Division One leaders Yorkshire wrapped up a 10-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire enhanced their survival prospects by beating Middlesex on the latest day of LV= County Championship action.
7pm - Below is a summary of how things finished on a day of results and rain in the LV=County Championship. Same again tomorrow? Sounds like a plan to us.
Division One
Derbyshire beat Middlesex by 56 runs at Derby.
Evening rain arrived to ensure the match between Warwickshire and Somerset ended in a draw at Edgbaston, with the hosts 122 for three and 66 runs shy of victory.
Leaders Yorkshire completed a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
Surrey are 97 for six in response to Durham’s first-innings 421 all out with two days played at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Division Two
Leicestershire are 134 for two in response to Glamorgan’s 508 for nine with a day remaining at Swansea.
Lancashire are 271 for five in their first innings against Worcestershire at New Road, 16 runs in arrears at the halfway stage.
Essex avoided the follow-on, paving the way for a draw at Colchester with Northamptonshire.
Gloucestershire are 307 for nine in their second innings at the end of day three at Canterbury, chasing 399 to defeat Kent.
6:36pm - Remarkably, Gloucestershire have reached the close. Gareth Roderick has a magnificent 152 not out to his name and last man Liam Norwell kept out 12 balls without scoring. They will be praying the deluge arrives tomorrow.
Umpires are out in the middle for another inspection @DurhamCricket
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 23, 2013
6:30pm - Gloucestershire continue to hang on, while Leicestershire's batsmen are negotiating that tricky mini-session against Glamorgan.
Stumps have been drawn at the Emirates ICG, with Surrey struggling on 97 for six. We'll have a full close-of-play summary with you soon.
6:15pm - Blimey, I've only gone and cursed him! James Tredwell bowls Miles for 22 and Kent are one wicket away.
6:11pm - Roderick's excellent show of defiance continues at Canterbury - his maiden first-class century is now worth 142. Number 10 Craig Miles is playing a fine hand, with 22 not out from 37 balls, alongside him.
6:05pm - RESULT! Warwickshire (407 & 123/3) have drawn with Somerset (340 & 255): Rain has ultimately had the final word at Edgbaston, ending Warwickshire's impressive victory bid and dealing a severe blow to their hopes of retaining the title.
They've also admitted defeat for the day at New Road, meaning Lancashire are 271 for five in response to Worcestershire's 287 at the half-way stage.
5:43pm - Positive news from Swansea unless you happen to be either of the incumbent Leicestershire batsmen, Ned Eckersley or Shiv Thakor. Play is set to resume at 6:20pm with four overs remaining.
Still raining at New Road. Nothing major, but no signs of clearing.
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 23, 2013
5:34pm - Chopra is still there but he is joined by inclement weather. That's a massive spanner in the works are far as Warwickshire, who are 123 for three needing 66 more for victory, are concerned. The light in Birmingham is not good.
The only place where we have any cricket now is Canterbury and Shreck's fourth of the innings has Kent within two wickets of victory.
5:25pm - Amid the clatter around him, Chorpa has moved to 50. If he remains and the rain stays away, Warwickshire will still be handily placed.
Unfortunately, we are still waiting for a resumption in the games at Durham, Swansea and Worcester.
5:17pm - Somerset have another - Alfonso Thomas is in on the act this time as Laurie Evans edges an attempted pull behind to Craig Kieswetter and walks off without troubling the scorers.
5:07pm - Roderick is still there on 129 for Gloucestershire but he's lost a willing ally in Tom Smith, who has edged behind to give Charlie Shreck his third wicket of the innings. The score is 253 for seven.
5:03pm - Steve Kirby has come up with a solid plan with regards to checking Warwickshire's victory charge at Edgbaston - two wickets in an over! First Westwood had his stumps rattled by the veteran paceman when one run shy of a half-century, before Ateeq Javid departed in similar fashion. Chorpa remains unbeaten on 45 and the score is 106 for two.
