Summary

  • Final round of the 2026 County Championship; nine games

  • Warwickshire will be champions if they take 14 or more points against Leicestershire

  • A win or a draw with at least six batting/bowling bonus points would be enough

  • They have three already after bowling out Leicestershire for 125 - Ethan Bamber takes 4-42

  • Dan Lawrence hits unbeaten 105 for Surrey against second-placed Somerset

  • England's Emilio Gay makes 141 for Durham against Lancashire

  • Kent need a minimum of 15 pts to win promotion after Northants all out for 103 against Middlesex

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Live Reporting

Phil Cartwright, Matthew Cresswell, Steve Mather and Paul Grunill

  1. Lunch at Lord's

    Middx v Northants 80-6

    Lunch at Lord's and it's a first session that belongs entirely to Middlesex.

    Northamptonshire, after winning the toss and electing to bat, have looked uncomfortable from the outset under a barrage of some excellent bowling from the hosts.

    The wickets have been shared around and all-rounder Ryan Higgins deserved his two early wickets.

    Danru Ferns struck with his very first ball at Lord's and Ricardo Vasconcelos, so often the anchor of this Northamptonshire side, has also departed for 26.

    Big problems for the promotion-chasers.

  2. Nottinghamshire 59-1 v Yorkshire.

    Lovely shot from Ben Martindale down the ground, through mid-on, for four.

    That should help him settle down as we go into the final over before lunch.

  3. What is going on with the balls?

    Lancashire v Durham 102-1

    Martin Emmerson
    BBC Radio Newcastle

    This is beyond farce now. Ball three has just been replaced after 20 overs. It replaced ball two which lasted 3.3 overs, which replaced ball one which lasted three deliveries!

    Meanwhile, Ben McKinney has reached 50 in 74 balls (three different ones), hitting nine fours. He was stuck on 49 for a long time, though.

    He's passed 1,000 runs in a season for the first time -and 2,000 in his Durham career. The visitors have now reached 102-1 in the 25th over.

  4. 50 runs

    50 up for Nottinghamshire

    Nottinghamshire 51-1 v Yorkshire

    Nottinghamshire's Haseeb Hameed playing a shot with a Yorkshire slip fielder with his hands out and his mouth open behind him.Shutterstock

    It has been an attritional start to proceedings as both of Nottinghamshire's openers had to dig in after being put into bat on a green looking surface by their visitors.

    The run rate is currently under 2 which tells you how this one has gone this morning. We have just had six consecutive maidens before Ben Slater was caught at slip for 18.

  5. wicket

    WICKET

    Patel c Overton b Vaughan 16 (Somerset v Surrey 79-2)

    Archie VaughanGetty Images

    Archie Vaughan enjoyed that one!

    He goes wheeling away to celebrate the wicket of Ryan Patel as Somerset check Surrey's progress with a second wicket.

    The 20-year-old finds a bit of turn and it Patel edges into the hands of Craig Overton at slip who reaches down to claim it safely.

    Ollie Pope now joins the action for the visitors.

  6. 50 runs

    for Ben McKinney

    Lancs v Durham 96-1

    Ben McKinneyGetty Images

    They made him work for it, but Ben McKinney passes 50 for the sixth time in this season's Championship.

    This one took him 74 balls and was brought up with a powerful off-drive for four off Ben Walkden.

    Warning for Lancashire - he converted three of the previous five into hundreds.

  7. wicket

    WICKET

    Coles c Fuller b Neal 16 (Hampshire v Sussex 75-4)

    James Coles goes for the aggressive option but picks out the fielder at midwicket.

    Spinner Andrew Neal has his first wicket of the innings just before lunch on day one.

  8. Warks v Leics 63-5

    Ben Cox and captain Ian Holland are trying to stabilise Leicestershire before lunch after a flurry of early wickets.

    Warwickshire are turning to the spin of Manav Suthar with 12 minutes of the morning session remaining.

