The battle for titles, promotion and relegation continued on an enthralling second day of LV= County Championship action this week.
5:36pm - Here are the scores at stumps:
Division One
Leaders Durham are 82 for two in reply to Derbyshire’s298 at Derby.
Yorkshire are 246 for four, responding to Sussex’s 292 at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
Surrey are 13 for none in their second innings, 52 behind Somerset at Taunton.
Middlesex are 96 for none after Nottinghamshire declared on 430 for seven at Lord’s.
Division Two
Kent are eight for no wicket following on, 161 behind Essex at Canterbury.
Worcestershire are 101 for two in response to Hampshire’s 428 at New Road.
6:32pm - Kent openers Rob Key and Sam Northeast keep out Essex to reach stumps on eight without loss, 161 in arrears as the Canterbury hosts follow on.
6:09pm - Stumps are drawn at Derby, where Division One leaders Durham are 82 for two responding to Derbyshire’s 298, and at New Road, where Worcestershire are 101 for two after Hampshire made 428. That means there is just play at Canterbury where Kent are following on.
6:01pm - Middlesex close on an impressive 96 for no wicket, with Rogers on 67 and Sam Robson 28, in reply to Notts’ 430 for seven declared.
Kent following on and Essex lead by 169 on first innings. David Masters returned 6 for 41 in first innings a season's best for him.
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) September 12, 2013
5:47pm - Palladino strikes again, bowling Keaton Jennings for 16, and Masters’ two wickets in two balls skittles Kent for 107, a first-innings deficit of 169 to Essex. Masters returns 6-41.
5:33pm - Stumps are drawn at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground with Yorkshire 246 for four, responding to Sussex’s 292, and at Emirates Old Trafford with Lancashire 344 for four. Bad light intervenes at New Road, where Worcestershire are 101 for two.
5:29pm - Tony Palladino has Mark Stoneman caught behind for 30, leaving Durham 49 for one, and Reece Topley bowls Mark Davies to put Kent eight down.
5:21pm - Australia opening batsman Chris Rogers raises a fifty to continue Middlesex’s decent reply.
Napier cleans up Calum Haggett as Kent slump to 99 for seven and it’s stumps at Taunton with Surrey 13 for none in their second innings, 52 behind Somerset.
5:12pm - Anyon cheaply bowls Jonny Bairstow, making Yorkshire 243 for four, and James Sykes has Andrea Agathangelou caught behind, ending a stand of 107. Soon after the wicket at Emirates Old Trafford, bad light forces the players off at 344 for four.
5:04pm - Paul Horton’s fine form continues as he reaches 150, the stand-in skipper taking Lancashire to 334 for three.
4:55pm - Middlesex's opening stand passes 50, while Kent are 91 for six with Geraint Jones having fallen lbw to Graham Napier.
Gale is caught behind off James Anyon for 28, making Yorkshire 234 for three.
Samit Patel today hit a fluent 47 - Moeen Ali is currently 15 not out. The #raceforMVP is going down to the wire. @TrentBridge@WorcsCCC.
— FTI MVP Rankings (@FTI_MVP_Cricket) September 12, 2013
4:47pm - With Williamson holding firm, Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale has scored quickly at the start of his innings. The White Rose now trail Sussex by just 64 but may soon have a new ball to contend with.
And now it is raining and the covers are on.....
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 12, 2013
And we have a delay to the start of Surrey's 2nd innings due to bad light.....
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 12, 2013
4:35pm - Somerset are all out for 260, giving them a handy lead of 65. Gregory was the last batsman to go, a third victim for Zafar Ansari.
Yorkshire have passed 200 for the loss of two wickets and Lancashire 300 for the loss of three wickets.
4:24pm - Rushworth completes figures of 5-47 with the wicket of Mark Footitt, ending Derbyshire's innings at 298. The last seven wickets went down for 56 either side of tea.
Chris Rogers and Sam Robson have seen off the early threat from Nottinghamshire's new-ball pair at Lord's, while Gareth Batty has dismissed Chawla for 32 to leave Somerset nine down with an advantage of 61.
Floodlights are back on as it gets gloomy after tea. Lancs 294-3 (85 overs) Horton 130* Agathangelou 17*
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 12, 2013
4:10pm - And now Chris Rushworth gets rid of Wainwright without addition to the Derbyshire score. Durham now boast maximum bowling points and have fought back superbly considering their opponents were 242 for three not long ago.
If that news makes Yorkshire fans unhappy, followers of the White Rose will also be disappointed to hear Lyth has been held at slip off Sussex debutant Ashar Zaidi for 93.
