Recap the day's LV= County Championship action. Yorkshire beat Northamptonshire to go top of Division One and Alex Hales blasted 167.
By Callum Dent, Rob Barnett & Dominic Farrell
7.01pm - They’re finally off at Chelmsford - the hosts probably wanted to stay out all night - so here’s a close of play summary from around the grounds.
Six of the seven ongoing matches reach their conclusions tomorrow, while Leicestershire versus Gloucestershire is delicately poised at the halfway stage. You know where you can find all the action.
Division One
Yorkshire beat Northamptonshire by 271 runs at Wantage Road as the hosts were 251 all out in their second innings, Liam Plunkett and Tim Bresnan helping themselves to four and three wickets respectively
Middlesex are 90 for two, following on in their second innings at Durham. Opener Sam Robson could have a big say on the visitors’ ability to save the game - he’s 42 not out with the deficit 148.
Lancashire are 93 for three, 122 behind Somerset as they follow on at Emirates Old Trafford. Peter Trego has taken the three second-innings wickets to fall, while Andrea Agathangelou is four runs shy of a half-century.
Sussex are 29 without loss having been set 434 to win by Nottinghamshire, for whom Alex Hales blasted a sensational 167 at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
Division Two
Derbyshire are 31 without loss, needing a further 315 to beat leaders Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl. Danny Briggs took a five-wicket haul before the hosts scored briskly to set up the declaration.
Zafar Ansari has an unbeaten 50 for Surrey, who are 111 for three following on against Worcestershire at the Kia Oval. Earlier, Jack Shantry impressed with 6-53 and the visitors remain 159 runs ahead.
Glamorgan are 188 for eight, 152 ahead of Essex at the Essex County Ground. Reece Topley has 10 wickets in the match on his first championship appearance of the season for the home team.
Leicestershire are 12 without loss after Rob Taylor’s five-wicket haul dismissed Gloucestershire for 260 at Grace Road - a slender nine-run first-innings advantage.
6.39pm - It’s become a nightmare evening for Glamorgan - Dean Cosker the next man to go, caught by Greg Smith at midwicket off Moore. The visitors lead by 130 with just two second-innings wickets remaining.
And that is stumps..Surrey 111-3...Ansari 50*, Davies 23*...Ansari has batted all day for 77* and 50* pic.twitter.com/YbSH8tlQm8
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 3, 2014
Wagg chips Moore to mid-wicket. Glam 160/7.
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) June 3, 2014
6.26pm - Ten wickets in the match for Topley. What a sensational return to action this has been for the young left-arm seamer, who traps Wallace lbw to leave Glamorgan 159 for six.
6.22pm - Speculation be damned! Notts declare to leave Sussex with a tricky four-over spell to negotiate, so long as the light holds. The hosts require a nominal 434 for victory. Taylor was unbeaten on 65.
Speculation from Hove that Notts haven’t declared due to the light not being good enough for Broad and Siddle to bowl #sussvnotts
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) June 3, 2014
6.18pm - James Taylor has brought up his half-century as Nottinghamshire bat on under floodlights.
We’re done for the day at Leicestershire and Durham and will have a close-of-play summary with you shortly.
6.05pm - Derbyshire reach the close on 31 without loss. They need another 315 to beat Hampshire tomorrow.
6.03pm - Mark Wallace and Jim Allenby are back out in the middle for what the Glamorgan batsmen will view as a grubby little session. Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire’s lead is 400.
Close day 3 @LancsCCC 2nd inns 95-3 @Agathangelou11 46* @karlos173 22* trail by 122 #LancsvSom
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) June 3, 2014
5.55pm - Sensational catch from Keaton Jennings, diving forward as Dawid Malan skies a pull off Wood. Middlesex are 76 for two and nightwatchman Ravi Patel joins Sam Robson, who is 35 not out.
5.45pm - Samit Patel edges James Anyon through to Matt Prior for 19 and Notts are 283 for four. At 380 ahead, the declaration is surely around the corner?
5.37pm - Bad light halts Glamorgan’s innings at 133 for five, a lead of 97.
Our boy @gurneyhf has been denied an inevitable England century #ranoutofpartnerspic.twitter.com/oaCE7OTN9T
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) June 3, 2014
5.26pm - Unfortunately, bad light has turned to rain at Grace Road.
5.19pm - Sussex don’t have to worry about losing any more balls. Hales goes, caught in the deep by Luke Wright the ball after mowing poor old Nash for another maximum. There ends a simply remarkable 167 from 133 deliveries, containing 18 fours and six sixes.