4:55pm - RESULT! Northamptonshire (531 & 54/0) have drawn with Essex (396): With matters meandering to a close at Colchester, the two side have shaken hands. Essex take eight points from the contest to Northants' 10.
4:33pm - Warwickshire have moved to 76 without loss and need 113 more from 30 overs to beat Somerset.
Covers are on as a few spots of rain appear. Forecast said it wasn't suppose to hit until later on, fingers crossed it passes!
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) August 23, 2013
4:25pm - Ah, that's a shame; the players come back out after tea at Worcester but bad light soon sends them back to the pavilion. I'm not sure bad light would hinder Simon Katich too much at the moment - on 104 from 89 balls it would seem he's seeing it like a beach ball - but there is also a hint of rain in the air.
4:19pm - CENTURY FOR GARETH RODERICK! Gloucestershire's wicketkeeper raises his bat to mark a superb rearguard effort, including 14 fours. The visitors remain some way from safety at Canterbury but Roderick's efforts are keeping them in the hunt.
4:16pm - Warwickshire openers Varun Chopra and Ian Westwood have brought up their fifty partnership. The champions are hoping for fine weather and 137 more runs.
WICKET! @usman_arshad65 picks up his 2nd, 4 balls later as Wilson gets a slight edge to @colonel19! @surreycricket 83-6.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) August 23, 2013
4:05pm - Congratulations to Usman Arshad! The Durham debutant bowls de Bruyn to claim his maiden first-class wicket and put Surrey back in the soup at 83 for five.
4pm - Worcestershire's tea will taste a little better after Alan Richardson pinned Andrea Agathangelou in front during the final over of the afternoon session at New Road.
Rain has prevented a prompt restart at Swansea.
TABLE: Derbyshire now move above both Somerset and Surrey into 7th place in the LV= County Championship Division One #P2bD
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) August 23, 2013
3:52pm - RESULT! Derbyshire (385 & 160) beat Middlesex (249 & 240) by 56 runs: Middlesex fought hard, but Derbyshire were not to be denied. Peter Burgoyne ousts last man Tim Murtagh to complete a victory that could have huge ramifications at either end of the table.
3:49pm - Derbyshire continue to seek the match-winning wicket against Middlesex, who trail by 56.
At New Road, Katich has reached three figures from 86 balls with 14 fours and four maximums. Lancashire are just 22 behind now and have six first-innings wicket still intact.
3:44pm - It is also tea now at Edgbaston, Swansea and Canterbury. Warwickshire are 40 without loss chasing 189, Leicestershire 133 for two and still 172 behind and Gloucestershire 184 for six, 215 in arrears with Roderick on 86.
WICKET!! Roland-Jones is caught down the leg-side by Poynton off Footitt. Middlesex 236-9 (72 overs) Need 61 more runs. Derbyshire 1 wicket!
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) August 23, 2013
3:35pm - My word! That six from Katich was followed by another and two fours in an over worth 24! The Australian left-hander now has 93.
Warwickshire have made a fine start in pursuit of 189 and Middlesex now need just 62 more.
Surrey are counter-attacking at Durham through Steven Davies and Zander de Bruyn.
Muhammad Azhar Ullah traps Reece Topley lbw to end Essex's first innings on 396. That's a fine recovery given Foster's men were 103 for five at one stage yesterday. Tea will now be taken at Colchester.
Katich has just played the shot of the day! Huge six off Leach over long-on. He's 69 and has topped 1,000 runs for season. 234-4
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) August 23, 2013
3:28pm - Katich is not wasting time today! He takes Cessford for three straight fours and then hammers Joe Leach over the ropes.
Brilliant win this week at Notts!! Top of the league!! #yorkshire#coyt
— Jonathan Bairstow (@jbairstow21) August 23, 2013
3:18pm - What do you do when you're brought on to bowl at the best batsman in the world? Well, if you're Mark Wood you simply clean him up first ball! Amla's departure for 14 leaves Surrey 36 for four.
