LV= County Championship Division One leaders Durham stormed to a sensational victory over Derbyshire, while Lancashire's promotion back to the top-flight was confirmed.
6:20pm - Buoyed by his side's promotion, Paul Horton had this to say to ecb.co.uk: "It’s obviously what we set out to do at the start of the season. Not only did we want to get promoted, we wanted to win the division, so it’s not a complete job done just yet. But it’s great to be guaranteed that we’re back in Division One and to have put right the wrongs from last season. To do it with two games to go is something we’re very proud of.”
5:50pm - RESULT! Nottinghamshire (430/7d) draw with (Middlesex 353/7d) - The day's action is wrapped up as a rain-ruined game ends in a draw.
5:20pm - RESULT! Essex (276) draw with Kent (107 & 215/7) - LANCASHIRE ARE PROMOTED! Essex fail to overcome Kent, meaning the Red Rose have immediately returned to the top-flight!
Wicket - Rayner is out lbw to Adams for 9 - 314-7 #MiddxvNotts
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 14, 2013
5pm - Monty Panesar has ousted Darren Stevens but it's likely too little, too late for Essex. Kent now lead by 26 and, including the two overs lost for change of innings, there are just seven left.
Wicket - Berg is ct and bowled by Adams for 26 and we're 294-6 with Simpson 21* #MiddxvNotts
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 14, 2013
4:30pm - RESULT! Hampshire (428 & 69/2) draw with Worcestershire (351/8d) at New Road. Stumps are drawn to end another game hindered by the weather this week, leaving only those at Lord's and Canterbury still in progress.
4:26pm - RESULT! Lancashire (453/7d) draw with Leicestershire (329) at Emirates Old Trafford. Ashwell Prince takes a splendid catch running from second slip to third man, sending back James Sykes and giving Tom Smith his second wicket. That ends the Leicestershire innings and, with it, this rain affected contest. All Lancastrian eyes will now be on events at Canterbury to see whether promotion is confirmed this evening.
4:08pm - Leicestershire lose a ninth as Tom Smith traps Ollie Freckingham lbw, while Hampshire's Liam Dawson has fallen.
Wicket! Dexter is caught at Gully for 9 off the bowling of Gurney and Middlesex are 252-5 #MiddxvNotts
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 14, 2013
4pm - It seems the rain has abated! Essex have another as Topley hits pad again, sending back Geraint Jones.
3:52pm - Triple boost for Lancashire fans! After Ryan ten Doeschate drops Darren Stevens at slip off David Masters, the rain returns - although play has not stopped as of yet. Meanwhile, in another rain-based positive, Leicestershire's Ben Raine - see what I did there? - falls to Simon Kerrigan.
Elsewhere, Hampshire have lost Michael Roberts, Moeen Ali the man to strike in a likely draw.
Wicket - Denly is bowled by Gurney for 63 and we're 245-4 with Dexter 8* #MiddxvNotts
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 14, 2013
Denly has reached his 50 - well done Joe, keep it up! #MiddxvNotts
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 14, 2013
3:42pm - RESULT! Durham (325 & 37/1) beat Derbyshire (298 & 63) by nine wickets - Scott Borthwick and Keaton Jennings help Durham to a stunning victory that leaves them with one hand on the LV= County Championship trophy!
3:39pm - Well, well, well. Maybe Lancashire will not go up today. They're back out at Canterbury, where Sam Northeast has been trapped lbw by Reece Topley for 70.
3:15pm - RESULT! Sussex (292 & 333/3d) draw with Yorkshire (326 & 81/2) at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground. The heavens have opened in Hove, washing away Yorkshire's victory hopes and leading both teams to shake hands. With Durham on the cusp of victory over Derbyshire, that is a hammer blow for Andrew Gale's men.
Mark Stoneman is out for the Division One leaders but that should matter very little at all.
3:11pm – Tea has been taken everywhere apart from Manchester and, with Durham and Hampshire set to start their respective innings, it feels like a good time for a mid-afternoon summary.
Division One
Yorkshire are 81 for two in pursuit of 300 for victory against Sussex at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground but rain and bad light have brought untimely delays for the title-challengers.
Durham need 37 to beat Derbyshire after sensationally dismissing their hosts for 63 this afternoon.
Somerset reached 133 for three to defeat Surrey by seven wickets at Taunton.