Vikram Solanki departs lbw to Joe Leach and, like Lancashire, Surrey are giving themselves a nigh-on impossible task tomorrow.
Meanwhile in Hove, change of balls needed as Hales hits another six. #countycricketlive
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) June 3, 2014
5.10pm - Gloucestershire are all out for 260, nine behind Leicestershire. Make that 21, but bad light has delayed the Foxes’ second inning with the score 12 without loss.
Hampshire have declared on 214 for five, setting Derbyshire 346 to win. Sean Ervine clobbered 32 off 13 deliveries to speed up that process.
5.06pm - Further woe for Lancashire as Peter Trego strikes again to remove Ashwell Prince, caught at third slip. Karl Brown is the new man and, on 43 for three, the Red Rose are still 174 runs from making Somerset bat again.
There’s also follow-on problems for Surrey as Arun Harinath is run out.
5.03pm - Hales is through to 150. In theory he still has 27 overs to play with this evening, although one would expect a Nottinghamshire declaration before the close.
4.55pm - Youngster Tom Moore has Will Bragg held by Jesse Ryder at slip for 46. Glamorgan are 122 for five and Essex are taking a grip on the contest.
Scott Elstone has another at the Ageas Bowl, with Adam Wheater caught in the deep as Hampshire look to kick on.
WICKET! @scottelstone claims his maiden first-class wicket, as Vince is superbly stumped by Cross for 40. Hampshire 175-4; 306 lead #HAMvDER
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) June 3, 2014
Horton gone! LBW to Trego for 11, @LancsCCC 21-2 are 196 behind #LancsvSom
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) June 3, 2014
4.42pm - Chris Rogers goes cheaply for the second time in the match, lbw to Chris Rushworth on this occasion, and Durham are up and running once more.
Taylor draws an edge behind from namesake Matt to complete a five-wicket haul and Gloucestershire are 259 for nine - 10 behind Leicestershire.
4.39pm - Alex Hales is teeing off in brutal fashion at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground. Following back-to-back sixes off Chris Nash, the England T20 opener has 142 from 113 deliveries. He only brought up his ton 17 balls ago!
4.33pm - Bang, bang from Reece Topley! The Essex left-arm paceman bowls Ben Wright and the in-form Chris Cooke in the space of three overs to leave Glamorgan 118 for four in their second innings - a lead of 86. Topley has nine wickets in the match.
4.28pm - New innings but it’s the same old struggles with the bat for Lancashire. Alex Davies brought up a half-century earlier today but he won’t repeat the feat as Peter Trego pins him leg before.
At Grace Road, Taylor accounts for Will Tavare in the same manner. Meanwhile, Durham have enforced the follow-on and, on the south coast, Borrington atones for his earlier error and catches Adams off Wainwright for 67.
WICKET! Middlesex all out for 330. Murtagh comes charging down the wicket to Borthwick but misses the ball and Mustard stumps him.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) June 3, 2014
Will Tavare is in with a runner
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) June 3, 2014
4.23pm - Mark Wood rearranged Steven Finn’s furniture at the start of the third session at the Emirates Durham ICG and Middlesex are on the brink of following on.
That’s four wickets for Wood and Rob Taylor has three in the nip-and-tuck affair at Grace Road. The left-armer traps Tom Smith lbw for 13 and Gloucestershire are seven wickets down and 13 behind Leicestershire on first innings.
4.17pm - Jimmy Adams is through to his half-century at the Ageas Bowl, but not before being dropped at square-leg by Paul Borrington off David Wainwright. How costly might that be for Derbyshire? They trail by 259 already.
4.12pm - Jack Shantry is at it again! Having reduced Surrey to rubble in their first innings, he holds a return catch off Rory Burns and Worcestershire have their hosts eight for one following on.
Congratulations to @AlexHales1 on his century at Hove. #bazisback#sussvnottspic.twitter.com/KbW6jFXOP9
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) June 3, 2014
4.02pm – Mark Wood bowls Roland-Jones for 63, ending a stand of 56 with Tim Murtagh, as Middlesex take tea on 320 for eight – 248 behind Durham on first innings. It’s also the interval at Grace Road.
Sussex’s Matthew Hodben has Michael Lumb held in the slips shortly before tea arrives at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
.@LancsCCC following on with Horton & Davies making their way to the crease to start 2nd inns trailing by 217. #LancsvSom
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) June 3, 2014
3.50pm –Hales flies to a 96-ball ton, making Notts 150 for one.