Piyush Chawla and Lewis Gregory take Somerset's lead past 50.
4:05pm - Palladino is bowled by Graham Onions for 22, leaving Derbyshire 290 for eight.
Lyth has smashed a glorious cover drive for 4 he moves onto 93* - 183-1
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 12, 2013
4:02pm - David Wainwright, formerly of Yorkshire, is holding up the Durham charge alongside Tony Palladino. Wainwright's old team-mates will be keen for the all-rounder to keep up the good work.
3:53pm - Sussex just cannot find a way to remove Adam Lyth or Kane Williamson. The Yorkshire pair have now put on more than 150.
Play has resumed at Taunton, where Somerset's lead stands at 28 with two first-innings wickets intact.
Kent eventually take tea on 71 for five, while Worcestershire slip to 21 for two through James Tomlinson's removal of Daryl Mitchell.
3:41pm - The Andre Adams Show comes to an end when he is ousted by James Harris for 80. Notts promptly declare on 430 for seven and tea is taken at Lord's.
3:35pm - Masters strikes again, Darren Stevens going lbw, as Kent slump to 58 for five.
Worcestershire's first innings starts poorly as Matthew Pardoe falls to Matt Coles for four.
Poor light has delayed the restart at Taunton.
3:28pm - Tea is also taken at Derby, where the hosts are 277 for seven, and at Emirates Old Trafford, where the Red Rose sit on 265 for three.
3:24pm - Lancashire have a second batting point and Adams shares a fifty partnership with Notts skipper Chris Read.
3:18pm - Hampshire being all out heralds tea at New Road and the interval also arrives at Hove with Yorkshire 166 for one in reply to Sussex’s 292 and Taunton with Somerset 222 for eight in response to Surrey’s 195.
LANCS 2ndXI HAVE WON THE 2ndXI TROPHY BY 76 runs!! Notts 183ao Gavin Griffiths 3-37
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 12, 2013
3:11pm - Matt Coles brings up a 38-ball fifty just before Jack Shantry traps James Tomlinson lbw as Hampshire are dismissed for 428.
Masters’ third wicket - Rob Key bowled - has Kent 44 for four.
3:07pm - Lancashire’s Horton, who spoke to ecb.co.uk this week, registers his second consecutive century and Graeme Cessford cleans up David Balcombe to put Hampshire nine down.
3pm - Katich departs to James Sykes for 56, Notts’ Adams reaches a half-century from 43 deliveries, including four sixes, Ansari bowls Meschede for 27 and Derbyshire have a second batting point.
2:55pm - Derbyshire slip to 248 for seven as Rushworth and Onions respectively snare Tom Poynton and Alex Hughes.
Hampshire get maximum batting points and Somerset a first before Trego falls for 38 to Zafar Ansari, halting a partnership of 68.
Katich raises a 54-ball fifty for Lancashire and Graham Napier has Brendan Nash caught behind to put Kent on 28 for three.
We overtake Surrey's first innings total! 196 for 6, with Trego 34* and Meschede 26*
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) September 12, 2013
2:40pm - Chris Rushworth strikes again for Durham with Richard Johnson out for 29, while Williamson has a fifty for Yorkshire.
Play resumes at Lord’s and Gareth Berg soon has Hussey caught behind for 67, ending a swift stand of 60 with Adams.
Trego and Meschede share an important half-century alliance for Somerset.
In Division Two Moeen Ali traps Wood in front for 61 and Masters bowls Daniel Bell-Drummond.
Wicket. Durham take new ball & it does the trick. @pborrington is caught at slip off Onions for an excellent 75. Derbyshire 242-4 (81 overs)
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 12, 2013
2:24pm - Terry falls for 58 to Ross Whiteley and David Masters takes Kent’s first wicket, that of Sam Northeast.
2:17pm - Wood brings up a half-century at New Road moments after Terry and Hampshire are 347 for six with 10 more overs to achieve maximum batting points.
The alliance between Lyth and Williamson reaches 100. Yorkshire are having a fine day.
Sean Terry has moved to his first LV=CC half-century for Hampshire! In 133 balls (7 fours, 1 six). Hampshire now 341-6.
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 12, 2013
2:08pm - Lancashire move a point closer to promotion by passing 200 against Leicestershire. Paul Horton needs 12 more for a hundred and Katich is scoring at a strike-rate in excess of 130.
Momentum continues to change hands at Taunton, where Somerset are closing in on Surrey's first-innings score through Peter Trego and Craig Meschede.
