rivals Essex were bowled out for less than 400 in their first innings at Northampton yesterday, missing out on crucial bonus points.
Surrey have won the Championship 21 times now.
But the race for third place is still on.
Hampshire will finish third if they take the last four Surrey wickets for less than 73 runs.
If that doesn't happen and Warwickshire manage at least a draw at home to Somerset, then Warwickshire pip the south coast county to third.
Sai Sudharsan and Jordan Clark both made crucial 50s for Surrey on first innings and they return to the middle to try and see their side over the line.
Mohammad Abbas will bowl to Clark.
Post update
Kent 494 v Lancs 327 & 126-0
Kent have an awful lot of work to do if they are to somehow force a win from this game.
Keaton Jennings and Luke Wells are 52 and 69 not out respectively and their first order of business will be to score 42 more runs to put Lancashire into the lead.
Jennings is on strike. Nathan Gilchrist will bow the opening over.
'The calm before the storm'
Kent 494 v Lancashire 327 & 126-0
Alex Hoad
BBC Sport at Canterbury
A lot of laughter and smiles on the field at Canterbury, some very serious football warm-ups taking place for both Kent and Lancashire.
Off the field however the Kent fans in particular are a little more quiet. There are plenty of earpieces on show already as they know their club's hopes of Division One survival will almost certainly be decided 192 miles up the motorway.
It feels very much like the calm before the storm.
Don't rule out an arranged run chase here either, should Kent get wind of a similar situation at Trent Bridge.
Post update
Essex's title challenge petered out with back to back defeats by Hampshire and Northamptonshire and so thoughts begin to turn to next summer.
One of the big questions is whether Sir Alastair Cook will be back in 2024 to strap on his pads once again. But it looks like we're all going to have to be patient before we know the answer.
Essex wait for Cook's decision on possible retirement
Essex are wait for former England skipper Sir Alastair Cook to make a decision on his future.
Read moreBall by ball commentary
It's been a long season, and once again they have travelled many miles, but our BBC local radio teams are in place to bring you full coverage of the last day of the county season.
Choose an audio stream at the top of the page to listen to live commentary and we'll keep you up to date with events elsewhere with regular text updates.
Chapple leaves wonderful memories
Kent 494 v Lancs 327 & 126-0 (play starts at 10:30)
Scott Read
BBC Radio Lancashire
It's the end of a era for Lancashire today. After 30 years at the club, Glen Chapple leaves with legendary status. Player, captain and latterly head coach.
His achievements as a player alone would secure his place amongst the very best. Taking 1,373 wickets for Lancashire in all competitions across 664 appearances. Bowling Lancashire to victory for over two decades, bowling them to the title as captain in 2011.
As a player, he was unlucky to have missed out on international honours, apart from a solitary ODI. As Lancashire's head coach, three times they finished as County Championship runners up, and three times he took them to T20 Finals Day.
His impact on the club, on and off the field can't be overstated. Still with a year left on his contract, the club and Chapple are to part company. Seven years without a trophy, with the exception of winning Division Two, is a long time without silverware for a club that expects to win.
Chapple leaves Lancashire with wonderful memories, and a squad which has consistently come close to the success that supporters crave.
Who's in your team of the season?
#bbccricket
County Championship 2023 ends today.
Over the past few days, you have been voting for your overall team of the season using our long list of candidates.
We will be bringing you the final XI, as selected by you, during the final day's play in our eight remaining matches.
The 2022 XI was Compton, Jennings, Abell, Brook, Pujara, Foakes, Barnard, Harmer, Roland-Jones, Abbott, Potts.
Will any of them keep their place for a second year in a row?
Middlesex have to find way to set target - Helm
Notts 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
Middlesex pace bowler Tom Helm says they have no alternative except to just 'go for it' as they try to avoid relegation on the final day of the Championship season.
As things stand, they still trail Notts by eight runs and need something approaching a miracle to better Kent's result against Lancashire and send them down instead.
"We are going to have to go at them. We are going to have to set them a score to have a chance to bowl them out and stay in the division," Helm told BBC Radio London.