Essex find themselves nine down and 152 behind as Monty Panesar falls to James Middlebrook.
Ned Eckersley has passed 50 for Leicestershire, while Roderick is keeping Gloucestershire afloat and approaching three figures.
3:08pm - Graeme Cessford ends a stand of 92 at New Road by having Prince caught at short cover. Lancashire are 84 behind on 203 for four.
That huge wicket for Derbyshire ensures Ollie Rayner takes on the role of senior batsman for Middlesex, who now need 84 with two wickets remaining.
WICKET!! Breakthrough! Berg is caught at slip by @ChesneyH22 off Higginbottom. Middlesex 206-8 (61.5 overs). Need 91 runs to win.
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) August 23, 2013
2:55pm - Prince brings up his fifty for Lancashire and is overtaken by his partner next ball as the aggressive Katich smites Moeen Ali for six to reach 51 from 55 deliveries.
Harrison pins Solanki lbw to leave Surrey in further strife at 20 for three.
At Swansea, Niall O'Brien is bowled by Andrew Salter, meaning Leicestershire are 95 for two.
Trent Copeland snares Graham Napier for 45, but Northants are surely going to run out of time even if they are able to enforce the follow-on at Colchester.
LATEST FROM DERBY: An hour after lunch & Middlesex have taken the score onto 182 for 7, with Berg 56* & Rayner 19*. Another 115 runs needed
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) August 23, 2013
2:42pm - This is not good at all for Surrey. Arun Harinath falls to Chris Rushworth and Amla is joined by Vikram Solanki with the score reading nine for two.
Keith Barker finishes off Somerset's second innings with the wicket of Alfonso Thomas, his third. Warwickshire need 189 to win.
Gloucestershire are 138 for six and in big trouble after Will Gidman departed to Darren Stevens.
Chawla lbw to Patel for 26 Somerset 188 ahead with 1 wicket in hand 5 wickets for Patel
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) August 23, 2013
2:35pm - RESULT! Yorkshire (407 & 12/0) beat Nottinghamshire (150 & 266) by 10 wickets at Trent Bridge: Allow ecb.co.uk to provide ball-by-ball analysis of the Yorkshire chase: Adam Lyth goes 4, 0, 4, 0, 4 off Luke Fletcher to wrap things up nice and quickly. The White Rose now boast a healthy lead at the top of Division One.
Durham's Jamie Harrison picks up an early scalp in Surrey's first innings. Rory Burns is caught behind for three, which brings Hashim Amla to the crease.
Simon Katich has settled in nicely for Lancashire, who are now 162 for three with Ashwell Prince two short of 50.
2:32pm - Patel picks up a big wicket for Warwickshire, ending Barrow's resistance on 39.
Leicestershire are making a much better fist of things in their second innings at Swansea. They are now 83 for one but still trail by 222.
2:25pm - Yorkshire will need all of 10 to win. Rashid ends Notts' second dig on 266 with his third wicket, that of Gurney.
Gareth Berg brings up a valuable half-century for Middlesex. Will Derbyshire be getting nervous I wonder?
WICKET James Foster caught at backward square leg off the bowling of James Middlebrook for 95. 333 for 7 and Graham Napier 31 not out.
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) August 23, 2013
2:22pm - Another maximum from Adams ensures Yorkshire will at least have to bat again.
The partnership between Barrow and Chawla is now worth 50 and Somerset are effectively 180 for seven.
At Derby, Middlesex are up to 169 for seven in pursuit of 296.
2:18pm - Rashid gets his revenge on Fletcher to leave Nottinghamshire nine down and still five in arrears.
Durham are all out for 421, Phil Mustard finishing unbeaten on 45 and Tremlett returning figures of 33-5-96-8.
James Foster now has 93 at Colchester, where Essex appear on course to avoid the follow-on with Graham Napier also going well.
2:07pm - Andre Adams, always a man to go down swinging, collects six and four to dent Sidebottom's excellent figures, before Luke Fletcher subjects Adil Rashid to similar treatment.