2:01pm - Bad light stops play at Lord's with Nottinghamshire 357 for five.
Lyth's ninth four takes him past 50 at Hove.
Chris Wood has almost caught up with Sean Terry for Hampshire, contributing 40 to a half-century stand.
1:53pm - Usman Arshad claims a huge scalp for Durham, having Chanderpaul caught at second slip for 53 to end a third-wicket partnership of 106.
Yorkshire, Durham's nearest rivals, are into three figures.
1:47pm -Essex are dismissed for 276, Davies finishing with 4-67, while Lancashire see Ashwell Prince depart for 14. Simon Katich is straight into his stride with two early fours.
Notts get their fourth batting point with an over to spare, thanks largely to Hussey and Andre Adams sharing a fifty stand in 25 balls!
Another six from Andre, that one is probably going to land north of Watford Gap. #MiddxvNotts
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 12, 2013
Lancs promotion target has just reduced by 3 points to 15, as Essex only gained 2 of the possible 5 batting points at Kent
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 12, 2013
1:37pm - Shivnarine Chanderpaul follows Paul Borrington past 50 and takes Derbyshire beyond 200 in the process.
Hussey registers a 45-ball fifty as Notts press down on the accelerator in search of a fourth batting point.
Dernbach has a third wicket for Surrey and his removal of Alex Barrow leaves Somerset 133 for six, still trailing by 62.
Andre Adams is the next man in, batting at number 7. He smashes his first ball for six. #MiddxvNotts
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 12, 2013
1:30pm - This might slow Somerset down! Jade Dernbach bowls Nick Compton for 66.
Middlesex also pick up a welcome scalp as James Harris stops Patel three short of a half-century with the aid of a fine slip catch from Ollie Rayner.
Adam Lyth and Kane Williamson have a fifty partnership for Yorkshire, who will undoubtedly be delighted by Derbyshire's progress against Durham.
Hampshire pass 300 for the loss of six wickets at New Road.
1:26pm - Mark Davies removes Monty Panesar to leave Essex, for whom James Foster has 34, nine down.
Somerset are showing no signs of slowing up against Surrey, rattling along at close to five an over.
There is a second batting point for Essex as James Foster sends the ball to the cover boundary off Darren Stevens. 253 for 8
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) September 12, 2013
1:21pm - There have been no wickets since play resumed. Notts are nearing a third batting point and have Samit Patel and David Hussey scoring freely. The latter has just gone four, four, six off Gurjit Sandhu.
The players are back out after what I'm sure was a terrific lunch at @HomeOfCricket. Nottinghamshire 266-4 #MiddxvNotts
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 12, 2013
12:40pm - A bit of news to bring you before the afternoon sessions begin...
Kent's Michael Powell has announced his retirement, while former England paceman Simon Jones is to focus solely on T20 cricket following next weekend's Yorkshire Bank 40 final between Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire.
12:32pm - Somerset lose Kieswetter to Zander de Bruyn on the stroke of lunch. Here is how things stand across the country after the second morning's play:
Division One
Derbyshire are 173 for two in their match with leaders Durham at Derby.
Yorkshire are 71 for one in reply to Sussex's 292 at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
Somerset are 108 for four at Taunton responding to Surrey's 195.
Nottinghamshire are 266 for four at Lord's against Middlesex.
Division Two
Lancashire, who can secure promotion this week, are 146 for one in their match with Leicestershire at Emirates Old Trafford.
Essex are 246 for eight against Kent at Canterbury.
Hampshire are 277 for six in their clash with Worcestershire at New Road.
12:23pm - Bates is lbw to the evergreen Alan Richardson for 41.
Somerset are into three figures and Compton is 50 not out. Craig Kieswetter has 32 from 23.
12:17pm - Leicestershire finally break through at Emirates Old Trafford, Ollie Freckingham having Reece held in the slips for 50 with Lancashire on 137.
Having been 186 for four overnight, Essex are now 233 for eight.
Michael Bates and Sean Terry are doing their chances of more regular championship action for Hampshire no harm at all with an unbroken sixth-wicket stand currently worth 76.
12:08pm - Durham's frustration grows as the dogged Paul Borrington brings up a 152-ball fifty. Derbyshire are 156 for two, Shivnarine Chanderpaul having been dropped by Scott Borthwick on 22.
Somerset have clearly decided an attacking approach is their best policy. They have roared to 94 for three from 18 overs.
Yorkshire go past 50 at Hove for the solitary loss of Jaques and Luis Reece has his seventh successive half-century for Lancashire, who continue to dominate Leicestershire.
