Durham moved into position to seal the LV= County Championship title on the back of a fine day against Nottinghamshire.
6:41pm - With play now done at Headingley, here are the close-of-play scores:
Division One
Durham are seven without loss chasing just 69 to earn a victory over Nottinghamshire that will see them crowned LV= County Champions
Yorkshire are four without loss in their second innings, 86 ahead of Middlesex at Headingley.
Surrey are 400 for five against Warwickshire at Edgbaston
Division Two
Lancashire, who will win the title with victory, are 292 for seven facing Gloucestershire at Bristol.
Kent are 418 all out versus second-placed Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.
Essex are 107 for one in reply to Glamorgan’s 322 at Chelmsford.
Hampshire are 362 for two facing Leicestershire at Grace Road.
STUMPS..Surrey 400-5 Ansari 12*, Wilson 16*...a very good day
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 18, 2013
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: Durham take seven runs from the first over but then refuse the extra half-hour. The hosts will need 62 runs to secure a third title in six season when they come back tomorrow.
6:06pm - Middlesex have been dismissed for 128, Ryan Sidebottom bowling Ollie Rayner to complete the innings.
6pm - Soon after reaching a century, Steven Davies falls to Maurice Chambers to leave Surrey five down.
And that is close: Lancs have reached the halfway stage at a healthy 292-7 from 106 overs. Smith resumes in morning 88 no and Hogg 3.
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 18, 2013
5:57pm - Yorkshire also take two quick wickets as Sidebottom and Brooks strike to leave Middlesex nine down. However, their efforts will ultimately prove in vain...
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: Hussey goes for a big one but edges onto his stumps from Stokes, who celebrates his third wicket. Durham require 69 to win and will likely take the extra half-hour, with only one over left scheduled in the day. This could be explosive.
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: David Hussey turns down a couple of singles to take him to a fifty to keep the strike, before crashing a four down the ground to reach the milestone from 63 balls. Another boundary then takes the lead to 68.
Two quick wickets, Davies c Wakely b Middlebrook 9. Ball c Spriegel b Middlebrook 32. Kent finish on 418/9 and that's stumps for day 2.
— Kent Cricket (@kentcricket) September 18, 2013
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: Luke Fletcher had looked well set, after a run-a-ball 20, but falls to Borthwick with the lead 57 with one wicket left to take. With the sun still shining, Durham could be asking for the extra half-hour.
Chapple gone! He's been caught at mid-on off Howell - it's 287-7
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 18, 2013
5:37pm - Brooks strikes again, trapping John Simpson lbw. Meanwhile, it's stumps at Chelmsford and Grace Road.
WICKET! Sidebottom gets another one, Berg caught behind down the leg-side. Middx 106-6, trailing by 104 runs
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 18, 2013
Lancashire 278-6. Davies caught behind for 12 to give Matt Taylor his maiden first class wicket.
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) September 18, 2013
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: Andre Adams didn’t fancy hanging around. After playing and missing on a couple of occasions he offers a simple catch straight to Keaton Jennings at deep backward-point to give Ben Stokes a first wicket. Notts lead by 25 and are eight down.
5:20pm - Vikram Solanki's fine day goes on as he reaches 150, while Essex lose Gautam Gambhir for 37. James Tredwell has fallen cheaply for Kent.
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: Scott Borthwick is introduced and strikes first ball as Paul Franks misses a straight one. It ends a 59-run partnership and leaves Durham needing three more wickets before a quick run chase to wrap up victory tonight.
5:10pm - Middlesex lose Neil Dexter while Essex's Jaik Mickleburgh brings up his fifty.
5pm - Amid Steven Davies continuing Surrey's fine day with the bat by reaching a half-century, Darren Stevens falls to Lee Daggett for 63.
4:55pm - Middlesex lose a fourth wicket as Jack Brooks strikes, Sam Robson feathering behind for 45.
Lancashire 264-5. Procter lbw to Will Gidman 106 after stand of 159 with Smith, who is 76 not out.