Middlesex are 211 for three at Lord’s in reply to Nottinghamshire’s 430 for seven declared.
Division Two
Leicestershire are 260 for seven in reply to Lancashire's 453 for seven declared at Emirates Old Trafford.
Worcestershire made 351 for eight declared at New Road in response to Hampshire's 428.
Rain has prevented play on the final day at Canterbury, meaning Kent, who have followed on, remained 56 behind Essex on 113 for four
Wicket as Wells on 43 mistimes an attempted hook off Hogg and gloves the ball to Agathangelou at 2nd slip. Leics 253-7 in 87th over
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 14, 2013
2:50pm - Usman Arshad got in on the act with 2-2, removing tail enders Tim Groenewald and Mark Footitt and Derbyshire are all out for 63. The upshot of a staggering afternoon is that Division One leaders Durham need 37 to win. They've taken tea, which might be accompanied by a lie down in a dark room for Derbyshire's batsmen.
Talking of darkness, bad light has brought an early tea at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground to further cheer Durham.
Worcestershire have declared at the interval against Hampshire, having collected a fourth batting point.
2:44pm - RESULT! Surrey (195 & 197) lose to Somerset (260 & 133/3) by seven wickets at Taunton. Somerset negotiate their small victory target with relatively little alarm to land a huge win over fellow strugglers Surrey. James Hildreth and Craig Kieswetter finished unbeaten with 36 and 34 respectively.
2:40pm - It's five for Onions as Tony Palladino is caught behind without scoring.
Yorkshire have lost Jaques lbw to Ashar Zaidi for 23.
Worcestershire are 348 for eight due to Chris Wood bowling Jack Shantry for 27. They trail Hampshire by 80.
2:36pm - Leicestershire's Ben Raine has a maiden career fifty at Emirates Old Trafford, where the draw is now the overwhelming favourite. Remember, that will be enough to earn Lancashire promotion unless Essex can beat Kent - something that seems increasingly unlikely, with the latest inspection at Canterbury slated for 3pm.
2:33pm - It really is all going Durham's way right now. Michael Richardson has just pulled off a spectacular one-handed catch at gully - one that skipper Paul Collingwood would have been proud to call his own - to account for Richard Johnson and hand Onions his fourth wicket of the innings. At 54 for seven, Derbyshire's second-innings lead is a paltry 27.
Massive six from Craig Kieswetter. 25 needed now. Somerset 108/3.
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) September 14, 2013
2:23pm - The action has resumed between Sussex and Yorkshire, perhaps crucially for the loss of six overs.
2:10pm - Robson joins Rogers back in the hutch - Middlesex's other opener edging Andre Adams behind to go for 41.
Nick Compton passed 1,000 first class runs for Somerset this year before being run out for 24. The score at Taunton is 79 for three, with 54 more required for victory.
2:05pm - Make that 44 for six as Rushworth bowls Tom Poynton. Anything you can do, Graham...
It's worth pointing out that this carnage at Derby has come at the same time as a rain delay at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground. Big, big moments in the title race.
2:03pm - Ominously for Derbyshire, Onions appears to be in one of those moods that suggests their sorry innings might not last much longer. The England seamer has a third wicket having rearranged Shiv Chanderpaul's furniture and the score is 44 for five.
1:57pm - What a waste! Well set and going along fine on 38, Matthew Boyce launched a slog sweep against Simon Kerrigan only to be caught in the deep by Luis Reece. Leicestershire are 191 for six, 262 behind Lancashire.
They're off for bad light at New Road, although Shaaiq Choudhry might not agree with the umpires' assessment having hit the last three balls for four!
Wicket - Rogers is out for a well played 108, ct Fletcher b Adams and we're 151-1 with Robson 40* #MiddxvNotts
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 14, 2013
1:51pm - It goes from bad to worse for Derbyshire - the hosts are 39 for four, with Onions bowling Alex Hughes. Leaders Durham must now be thinking of a victory that seemed most unlikely at the start of play
1:48pm - That's a century for Chris Rogers, who really has enjoyed a summer to remember. The Australian Test batsman's opening stand with Sam Robson is currently worth 146 to Middlesex.
Dernbach has his second wicket as Trescothick departs for 25. Somerset are 48 for two.