Six over deep extra-cover from Terry (26*) has moved Hampshire past 250. Bates is with him on 27, 251-5.
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 12, 2013
12pm - Mullaney's innings ends at 125, when a top-edge off Gareth Berg is held by Neil Dexter.
Graham Napier has fallen cheaply at Canterbury.
11:45am - Somerset's fightback is dealt a blow as James Hildreth is pinned in front by Stuart Meaker with the score on 46. Compton has 34 from 38 balls.
Samit Patel has made a positive start at Lord's, where Mullaney is on to 121, while Lancashire's Horton has taken Nathan Buck for three straight fours.
FOUR! Chanderpaul (16*) drives Harrison through covers for his first boundary. Derbyshire 133-2 (47 overs); @pborrington 41*.
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 12, 2013
11:32am - Essex find themselves 214 for six as Charlie Shreck gets Foakes for 58.
Both Somerset and Hampshire are rebuilding following the loss of two quick wickets this morning.
Soon after Lancashire reach three figures without loss against Leicestershire, Paul Horton brings up his individual fifty. Can he go on to a second successive hundred?
11:23am - Maybe ecb.co.uk spoke too soon when it came to Jaques. He has now fallen lbw to Steve Magoffin.
James Taylor departs in similar fashion at Lord's, providing Tim Murtagh with a first scalp.
11:20am - Play has recommenced in Manchester so we have action in all seven fixtures.
Derbyshire, whose fans will no doubt have one eye on events at Taunton, are going along quite nicely against championship leaders Durham.
The boundaries have started to flow for Yorkshire's Phil Jaques.
11:08am - Ben Foakes moves to 50 for Essex, while Yorkshire have made a cautious start with the bat at Hove.
10:58am - Nick Compton registers a boundary for Somerset but it's not long before another wicket falls, Chris Jones edging Chris Tremlett behind.
Essex have lost Shah for 84, lbw to Mark Davies.
The covers are coming off and we will be starting at 11.15am.
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 12, 2013
10:50am - Nottinghamshire opener Mullaney reaches three figures for the fifth time in first-class cricket, from 208 balls with 11 fours.
Marcus Trescothick falls for a third-ball duck, which means three wickets have gone down at Taunton without a run being added. Jade Dernbach is the happy bowler.
Hampshire appear to be undoing yesterday's hard work. Adam Wheater is run out for two to leave his side 198 for five.
10:44am - Somerset complete a perfect start to their morning by dismissing Surrey for 195. Alfonso Thomas claimed both of the wickets to fall this morning as the visitors to Taunton faced 14 deliveries and failed to score a run.
Sussex, who resumed on 276 for nine against Yorkshire, are all out for 292. Ryan Sidebottom finishes with 4-50 for the White Rose, while Brown is left stranded on 84.
10:38am - We have wickets aplenty as play gets under way everywhere except Emirates Old Trafford.
Surrey lose Chris Tremlett without addition to their overnight score; Derbyshire captain Wayne Madsen is lbw to Graham Onions for 32 and Vince falls to Alan Richardson for 106.
10:15am - James Vince was the only centurion yesterday but a couple of men could well follow him to three figures this morning.
Nottinghamshire's Steven Mullaney is unbeaten on 88, Owais Shah has 83 to his name for Essex and Sussex wicketkeeper Ben Brown is 78 not out.
10:05am - The leaders of each division, Durham and Lancashire, were involved in the two games that saw the least play on day one.
Here's a summary of how things stand in all seven matches:
Division One
Derbyshire are 99 for one from 31 overs after being inserted by leaders Durham at Derby.
Sussex are 276 for nine in their match with Yorkshire, who chose to field at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground.
Surrey, who won the toss, are 195 for eight in the battle with fellow strugglers Somerset at Taunton.
Nottinghamshire are 161 for two at Lord's having been put in by Middlesex.
Division Two
Lancashire, who can secure promotion this week, are 92 without loss after being sent in by Leicestershire at Emirates Old Trafford.
Essex are 186 for four in their match with Kent, who won the toss at Canterbury.
Hampshire are 197 for three at New Road, where Worcestershire chose to field.
9:55am - Morning everyone. A pivotal round of LV= County Championship fixtures didn't really get going yesterday as inclement weather interrupted every game.
That said, notable progress was still made at Taunton, where Somerset had the better of fellow strugglers Surrey, and the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground, Sussex recovering to 276 for nine against Yorkshire.
Let's see what today has in store...