Tremlett, who had never taken more than six wickets in a first-class innings prior to this week, now has 8-92 at the Emirates Durham ICG following his dismissal of Mark Wood.
Alex Barrow and Piyush Chawla are adding very handy runs for Somerset at Edgbaston.
WICKET! Ryan gets bragging rights in Sidebottom house by having Read caught behind for 58. He has 597 1st class wkts - 1 more than Dad Arnie
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) August 23, 2013
1:57pm - Ryan Sidebottom has half-centurion Chris Read caught behind to take top-flight leaders Yorkshire ever closer to glory at Trent Bridge. Notts are now eight down and still trail by 39.
Gloucestershire's revival has been halted by Calum Haggett, who has ousted Gidman for 47.
Durham move past 400 against Surrey.
1:49pm - Trego will suffer against Jeetan Patel's gentle off-spin no longer; he has fallen to the New Zealand international for 16. Somerset are 126 ahead with only three second-innings wickets intact.
Chris Tremlett has seven wickets at Durham following his removal of debutant Usman Arshad.
Gareth Roderick and Alex Gidman have now put on more than 50 to keep Gloucestershire's slim victory hopes alive.
1:43pm - Play is back under way around the country, with Yorkshire and Derbyshire on the brink of victories that would make a big impact at either end of the Division One table.
Alan Richardson strikes an early-afternoon blow for Worcestershire, having Lancashire's Luis Reece held at first slip for 59.
Somerset's Peter Trego, meanwhile, is in some pain...
Back on at Edgbaston and Peter Trego with injured hand continues to bat but he's in pain even against Patel's gentle off spin
— Warwickshire CCC (@CricketingBears) August 23, 2013
1pm - That's lunch around today's games. Here's how things stand:
Division One
Middlesex are 121 for seven, needing a further 176 runs to beat Derbyshire.
Somerset are 192 for six on day four against Warwickshire, a lead of 125.
Nottinghamshire are 212 for seven, still needing another 45 to avoid an innings defeat against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge.
Durham will continue on 388 for seven on day two at the Emirates Durham ICG against Surrey.
Division Two
Glamorgan declared on 508 for nine, and Leicestershire are 28 for one in their second innings.
Lancashire are 110 for two after dismissing Worcestershire for 287 yesterday.
Essex are 289 for six, still trailing Northamptonshire by 242 in their first innings.
Gloucestershire are 84 for four in their second innings, chasing 399 to defeat Kent.
12:57pm - Hogan traps Greg Smith lbw as Leicestershire lose their first wicket of their second innings.
Wicket: Shahzad pulls one to midwicket and departs for 19. Notts 209-6. Read still unbeaten on 51 #NottsvYorks
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) August 23, 2013
12:52pm - The ball after compiling his 20th first-class hundred, ten Doeschate falls to James Middlebrook. It was a superb knock from the Netherlands all-rounder, but his side still trail by 248 with four wickets left.
12:50pm - Essex's majestic sixth-wicket partnership continues. Ten Doeschate completes a ton, taking his stand with Foster to 180.
Notts are edging closer to Yorkshire's total. Read brings up his half-century with a single to cut the deficit down to 49.
Lancashire's Luis Reece has passed 50 at New Road.
12:40pm - That's a big wicket for Derbyshire, with Adam Voges returning to the pavilion two runs short of a fifty. Middlesex are 101 for six and still trail by 196.
12:32pm - Hamish Marshall is the fourth Gloucestershire wicket to fall today as he edges Mitchell Claydon behind.
At New Road, Moeen Ali follows up his impressve display with the bat yesterdya by removing Paul Horton for 30.
12:27pm - Recordo Gordon celebrates his first LV= County Championship wicket as he has George Dockrell caught behind for seven.