1:39pm - Matt Coles has handy figures of 3-67 after removing Ben Cox for 65. Worcestershire are 293 for seven.
Coles' parent club Kent remain 113 for four against Essex, still waiting for their first action of the day.
WICKET! @BunnyOnions strikes and removes Madsen for 16 as he is caught at slip by @Borthwick16. @DerbyshireCCC 33-3, they lead by 6.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) September 14, 2013
1:31pm - The Plunkett experiment ends. Shortly after hitting the first four of the Yorkshire innings he slapped Lewis Hatchett to to Ed Joyce at midwicket. Phil Jaques is the new man, following his bowling heroics this morning!
1:20pm - Somerset have suffered an early setback in their chase of 133 against Surrey - Jade Dernbach bowling Chris Jones for five.
Derbyshire are 26 for two, still one behind Durham for whom Chris Rushworth has made Paul Borrington his second victim.
1:16pm - The good news is, with the exception of Canterbury, we're back under way everywhere. Hopefully they can join the party after that imminent inspection.
Plunkett has been circumspect so far, with four from 13 balls. Is he worried about what Geoff Boycott might say???
1:01pm - In case you needed any further indication of Yorkshire's intentions at Hove this afternoon, Liam Plunkett is opening the batting alongside Adam Lyth as they begin their pursuit of 300 for victory.
12:44pm - Play is set to start at 1:10pm at Lord's, while we will have another inspection at Canterbury 20 minutes later.
12:35pm - We now have lunch in every fixture. Here are the scores:
Division One
Yorkshire require 300 from 64 overs at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground after Sussex hurried to 333 for three against declaration bowling.
Derbyshire are 22 for one in their second innings and trail Durham by five at Derby.
Somerset are 13 without loss in pursuit of 133 to defeat Surrey at Taunton.
There was no play before lunch at Lord’s, where Middlesex are 96 without loss in reply to Nottinghamshire’s 430 for seven declared.
Division Two
Leicestershire are 152 for five in reply to Lancashire's 453 for seven declared at Emirates Old Trafford.
Worcestershire are 284 for six at New Road, responding to Hampshire's 428.
Rain washed out the final morning at Canterbury, meaning Kent, who have followed on, remained 56 behind Essex on 113 for four.
Ben Cox equals his highest First Class score of 61.
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) September 14, 2013
12:22pm - Sussex declare at 333 for three, heralding lunch at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground. Yorkshire require exactly 300 from 64 overs.
12:17pm - Surrey are unable to add to their second-innings total of 197 as Chawla accounts for Jade Dernbach. Somerset need just 133 for victory at Taunton.
12:14pm - With their lead at 132, Surrey lose Stuart Meaker to Piyush Chawla. Somerset have to be big favourites now.
12:07pm - Sussex opener Nash surges past 150, Chris Rushworth pins Ben Slater lbw in the second over of Derbyshire's second innings and Ben Cox has a half-century for Worcestershire.
Gale is coming off his long run now. Menacing. Sussex 288-3 (42 overs) Hamilton-Brown 106* Nash 142* a lead of 254 runs. #YCCC
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 14, 2013
Applause rings around The Ground for Craig Meschede at the end of his over which was a wicket maiden. He currently has 4 for 39. Superb.
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) September 14, 2013
11:53am - Meschede really is aiding Somerset's survival bid! He removes Batty to leave Surrey 180 for eight, leading by just 115.
Palladino's sixth scalp means Durham are dismissed for 325, giving the leaders a first-innings advantage of 27.
Hamilton-Brown completes a 68-ball century.
There will be no play before lunch at Lord's and Simon Kerrigan has ended O'Brien's defiant knock for Leicestershire.
Still no further breakthroughs for Hampshire on day four. Worcestershire are 245-6, trailing by 183 runs.
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 14, 2013
11:43am - Palladino completes a five-for with the dismissal of Jamie Harrison, moments after Hamilton-Brown is dropped at Hove. After a few quieter overs, Sussex are now rattling along at more than 10 an over once again.
11:35am - There is another run out at Derby, Graham Onions the latest man to go. Derbyshire have to settle for two bowling points as the 110th over ends with Durham 314 for eight.
Meschede halts the Surrey revival by inducing an edge behind from Ansari for his third wicket of the morning.
A draw looks highly likely in Manchester as Niall O'Brien brings up a half-century.