"I can't put a number on it - that's a bit above my pay grade. It's going to be a really exciting day, there's a huge amount to play for."
Kent focused on own game - Cook
Kent 494 v Lancs 327 & 126-0 (play starts at 10:30)
Kent will stay focused on their own game and not worry too much about Middlesex as they try to avoid dropping into Division Two next season, according to coach Simon Cook.
If Middlesex were to win against Notts and Kent fail to beat Lancashire, they would go down, but Cook said that despite the situation, the team's mood were pretty buoyant.
"We've tried to focus on what's going on here. Obviously there is one eye on what's happening over there. The guys don't have their phones on them so they're not checking them all the time but we've got analysts in our dressing room so they can keep track of the score when required," he added.
"Because we're in a good amount of control in this game means that we don't necessarily need to look at that game."
Prest looking to all-rounder future
Hants 219 & 172 v Surrey 207 & 112-6 (play starts at 10:30)
Hampshire hope to take a little of the gloss off Surrey's Championship title win by inflicting only their second defeat of the season on the final day at the Ageas Bowl.
The champions need another 73 runs for what would be their ninth win of the campaign, while the home side need four wickets.
"We did pretty well to take six wickets. If we get a win, we'll end up finishing third, so that's we're striving to do," said Hampshire's Tom Prest, who dismissed Rory Burns and Ben Foakes.
"If I can really improve my bowling, it's another opportunity for me to get in the team and stay in the team - Daws [Liam Dawson] gets runs and wickets most games, and hopefully in the future I can do something like that."
Du Plooy hoping to sign off with a win
Glamorgan 301-5 dec v Derbyshire 450-8 & 68-0
Derbyshire skipper Leus du Plooy admitted to being "slightly surprised" by Glamorgan's declaration 149 runs behind on day three at Sophia Gardens.
Du Plooy joins Middlesex for next season and is hoping to sign off by leading Derbyshire to what would be their first Championship win of the season.
"The declaration was not discussed with me and we were slightly surprised, the ball's in our court and we're looking forward to the challenge," he told BBC Radio Derby.
"The worst thing that can happen (in deciding a Derbyshire declaration) is that we fail, but we grow as a team, it's fine. We'll try to get a result out of it."
Today's weather outlook
We've had a fair amount of rain in the last couple of weeks but it looks like the weather gods are in a generous mood on the final day of the County Championship season.
"Looking like a fine Friday for most of us with sunny spells" is the BBC Weather verdict.
How things stand
After third day's play
Division One
Hampshire 219 & 172 v Surrey 207 & 112-6
Surrey need 73 to win with 4 wickets standing
Kent 494 v Lancashire 327 & 126-0
Lancashire trail by 41 with 10 wickets standing
Nottinghamshire 384 v Middlesex 366 & 10-0
Middlesex trail by 8 with 10 wickets standing
Warwickshire 273 v Somerset 215 & 90-2
Somerset lead by 32 with 8 wickets standing
Division Two
Durham 457-8 dec v Leicestershire 143 & 13-0
Leicestershire trail by 301 with 10 wickets standing
Glamorgan 301-5 dec v Derbyshire 450-8 dec & 68-0
Derbyshire lead by 217 with 10 wickets standing
Sussex 202 & 505-7 dec v Gloucestershire 195 & 113-5
Gloucestershire need 400 to win with 5 wickets standing
Yorkshire 262-6 dec v Worcestershire 389 & 18-2
Worcestershire lead by 145 with 8 wickets standing
---Thursday's result---
Northamptonshire 369 v Essex 211 & 119
Northants won by an innings and 39 runs
Good morning
It all began on Thursday 6 April and here we are 176 days later, ready to bring the curtain down on the 2023 County Championship.
Surrey are champions for the second year in a row, Durham and Worcestershire have made certain of playing Division One cricket next season.
There's only one thing left to settle. Will it be Kent or Middlesex who join Northamptonshire in dropping out of the top tier?
Welcome to our coverage of the final day of the final round of games. Play starts at 10.30.