Lancashire are all out for 203, giving Somerset a 217-run first-innings lead, as Overton pins Kabir Ali in front. Tea is being taken at Emirates Old Trafford and the Ageas Bowl. It has been and gone at the Essex County Ground where play resumes after a long delay with Glamorgan 78 for two, 48 ahead, in their second innings.
Worcestershire enforce the follow on
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 3, 2014
Middx 306-7, Roland-Jones 56*, Murtagh 29*. Third batting point in the 86th. Murtagh with 4-4-4 to start over. #middlesex150#keepgoinglads
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) June 3, 2014
3.37pm – Surrey are dismissed for 206, a first-innings deficit of 270, as Shantry snares Jade Dernbach caught behind for figures of 6-53. Ansari is stranded on 77. Tea is taken at the Kia Oval, after which Worcestershire will surely enforce the follow-on?
Notts’ fine opening stand, dominated by Alex Hales, ends on 128 when Chris Nash bowls Phil Jaques for 39.
Middlesex’s Toby Roland-Jones reaches a half-century and Hampshire’s Joe Gatting falls to David Wainwright for 39.
7 - Andre Adams (38 yrs 10 mths) is the seventh oldest seam bowler to take a Championship five-wicket haul since 1992. Senior. @TrentBridge
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) June 3, 2014
3.20pm – Stirling falls for 55 to Scott Borthwick, whose double-hundred put Durham on top.
Worcestershire’s Charles Morris has two wickets in two balls, Chris Tremlett caught behind and Matt Dunn bowled, so Surrey are nine down. Zafar Ansari is unbeaten on 72.
Lancashire also lose their ninth wicket when Tom Smith nicks Craig Overton behind.
Leicestershire’s Nathan Buck takes a stunning return catch to oust Benny Howell.
3.06pm – Former England keeper Jones, who accelerated after passing 50, goes lbw to Jigar Naik for 93 from just 75 balls featuring 13 fours and three sixes. He dominated a hundred partnership with Will Gidman that has put Gloucestershire on course for a first-innings lead on day two versus Leicestershire.
Paul Stirling brings up a measured fifty to give Middlesex some hope of avoiding the follow-on. They are 317 behind Durham at 251 for six.
There will be no play in the afternoon session at the Essex County Ground.
Alex Hales has just reached 50 at Hove, from 47 balls with 9 boundaries. Nottinghamshire 83-0 #SussvNotts
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) June 3, 2014
2.46pm – RESULT! Yorkshire (136 & 546/3d) beat Northamptonshire (251 & 160) by 271 runs at Wantage Road. The White Rose move above Somerset and previous leaders Middlesex at the top of Division One. Adil Rashid trapped Ian Butler, who had been struck on the helmet by Plunkett, in front for a 37-ball duck and Plunkett finished the job by bowling Maurice Chambers to earn figures of 4-42.
2.39pm – Yorkshire need two more wickets to go top of Division One when Rob Newton is caught at slip for 33 off Liam Plunkett.
Lancashire slip into further trouble at 162 for eight, 258 behind on first innings, as Dockrell snares Kyle Hogg at slip.
Notts pass 50 at Hove without losing a wicket. 53/0. The floodlights are on as its a bit gloomy now #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) June 3, 2014
2.24pm – Shantry makes it four scalps in 11 personal balls with the wickets of Jason Roy, Gary Wilson and Gareth Batty, the latter two in consecutive deliveries. Chris Tremlett averts a hat-trick but Surrey are in trouble at 187 for four in reply to 476. Shantry has 5-43.
Somerset’s Peter Trego strikes twice in two overs, having Alex Davies held at mid-on for 62 and trapping Glen Chapple in front.
Geraint Jones, on loan at Gloucestershire from Kent, raises a fifty.
2.06pm – Yorkshire are three wickets from victory as Ben Duckett edges Liam Plunkett behind.
Somerset spinner George Dockrell has Steven Croft stumped for 20.
Surrey lose another with Jack Shantry getting Steven Davies caught behind.
Dropped! Rushworth finds the edge of Stirling's bat but Stokes puts the chance down at gully. 179-6, 389 behind.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) June 3, 2014
1.45pm – Derbyshire’s Tony Palladino strikes soon after lunch, having Will Smith cheaply caught behind.
Surrey’s Vikram Solanki is run out against his former county by Tom Fell.
The resumption at the Essex County Ground has been delayed.
And Zafar Ansari moves to fifty from 159 balls with 6x4
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 3, 2014
It is raining heavily here at The ECG #EssvGla
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) June 3, 2014
1.15pm - As promised, here is the state-of-play at lunch:
Division One
Yorkshire require another four wickets in the final two sessions to defeat Northamptonshire, who are 119 for six in pursuit of an unlikely 432 at Wantage Road.