Play to re-start at Swansea at 12.30pm. Tea will now be at 4pm and the close of play at 6.30pm
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) August 23, 2013
12:19pm - Derbyshire are closing in on a second victory of the campaign. Mark Footitt strikes twice in three balls to get rid of Eoin Morgan and Neil Dexter. Middlesex are 85 for five, needing another 212 runs to win.
12:13pm - Riki Wessels and Chris Read fall three runs short of a fifty partnership when the former is ousted by Jack Brooks. Nottinghamshire trail by 90 runs with four wickets left.
12pm - Leicestershire's start to their second innings comes to an abrupt halt as rain forces the players off.
11:55am - Craig Kieswetter lasts five balls before becoming Somerset's fifth wicket to fall. Their lead is just 92 runs.
Gloucestershire's hopes of securing victory look to be diminishing as Chris Dent is caught behind for four off Calum Haggett to reduce them to 13 for three.
Surrey have claimed a seventh wicket and Tremlett didn't take it! Jade Dernbach bowls Paul Collingwood for 36, reducing Durham to 348 for seven.
WICKET!! Breakthrough!! Robson is bowled for 29 by Groenewald! Middlesex 61-3 (21.1 overs); Voges 28*. Need 236 more runs to win.
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) August 23, 2013
11:46am - Michael Hogan hits two fours and a six from the last three balls he faces, as Glamorgan declare on 508 for nine, a lead of 305.
James Foster follows ten Doeschate in compiling a fifty, with Essex's sixth-wicket partnership now standing at 127.
James Hildreth is bowled by Jeetan Patel for six at Edgbaston.
11:43am - Shreck stakes a second at Canterbury as Benny Howell departs for a duck. Gloucestershire have lost two wickets for 11 runs, as they chase 399 for the victory.
11:38am - Chris Tremlett continues where he left off yesterday. Jamie Harrison is removed for 10 and Tremlett has his - and Surrey's - sixth wicket.
11:33am - Gloucestershire's chase gets off to a poor start, with the in-form Michael Klinger falling to Charlie Shreck for seven. Nick Compton comes up nine runs short of a ton as he is caught behind off Keith Barker.
11:23am - Glamorgan lose a ninth wicket as Graham Wagg is caught at deep extra-cover off Ben Raine.
100 partnership between ten Doeschate and Foster. It spans 21 overs and the home side are now 207 for 5, still trailing by 324.
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) August 23, 2013
11:10am - What a start to the day's play! Ryan Sidebottom removes David Hussey at Trent Bridge, while Lancashire captain and nightwatchman Glen Chapple departs for a duck.
Kent have declared on four for none, setting Gloucestershire 399 to win.
Glamorgan have lost Andrew Salter for 16 and are now eight down, while Ryan ten Doeschate completes a half-century.
11am - Well, well, well. Gloucestershire have declared overnight on 80 without loss , 384 runs behind Kent. It appears the captains have come to an arrangement, with rain forecast all day tomorrow.
10:55am - We are pleased to report that there is no sign of rain in Colchester, following yesterday's weather preventing a ball being bowled. All the games are set to get under way in five minutes.
10:45am - Hello and welcome to ecb.co.uk's coverage of today's LV= County Championship fixtures.
We have eight games today at various stages of play. Here's how things currently stand:
Division One
Middlesex are 25 for two, needing a further 272 runs to beat Derbyshire on the final day at Derby.
Somerset will start day four against Warwickshire on 133 for two, leading by 66.
Nottinghamshire begin day three 118 for four having followed on against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge.
Durham will continue on 309 for five on day two at the Emirates Durham ICG against Surrey .
Division Two
Glamorgan start day three at Swansea on 445 for seven, leading Leicestershire by 242.
Day two at New Road will see Lancashire resume on nought without loss after dismissing Worcestershire for 287 yesterday.
Northamptonshire will hope to make up for yesterday’s washout, as Essex start day four on 187 for five, still trailing by 344 in the first innings.
Gloucestershire are 80 without loss in reply to Kent’s 474 on day three at Canterbury.