Summary

  • Five games continue on day four in race for 2026 County Championship title and promotion

  • Div 1: Sussex beat Essex by 47 runs; Leics avoid follow-on against Notts

  • Wins for Surrey, Warwickshire & Somerset on day three

  • Div 2: Northants v Durham, Glos v Derbyshire, Kent v Worcs

  • Middlesex beat Lancashire by 160 runs on day three

  • Click 'Watch and listen' for radio commentary

  • Have your say using the 'Get Involved' button

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Live Reporting

Dan Wheeler, Steve Mather and Gary Smee

  1. DURHAM BEAT NORTHANTS BY 153 RUNS

    Northants 50 ALL OUT target 204 v Durham

    Absolutely bonkers!

    Ben Stokes takes the last wicket - Yuzvendra Chahal slashing him to David Bedingham at first slip.

  2. Notts 451-8 dec v Leics 345-9

    It should be lunch at Trent Bridge, but with Leicestershire nine down they'll play on for a bit.

    What a morning for the Foxes with this last-wicket stand between Tom Scriven and Josh Davey now worth 86!

  3. Listen live

    BBC Local Radio

    As well as text updates across all four days of this round of the County Championship you can also tune in to BBC Local Radio and BBC Sounds, flitting between the games that interest you, as you wish.

    Just click the 'Watch & Listen' tab at the top of the page for coverage from all nine matches or if you prefer you can listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra who are jumping from ground to ground to keep you across all the action as the day goes on.

  4. Scores at lunch on day four

    The games at Notts and Northants are still in play with the batting sides nine wickets down but here is how things stand at present.

    Division One

    • Essex 177 & 281 v Sussex 275 & 230 - Sussex win by 47 runs
    • Notts 451-8 dec v Leics 344-9 - Leics trail by 107 runs

    Division Two

    • Glos 237 & 268-3 v Derbyshire 278 - Glos lead by 227 runs
    • Kent 238 & 358 v Worcs 217 & 199-4 - Worcs require 181 runs
    • Northants 263 & 49-9 v Durham 205 & 261 - Northants require 155 runs
  5. wicket

    WICKET

    Kimber c Agarwal b Parkinson 8

    NINE DOWN.

    DURHAM NEED ONE.

    Lewis Kimber slog sweeps it straight to deep mid-wicket.

    Six wickets for Callum Parkinson.

  6. Lunch at Canterbury

    Worcestershire 199-4, target 380 v Kent

    Worcestershire have battled well. They've only lost one wicket in adding 105 this morning.

    Brett D'Oliveira continues to play a captain's innings - his half-century has been full of typical character and determination to get his side as close to saving the game as possible.

    Young Henry Cullen has also played in a mature fashion as he offers sensible support.

    Kent won't panic yet, but with Northant's impending doom against Durham, they know a win here could bring a big swing in the promotion race.

    They still need six more wickets.

  7. Lunch at Bristol

    Glos 237 & 268-3 v Derbyshire 278 - Glos lead by 227 runs

    A serene morning for Glos batters Miles Hammond and James Bracey who have helped themselves to a century and half-century respectively against Derbyshire's muted bowling attack.

    The hosts have added 119 runs in the morning session and built their lead up to 227 which they will feel probably isn't enough to declare so on we will go into the afternoon session.

    For now, time for some lunch.

  8. Notts 451-8 dec v Leics 337-9

    Josh Davey battingShutterstock

    On and on this Leicestershire last-wicket stand goes.

    Tom Scriven and Josh Davey have been batting for more than an hour and a half with their stand worth 78.

    How crucial will this be in the Foxes' fight to avoid relegation?

    How damaging will it be in Nottinghamshire's quest for the title?

  9. 100 runs

    100 for Miles Hammond

    Glos 237 & 266-3 v Derbyshire 278

    Miles Hammond completes his century as Gloucestershire continue to build up their lead before lunch - it currently stands at 226.

    How many will they want?

    I don't think we can use Northants' current effort as a yardstick in that department.

    A fruitless morning session for Derbyshire.

  10. wicket

    WICKET

    Sales b Parkinson 0 (Northants 32-8, target 204 v Durham)

    EIGHT!! DURHAM I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THIS!