Joe Denly made 59 as Middlesex, on 177 for six, struggle responding to Durham’s 568 for nine declared at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Alex Davies is unbeaten on 61 of Lancashire’s 140 for four in reply to Somerset’s 420 at Emirates Old Trafford.
Ed Joyce was left stranded on 164 as Sussex were dismissed for 355 to concede a 97-run first-innings deficit versus Nottinghamshire at the BrightonandHovejobs.com County Ground.
Division Two
Leaders Hampshire, 144 in front, are 13 without loss after dismissing Derbyshire for 257 this morning at the Ageas Bowl.
Gloucestershire are 95 for four after Nathan Buck and Rob Taylor took two wickets apiece for Leicestershire, who made 269 on the opening day at Grace Road.
Glamorgan are 77 for two, 41 ahead of Essex at the Essex County Ground.
Rain ensured there was an early lunch at the Kia Oval, with Surrey still 134 for two in response to Worcestershire’s 476. However, the players are back out on the field now.
Underway and Vikram Solanki works first ball of the day for four pic.twitter.com/av27fvjoMu
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 3, 2014
1.10pm - Glamorgan lose Jacques Rudolph to Jesse Ryder for 46 on the stroke of lunch at the Essex County Ground.
Middlesex batsman Denly goes for 59, caught by Michael Richardson off John Hastings, at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Notts secure a first-innings lead of 97 as Matthew Hobden departs for a duck, meaning Sussex are dismissed for 355 with Joyce stranded on 164.
We will round-up the action shortly.
Here's the moment @lythy09 and @Borthwick16 reached 200 for @Yorkshireccc and @DurhamCricket respectively #LVCC http://t.co/deINyA1iHT
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) June 3, 2014
Good news..starting at 13:10...80 overs and 1 ball left today @WorcsCCC
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 3, 2014
12.54pm - Leicestershire keep chipping away at Gloucestershire, who lose Michael Klinger to Taylor for 37. The visitors to Grace Road are 88 for four, 181 behind.
Two balls later Ed Joyce reaches 150. Sussex 341-9 #SussvNotts
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) June 3, 2014
12.49pm - Lewis and Joyce's fine partnership of 117 ends when the former is caught by Alex Hales on the boundary off Andre Adams for 38. Sussex are 119 behind on 333 for nine.
. @aldavies23 brings up his 50 with a glorious on-drive back past bowler Thomas, @LancsCCC 113-4 (36) Croft 2* #LancsvSom
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) June 3, 2014
12.43pm - As well as blogging the latest events on the LV= County Championship, we will also have live updates from Edgbaston, where England play Sri Lanka in the winner-takes-all clash in the Royal London One-Day Series. As you can see from the tweet below, the weather looks fine in Birmingham.
Edgbaston. It's the decider. The Royal London series stands 2-2 #EngvSL pic.twitter.com/i0H6xWXOOQ
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) June 3, 2014
12.37pm - Danny Briggs completes figures of 5-50 from 28.3 overs by dismissing Mark Footitt, signalling the end of Derbyshire for 257. They concede a first-innings lead of 131 against the Division Two leaders.
Brown departs, lbw to Dockrell for 9, @LancsCCC 1st inns 103-4 (32.3) Davies 45* Croft 0*. Somerset 420ao #LancsvSom
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) June 3, 2014
WICKET. A full toss from Stokes clatters into Simpson's stumps, and he goes for 44. First wicket of the day - 159-5. Joe Denly has 58.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) June 3, 2014
12.30pm - Liam Plunkett is into the attack at Wantage Road and has a wicket to his name. Andrew Hall spoons up a chance to Alex Lees at cover to depart for 24.
Palladino and Denly, of Derbyshire and Middlesex respectively, make fifties before the former's team-mate Groenewald is run out for 23.
Buck collects his second scalp of the day, dismissing Hamish Marshall to leave Gloucestershire 71 for three.
UPDATE: Derbyshire have avoided the follow on, thanks to 60-run stand between Palladino (49*) and @timmyg12 (23*). Derbyshire 241-8 #HAMvDER
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) June 3, 2014
12.15pm - Some news just breaking from Gloucestershire. Seamer Ian Saxelby announces his retirement from first-class cricket due to a knee injury. Full story to follow.
Sussex avoid the follow-on at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
Derbyshire are nine runs short of making Hampshire bat again, with a fifty partnership from Tony Palladino and Tim Groenewald frustrating the hosts at the Ageas Bowl.