11:30am - Rory Hamilton-Brown has passed 50 facing the declaration bowling from Yorkshire. However, Sussex's rate of progress has slowed. They take drinks 184 ahead with 77 overs left in the day.
Usman Arshad is run out, meaning Durham are seven down and 13 ahead.
11:17am - Zafar Ansari and Gareth Batty have steadied the Surrey ship, while the floodlights are now in use at a gloomy Derby, where Durham claim a third batting point with two and a half overs to spare. Phil Mustard has been dropped in the slips.
Adam Lyth is on from the Sea End for Phil Jaques. It will be interesting to see what the target will be. Sussex 185-3 (27 overs)
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 14, 2013
11:08am - Nash brings up one of the easier hundreds of his career, from 75 deliveries.
Durham's search for batting points suffers another blow as Palladino has Michael Richardson caught behind.
Kyle Hogg gets rid of Michael Thornely at Emirates Old Trafford.
SCORE: Leics 87-3 after 30 overs. Tricky half-hour negotiated
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) September 14, 2013
So Sussex have put on 100 in the first 27 minutes this morning ...!
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) September 14, 2013
10:54am - Durham supporters may be keeping an anxious eye on developments in the Sussex-Yorkshire game. At Derby, Paul Collingwood departs to Tony Palladino, leaving Durham 283 for five in reply to 298.
James Tomlinson bowls Ross Whiteley for his fourth wicket at New Road.
Sussex move to 114-3 (21 overs) Hamilton-Brown 20* Nash 57* Gale 3-03-35-0 Jaques 3-0-31-1
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 14, 2013
10:50am - Things are looking rather bleak for Surrey, who are effectively 51 for six following Meschede's removal of Zander de Bruyn.
Nash dashes past 50 as the runs flow at Hove.
10:43am - Jaques strikes for Yorkshire, who have seemingly agreed a target with Sussex. Home captain Ed Joyce is caught at mid-on for 14 to provide the Australian with his maiden first-class wicket.
There will be no play before lunch at Canterbury. If Essex do not win, a draw will be enough to confirm Lancashire's return to the top-flight.
10:40am - Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale follows the introduction of Phil Jaques by bringing himself on.
Surrey have lost a fifth wicket in their second innings, Steven Davies falling to Craig Meschede.
Interesting here Phil Jaques to come on from the Sea End. looks like the tactic is to score quickly to give #YCCC a run chase later.
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 14, 2013
10:35am - Rain has also prevented the teams from taking the field at Lord's but our other five games are under way.
Play is set to get underway ontime at 10:30am..and the sun has made an appearance too.! #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) September 14, 2013
10:22am - We will have a delayed start at Canterbury, which increases the chances of Lancashire going up today. Play should hopefully begin promptly in the other matches.
10:10am - For those of you who are unaware of how things stand across the country, here's a summary:
Division One
Leaders Durham are 257 for four in reply to Derbyshire’s 298 at Derby, a deficit of 41 on first innings.
Sussex are 48 for two in their second innings, leading Yorkshire by 14 at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground
Surrey are 97 for four in their second innings at Taunton and 32 ahead of Somerset.
There was no play on day three at Lord's, leaving Middlesex 96 without loss in reply to Nottinghamshire's 430 for seven declared.
Division Two
Leicestershire are struggling on 60 for three in reply to Lancashire's 453 for seven declared at Emirates Old Trafford.
Kent are 113 for four at Canterbury, still 56 behind Essex after following on.
Worcestershire are 189 for five in response to Hampshire’s 428 at New Road.
10:07am - The week's rain means Division One leaders Durham are likely to draw their game with Derbyshire, who are battling hard to avoid relegation.
A stalemate also appears the most likely outcome at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground, although second-placed Yorkshire will still be hopeful of defeating Sussex.
The top-flight's bottom clubs resume at Taunton with Somerset holding the upper hand over Surrey, while Lancashire can gain promotion from Division Two by matching Essex's result at Kent.
Covers on @homeofcricket& a steady drizzle...lets hope we don't have a repeat of yesterday :-( #MiddxvNottspic.twitter.com/VOIULchtZf
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 14, 2013
10am - Morning everyone. A rain-hit round of LV= County Championship fixtures concludes today and ecb.co.uk is ready to deliver updates on all the action.