  9. wicket

    'Essex needed that'

    Glamorgan 81-1 Essex

    Luke Hemmings
    BBC Sport Wales

    Essex find the first wicket of the day in the 24th over as Zaman Akhter's bowl at Zain ul Hussan creates a catching opportunity for wicketkeeper George Bell. Essex needed that before the break and now they have it.

  10. wicket

    WICKET

    McManus c & b Helm 13 (Middx v Northants 79-6)

    Absolutely outstanding from Tom Helm!

    The fast bowler races in and gets a leading edge from Lewis McManus.

    The ball looks to be going past him on this run up but Helm does superbly to take a two-handed catch by his head.

    Brilliant from Middlesex as lunch at Lord's approaches. The visitors could do with the break to regroup and have a re-think.

  11. Nottinghamshire 48-1 v Yorkshire

    Nottinghamshire have not scored a run for seven overs. Extraordinary for the reigning champions.

    Ben Martindale walks out for the home side.

  12. wicket

    WICKET

    Boorman c Benjamin b Singh 29 (Kent v Glos 66-2)

    Bonus wicket for Kent 15 minutes before lunch as Tommy Boorman drives at a ball from Ekansh Singh without moving the front foot across and edges to Chris Benjamin behind the stumps.

    Boorman departs after sharing a stand of 62 with Ollie Price.

  13. wicket

    WICKET

    ul Hassan c Bell Akhter 37 (Glamorgan 76-1 Essex)

    First wicket for Essex!

    Zaman Akhter comes motoring in round the wicket and finds the edge of Zain ul Hassan to give wicketkeeper George Bell a catch.

    The Glamorgan batter drove at that one but didn't get to the pitch of it and gets it wrong to end what had been building into a nice innings.

    Asa Tribe is now joined by captain Kiran Carlson.

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    Great listening to the Bears this morning and the legend that is Dermot Reeve! He also sounds like that other legend Billy Idol!

    Ian, Birmingham

    COYB! Warwickshire seem to have mastered that skill of ruthlessness and learning how to win. Similar to the 2021 side, maybe not the single most talented side, but a very good combined unit, mentally strong, tactically astute, and play the key moments well.

    Chris, Cheltenham

  15. wicket

    WICKET

    Slater c Lyth b Coad 18 (Notts 48-1 v Yorkshire)

    Almost exactly as we say that, Yorkshire make the breakthrough!

    The curse of the commentator for Nottinghamshire.

    Ben Slater has done a pretty good job this morning but now has to depart.

    This one jumps up on him and he can only edge to Adam Lyth at second slip who makes a good catch as that was going at him at some speed.

    Ben Coad does the business again for Yorkshire.

  16. Nottinghamshire 48-0 v Yorkshire

    Not much to update you about at Trent Bridge.

    We have had six consecutive maidens.

  17. Middx v Northants 65-5

    A great stroke through the covers by James Sales (21*) goes for a much needed Northamptonshire boundary.

  18. Kent v Glos 64-1

    He likes that cut shot.

    Ekansh Singh's second ball of the game is too wide and Tommy Boorman cracks it away for four. He is now 28 not out.

  19. 50 runs

    50 up for Leicestershire

    Warks v Leics 53-5

    Leicestershire's Jonny Tattersall disappointed to be outShutterstock

    Leicestershire bring up their half-century but for the loss of five wickets at Edgbaston - not ideal for their survival chances.

    If they fail to reach 250 and Essex take three wickets today against Glamorgan, the Foxes' relegation will be confirmed... for now.

    Then it would all rest on their appeal against a 27-point deduction for breaching pitch regulations.

  20. Glamorgan 70-0 Essex

    After what was a fairly slow start in Cardiff, the Glamorgan bowlers have found their feet and are building nicely.

    They have seen off the opening spells of Sam Cook and Jack Auld, with Essex bringing Paul Walter on for a bowl alongside Zaman Akhter.