— Gloucestershire CCC (@Gloscricket) September 18, 2013
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: Durham won the 2009 County Championship with an innings defeat of Nottinghamshire in front of their own supporters. They won’t be doing the same this year, as David Hussey and Paul Franks move Notts to 179 for six, ensuring the hosts will have to bat again to win the game. There are 22 overs left in the day.
4:28pm - The centuries keep a'coming! James Vince joins Hampshire team-mate Dawson on the landmark amid Luke Procter doing likewise.
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: There are now four wickets left to take as Chris Read is caught behind off Onions for a duck. The Nottinghamshire captain is not happy with the decision and appeared reluctant to walk off. A David Hussey edge falls just short of second slip in the following over before a huge appeal for leg before against Paul Franks is unsuccessful as Durham ramp up the pressure.
4:19pm - Liam Dawson reaches three figures as Hampshire continue to pile on the runs, while the ever-consistent Darren Stevens continues his fine season with a half-century.
WICKET! Patterson claims his 3rd wkt with 4th ball after tea with Malan edging behind. Middx 45-3
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 18, 2013
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: Durham have their sights on a celebration tonight. Steven Mullaney doesn’t last long in the evening session as he walks across his stumps and is hit on his pads by Graham Onions for 72 in the first over after tea and Samit Patel edges Jamie Harrison to slip in the next set of six, leaving Notts five down and trailing by 44.
3:58pm - Kent lost a sixth wicket as Sam Billings is pinned in front for eight.
Tea at Headingley and we're 45-2 with Robson 18* and Malan 15* http://t.co/vwggQeO4ED#YorksvMiddx
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) September 18, 2013
3:37pm - Glamorgan have been dismissed for 322, Reece Topley ousting Michael Hogan. They have now taken tea.
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: Mullaney remains unbeaten at tea but he should have been back in the pavilion earlier. Rushworth found an edge from the Notts opener that a diving Scott Borthwick failed to hold on to at second slip. Had he left it, Paul Collingwood would probably have taken the opportunity. In better news for the hosts, Stokes returned to the field shortly before the end of the session.
WICKET Dean Cosker turns Monty Panesar into the hands of Ben Foakes at bat pad. He's out for 10 and Glamorgan 313 for 9.
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) September 18, 2013
3:16pm - It's a milestone marathon! Well, not quite but Solanki has reached a ton and Lancashire's Tom Smith a half-century. It's now tea at Edgbaston, Wantage Road, Grace Road and Bristol.
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: An up-and-down couple of overs for Durham. After Ben Stokes pulled up mid-over through injury, Chris Rushworth rearranges James Taylor's furniture for 12 with one through the gate. Notts trail by 66 with seven wickets intact.
3:08pm - Patterson gets rid of Joe Denly as Middlesex slip to 21 for two and Hampshire’s Vince has a fifty.
2:55pm - Mullaney brings up a fifty for Notts, Patterson has Middlesex captain Chris Rogers held at point and Amla is caught at slip off Keith Barker for 77, leaving Surrey 184 for three and halting a stand worth 166 with Solanki.
Nash is lbw to Middlebrook for 107 and David Masters makes Andrew Salter his fifth wicket.
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: The heavens open in the north-east and the players head off as the covers are rushed on, but the stumps are barely out of the ground when the rain stops and the sun reappears. Play continues after the briefest of delays with Mullaney looking well set on 44 and Notts trailing by 80.
Nash hits a boundary to reach his century! His 103* came off 140 balls with 15x 4s and 1x 6. Kent 285/4 (69.3 overs)
— Kent Cricket (@kentcricket) September 18, 2013
2:33pm - Corey Collymore has Steven Patterson caught behind to dismiss a seemingly demoralised Yorkshire for 210. As the White Rose have picked up just one batting point, failure to beat Middlesex will make Durham champions this week.
2:25pm - Northants’ James Middlebrook has Ben Harmison stumped for 28 and Hampshire's Liam Dawson heralds a half-century.
Brilliant diving catch at second slip by Raynor off Murtagh dismisses Sidebottom for 1. Yorks 204-9
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 18, 2013
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: A cry of relief echoes around the ground as Graham Onions takes the first scalp of the session. Michael Lumb was struck on the pads on 28, seven short of 1,000 first-class runs for the campaign. The visitors have passed their first-innings score for the loss of two wickets, but still trail by 85.