    James Sales goes back. Thinks he's got it covered.

    He hasn't.

    There's a tinkle of timber.

    Parkinson's on his bike. He's got figures of 7.3 overs, one maiden, FIVE for 14.

    What day of the week is it?

  11. wicket

    WICKET

    McManus b Stokes 1 (Northants 32-7, target 204 v Durham)

    Stokes this time!

    Lewis McManus chops on.

    If ever there was a time for this, it's now. It's all going wrong for Northants.

  12. Get Involved

    Josh DaveyShutterstock

    Great effort by the Leicester boys and in particular ex Somerset player Josh Davey. Makes the game uncertain for Notts and helps our cause.

    Nick, Taunton

    Josh Davey - doing it for his current county and his old. Great opening bat.

    Rod, Bury

    Well done, Agent Davey - a great last wicket stand!

    Charles, Taunton

  13. Northants sliding to defeat

    Northants 32-6, target 204 v Durham

    Callum Parkinson in action for DurhamShutterstock

    It seems a long time since Northants took 10 off the first over in their chase of 204.

    Their hopes of victory look shattered thanks to Callum Parkinson's craft, Matt Pott's power and Durham's all-round canniness.

    Northants' total is currently their joint fifth lowest ever in first-class cricket and they've some way to go yet to avoid a record low v Durham - currently 83 back in 2014.

  14. wicket

    WICKET

    Bartlett c Robinson b Parkinson 0 (Northants 28-6, target 204 v Durham)

    ANOTHER.

    Two in three balls. SCENES at Wantage Road.

    George Bartlett comes forward. Nothing really wrong with his defence. Parkinson is just too cute.

    It turns at the last second, kisses the edge and into Ollie Robinson's gloves.

    Parkinson has 4-14

  15. wicket

    WICKET

    Harrison c Potts b Parkinson 7 (Northants 23-5, target 204 v Durham

    A lollypop. Another for Callum Parkinson. A catch for Potts.

    Northants continue to crumble.

    Calvin Harrison just pops up a catch off a regulation delivery from Parkinson that lands on a length and Potts does the rest at shortish cover.

    Durham running for the line.

  16. 50 runs

    50 for James Bracey

    Glos 237 & 247-3 v Derbyshire 278 - Glos lead by 206

    James Bracey scored 113 in the first innings and now has a half-century in the second.

    He's up to almost 900 runs for the season and is second in the run-scoring table behind only Durham's David Bedingham.

    Bracey will be aiming for 1,000 runs for the campaign no doubt.

    That's good going for a player batting for the team sitting bottom of the Division Two table.

  17. 50 runs

    50 for D'Oliveira

    Kent 238 & 358 v Worcestershire 217 & 161-4

    Captain's knock needed from Worcestershire's leader.

    And the Pears are getting one.

    Off 98 balls with five fours.

    The visitors need him to go on. And on.

  18. Sussex safe?

    Result: Sussex beat Essex by 47 runs

    Sussex have hauled themselves well clear of the Division One drop zone with that 20-point haul.

    Essex remain in trouble. They're 20 points clear of ninth-placed Leicestershire, but that gap will be reduced somewhat with the Foxes game at Notts heading towards a draw.

    Leicestershire are now 317-9 in their first innings and 134 in arrears at Trent Bridge.

  19. Durham's two Ps

    Northants 23-4, target 204 v Durham

    Callum Parkinson 5-0-13-2

    Matthew Potts: 5-2-12-2

    Fire emojis

  20. Northants falling apart at Wantage Road

    Northants 23-4, target 204 v Durham

    Martin Emmerson
    BBC Radio Newcastle

    Kasey Aldridge has just taken a fabulous catch to see off Nathan McSweeney for four runs. The batsman tried to paddle Callum Parkinson down the legside but the fielder had other ideas.

    Seeing McSweeney shape up for the shot, Aldridge sprinted from first slip to leg slip to take the catch. It's the third time I have seen him do that this season.

    Moments later Saif Zaib edged Matty Potts to the keeper and departed for one. Potts has 58 wickets in the championship this season.

    Durham have real fire in their bellies and Northants don't know how to deal with it - at the moment!

    Lunch is still 40 minutes away. Will they get there?