UPDATE: Two more for Palladino (42*). Derbyshire 225-8 (96); @timmyg12 16*. Need 14 more to avoid the follow-on #HAMvDER
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) June 3, 2014
12.08pm - Jack Brooks hurts his former county with the dismissal of Rob Keogh, caught behind by Jonny Bairstow for 25, to leave Yorkshire five wickets from victory at Wantage Road.
Craig Overton bowls Ashwell Prince for 45, leaving Lancashire 83 for three at Emirates Old Trafford, while Sussex are close to avoiding the follow-on courtesy of an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 86 between unbeaten centurion Ed Joyce and Jon Lewis.
Leicestershire snare another Gloucestershire wicket as Rob Taylor accounts for Alex Gidman.
Inspection from the umpires - news is lunch to be taken at 12:30 @WorcsCCC
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 3, 2014
11.53am - Sussex, eight down with 286 on the board, are frustrating Nottinghamshire at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
Rain stops play at the Essex County Ground, but the clean-up operation is underway at the Kia Oval.
FOUR! Palladino (26*) cuts Tomlinson away to the point boundary. Derbyshire 197-8 (89); @timmyg12 4*. Need 42 to avoid follow-on #HAMvDER
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) June 3, 2014
11.43am - Tim Bresnan strikes with the first ball of the day at Wantage Road, pinning Matthew Spriegel lbw to leave Northamptonshire 66 for four.
Glamorgan, trailing by just seven, lose Tom Lancefield to Reece Topley for the second time in the match.
Middlesex move into three figures at the Emirates Durham ICG, Joe Denly and John Simpson at the crease.
Players out on the field, play to begin imminently #SussvNotts
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) June 3, 2014
11.29am - David Wainwright's resistance ends at the Ageas Bowl. The left-hander is bowled by Kyle Abbott for just a single off 39 balls, leaving Derbyshire 208 behind on 180 for eight.
11.20am - The first wicket of the morning comes at Grace Road, where Nathan Bucks traps Chris Dent lbw to reduce Gloucestershire to 32 for one.
Play will start at 11.35am at Wantage Road with nine overs gone from the allotted 96.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) June 3, 2014
We are underway at Grace Road. Currently 28 for 0. Dent & Klinger at the crease Live scorecard: http://t.co/lux4bD0MGW
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) June 3, 2014
11.03am - The start at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground is delayed by another 15 minutes, meaning day three hopefully begins at 11.30am. It may be a frustrating day!
The current scene https://t.co/KONnBwXnsP
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 3, 2014
Underway on Day Three at Durham, Middx 69-4... pic.twitter.com/SYTYlGXivJ
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) June 3, 2014
10.57am - The rain is coming down at Wantage Road and the Kia Oval. Let's hope it clears pretty quickly.
21 - In their last 21 @LV_Cricket matches @Yorkshireccc have recorded an innings total above 400 on 16 occasions. Unit.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) June 3, 2014
Bit of light rain is falling....
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 3, 2014
10.35am - The covers are off at Emirates Old Trafford and the Essex County Ground, with play set to start on time, but Sussex's clash with Nottinghamshire is delayed by 15 minutes.
10.30am - Good morning and welcome to live coverage of another busy day in the LV= County Championship. At Wantage Road, Yorkshire require seven more wickets to complete victory over Northamptonshire. However, I've got a feeling rain may have its say!
Here is the state-of-play in all eight matches:
Division One
Middlesex are 69 for four replying to Durham's mammoth 568 for nine declared at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Ed Joyce's unbeaten century took Sussex to 270 for eight at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground after Nottinghamshire were dismissed for 452.
Northamptonshire , set 432 to win, are 66 for three versus Yorkshire at Wantage Road.
Lancashire are struggling on 22 for two after Somerset made 420 at Emirates Old Trafford.
Division Two
Rory Burns' half-century helped Surrey to 134 for two after Moeen Ali's 162 aided Worcestershire's 476 at the Kia Oval.
Derbyshire are 166 for seven in response to Hampshire's 388 at the Ageas Bowl.
Glamorgan are none without loss in their second innings, 36 behind Essex at the Essex County Ground.
Gloucestershire reached 12 for none in reply to Leicestershire's 269 at Grace Road.
Promising signs at The Ageas Bowl - the covers are coming off! #LVCC
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) June 3, 2014
The players are in the nets as we gear up for the start of day 3. Day 2 report & highlights on http://t.co/QBqT9HXNG8 pic.twitter.com/OhkuMlrmSs
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) June 3, 2014