2:13pm - Graham Napier bowls Ruaidhri Smith for 23, leaving Glamorgan 261 for seven.
2:05pm - Luke Procter goes to a patient fifty for Lancashire, who are 152 for four and will win Division Two this week if they beat Gloucestershire.
1:58pm - Make that a 2:15pm resumption at Headingley.
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: The chances of Durham wrapping up their third County Championship today are fading as Steven Mullaney and Michael Lumb appear well set. The duo have moved the score on to 58 for one since lunch, with Ben Stokes and Jamie Harrison unable to cause the batsmen any problems as of yet.
1:41pm - There are fifties for Surrey’s Vikram Solanki, who has shared a century stand alongside Amla, and Hampshire’s Sean Terry, who is then lbw for 57 to Shiv Thakor.
Monty Panesar traps Cooke in front for 67 and play is due to restart at Headingley at 2pm.
1:27pm - Rain intervenes at Headingley where Yorkshire are 203 for eight.
1:23pm - Kent captain Rob Key goes to three figures with two sixes in three balls off James Middlebrook but immediately falls for 101, ending a stand of 134 with Brendan Nash, and Surrey’s Hashim Amla scores a fifty.
Yorkshire pick up a first batting point and Ravi Bopara bowls Mark Wallace for 38 after the Glamorgan skipper put on 95 with Chris Cooke.
1:10pm - There has been half an hour’s play at Edgbaston, without Surrey losing a wicket. The other games are about to resume.
Congratulations to both Rob Key and Brendan Nash who have both now passed 1000 County Championship runs this season.
— Kent Cricket (@kentcricket) September 18, 2013
12:36pm - Here are the lunch scores:
Division One
Nottinghamshire are 41 for one in their second innings, trailing Durham by 137 at the Emirates Durham ICG. Victory will give the hosts the title.
Yorkshire are 197 for eight versus Middlesex at Headingley.
There was no play before lunch at Edgbaston, where Surrey are 59 for two against Warwickshire.
Division Two
Lancashire, who will win the title with victory, are 115 for four facing Gloucestershire at Bristol.
Kent are 193 for two versus second-placed Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.
Glamorgan are 220 for four against Essex at Chelmsford.
Hampshire are 83 for one facing Leicestershire at Grace Road.
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: It’s been steady going for Notts but they are not losing wickets as they were on day one. Steven Mullaney’s watchful 18 and Michael Lumb’s 12 have got the visitors safely to the lunch break just one wicket down and trailing by 137.
12:26pm - Berg breaks through again to oust Liam Plunkett for 18 and leave Yorkshire, who must be aware Durham are closing in on winning the title this week, 189 for eight.
Brendan Nash, who has shared a hundred partnership with Key, raises a fifty for Kent.
WICKET! Another big blow for Yorks with Williamson edging behind trying to drive Helm. Yorks 187-7
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 18, 2013
12:08pm - Luis Reece misses out on an eighth straight championship fifty when he is bowled by David Payne for 35, making Lancashire 105 for four.
Chris Cooke brings up a half-century for Glamorgan, who are nearing a first batting point.
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: Durham have a first breakthrough. Under blue skies the ball has not been moving about as much as it was yesterday, but Chris Rushworth found enough to get an edge from Riki Wessels in the eighth over and Michael Richardson accepted the catch at third slip. Notts are 24 for one and trail by 154.
Let off for Reece, who's dropped at first slip by Alex Gidman off Taylo on 34. 96-3. Procter drive for 4 takes Lancs to 101-3.
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 18, 2013
11:52am - Yorkshire are six down as Adil Rashid edges Tom Helm to the keeper, but Kane Williamson raises a fifty soon after. Play is due to start at Edgbaston at 12:50pm.
Kent skipper Rob Key holds up Northants’ promotion push with a half-century and Hampshire’s Adams is caught behind off Ben Raine.
11:32am - A maximum-points win for Yorkshire looks even less likely when Gareth Berg snares Gary Ballance caught behind as the White Rose slip to 142 for five.
11:19am - Birthday-boy Luke Fletcher picks up the final wicket, having Chris Rushworth caught by Samit Patel at third slip, to dismiss Durham for 256 - a lead of 178. Collingwood ends unbeaten on 88, his highest championship score of the campaign.
Masters strikes again for his 50th scalp of the championship season, removing Goodwin for 65. Glamorgan are therefore 131 for four.
Check out a few of the highlights from @CricketUnited day last month! http://t.co/dte9tzpli0
— Chance to Shine (@Chance2Shine) September 18, 2013
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: A huge roar from the home supporters as Chris Rushworth takes Durham past 250. Having turned down singles to keep the strike in the past few overs, Collingwood took one off the second delivery of Andre Adams’ first over with the new cherry, leaving Durham on 249, but the nerves in the crowd were immediately quashed as Rushworth sent Adams down to third man for four.
11:03am - Away from the action, Glamorgan have signed South Africa batsman Jacques Rudolph for the next two seasons subject to clearance from Cricket South Africa. Yorkshire have extended all-rounder Richard Pyrah’s contract until the end of 2015. Full stories on both will follow later.
10:55am - Durham lose Jamie Harrison lbw to Steven Mullaney at 239 for nine. They need to get to 250 to ensure victory will give them the Division One title this week. Captain Paul Collingwood will be determined to see them to that figure.
Jonny Bairstow edging Tim Murtagh to slip, making Yorkshire 117 for four, lessens the chance of the White Rose gaining a maximum-points win over Middlesex, meaning Durham won’t have to reach 250 anyway.
Muhammad Azhar Ullah ousts Daniel Bell-Drummond to put Kent on 76 for two.
10:49am - Ben Wright falls lbw to David Masters for 45, ending a 107-run stand with Murray Goodwin and making Glamorgan 114 for three. Masters has taken all three wickets.
10:42am - Will Gidman takes his third wicket, having Karl Brown caught behind thanks to a diving right-handed catch from Gareth Roderick, to leave Lancashire 38 for three.
Former England seamer Matthew Hoggard, making his last appearance before retiring, sees a chance off his bowling to remove Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams go to ground.
10:31am - More rain means a delayed start between Warwickshire and Surrey at Edgbaston.
A booming off-drive from Goodwin sees him reach 50 from 143 balls. Glam 109/2
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) September 18, 2013
10:26am - Play is just minutes away in the other six fixtures. Promoted Lancashire, who are 33 for two versus Gloucestershire, are seeking a win that will clinch the Division Two crown.
ecb.co.uk’s Glen Robertson at the Emirates Durham ICG: It's a gloriously sunny day in the north-east and the home crowd are hoping to see the title wrapped up today, with tomorrow's forecast predicting rain. First Durham need another 43 runs to seal a second batting point, which, coupled with a victory, would ensure the championship whatever result second-placed Yorkshire get.
10:07am - There was no play yesterday between Leicestershire and Hampshire at Grace Road. The hosts have just won the toss and chosen to bowl.
10:05am - Play at the Emirates Durham ICG is due to start at 10:15am, 15 minutes before the other games. Here are the highlights of an extraordinary first day’s play there:
10am - Good morning and welcome to ecb.co.uk’s live text commentary of seven LV= County Championship games on a day that Durham could seal the Division One title.
Here is how the matches stand after a rain-hit opening day:
Division One
Leaders Durham, who will be guaranteed the title if they pick up 21 points this week, are 207 for eight in reply to Nottinghamshire's miserable 78 all out. The visitors to the Emirates Durham ICG won the toss.
Yorkshire were inserted by Middlesex at Headingley and reached 109 for three.
Rock-bottom Surrey are 59 for two having been put in by Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Division Two
Only 10 overs were bowled at Bristol, where Lancashire were invited to bat by Gloucestershire and ended the day 33 for two.
Kent made it to 60 for one after Northamptonshire chose to field at Wantage Road.
Glamorgan, another side to be inserted, reached 103 for two against Essex at Chelmsford.
There was no play at Grace Road, where Leicestershire are hosting Hampshire.