Postpublished at 10:36 BST 10 September

10:36 BST 10 September

Durham 252 & 210-2 v Middlesex 203

What a way to get the first runs of the day!

Mayank Agarwal decides to take on the hook shot off Tom Helm and sends it over the fine leg boundary for the first six of the innings.

Agarwal moves to 16 and he'll have enjoyed getting going like that today.

Big appeal from Fraser Sheat as he raps Jake Lehmann on the pads - but the umpire decides in the batsman's favour.

"He wasn't very far forward," says BBC Radio Solent's Kevan James.

Lehmann's response is to shuffle forward to the final ball of the over and glance it away to fine leg for four.

Rory Burns is off the mark with a single second ball.

Dom Sibley leaves Jaydev Unakkat first up - then survives an LBW shout. Too high? He's rubbing his thigh.

He misses out on a leg side ball but survives the over.

Kamran Dhariwal runs a quick single to mid-off off the fourth ball of Jimmy Anderson's over.

Marcus Harris picks up and throws down the stumps, but Dhariwal is safely home and moves to 45 not out.

And Matt Taylor pinches a single off the final ball.

Two runs added and the Glos lead is 198.

Ajaz Patel begins with a maiden at Grace Road.

Whether you're on the square leg boundary or following along from the office, we want to hear your views on today's action.

Who's going to come out on top in this fascinating title race? Is this the year Somerset finally get their hands on the County Championship trophy? If Durham look certain to return to Division One, who will join them?

Let us know your thoughts on any of those or other questions, and the day's action, by clicking the yellow button on the left of the page and we'll publish the best comments right here throughout the day.

It's a cool morning here. About 11 degrees and perhaps a bit of moisture in the surface.

Now then... how long can this pair hold Yorkshire up?

George Bell will face the first ball of the day on 42 not out.

Seamer Jack White will bowl.

Zaman Akhter has 19 and he starts at the non-striker's end.

The captain is going to bowl himself first up.

Jimmy Anderson has the ball to run in to Kamran Dhariwal.

"The first 40 minutes will be crucial for both sides in the search for bonus points," says BBC Radio Nottingham's Dave Bracegirdle.

Notts need at least two wickets in the first 10 overs of day three for a full complement of bowling points, while Hampshire must add 33 runs in the same period for a second with the bat.

Jake Lehmann resumes on 115 not out, made from 195 balls, with overnight partner Eddie Jack on two.

Fraser Sheat will bowl the opening over.

Here come stalwart Surrey openers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley.

Jaydev Unadkat to bowl to Burns first up.

Surrey news - Ollie Pope will relace Josh Blake in this match.

Blake is leaving the club at the end of the season - and his next destination is currently unknown.

BBC Local Radio

As usual, we'll have live commentary on all eight games today, brought to you by our BBC local radio teams.

Just choose your game by clicking the 'Watch and listen' tab at the top of the page and we'll keep you up to date with events at the other eight grounds with regular text updates.

Adam Whitty
BBC Radio Leicester commentator

Image source, Rex Features

It was of course, Franklin D. Roosevelt who, presumably referencing a future Somerset Division One title 100 years ago, said "the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself".

I have to say, watching Somerset as a neutral, the vibe I'm getting is that the only thing that will stop them winning a title is the fear they won't.

There are two big caveats to my point here. One is that Somerset possibly didn't enforce the follow-on because Lewis Gregory isn't completely fit (he bowled six overs in the first innings) - if so, I understand why, in a packed schedule, they decided to rest their attack.

Point two is I was made to feel like a cricketing extremist for being quite so strong on my view at the end of day two yesterday by journalistic colleagues - who don't feel as strongly as I do.

However - watching them, I got the sense that they are just so nervous. The chances of them winning this game as extremely high. Leicestershire, it seems to me, don't quite have the ability to compete with a much-changed team. Somerset have such a big lead and so much time that anything other than victory for the league leaders seems implausible.

However, title winners go for the jugular, they take risks and are bold. I am seeing a team scared to lose, to "throw it away" rather than confirm victory.

The decision to not enforce the follow-on suggested that to me, as did their slow batting yesterday. A team more experienced in winning would have flogged Leicestershire all over the place, and had the confidence to take them down in two days.

But I heard people saying perhaps they wanted to eat up overs to not give the hosts the chance to win. Really? That may not be true, but watching them, it felt possible.

It seems to me the only way they won't win both this, and probably the title, is by not being bold and aggressive. They might suck the energy out of their performance and display.

Somerset are a marvellous team, a joy to watch with such talent. I think they just need to believe they are winners. Perhaps then they will end this wait for a title triumph.

Kent return to action on day three in Derby in need of quick wickets with Northamptonshire breathing down their neck towards the top of Division Two.

Trailing hosts Derbyshire by 181 runs and with nine second innings wickets still to get, they know that Northants are in a position of strength against Worcestershire at New Road - and victory there would bring them closer if Kent fail in the East Midlands.

Kent batter Bertie Foreman, who top scored with 49 for the visitors in the first innings, said: "I think it's a strange pitch at times, there's periods where it feels like it's doing a lot and then there are periods where it seems to be flattening out.

"All in all I think it's just got a ball in it really, like one ball that stays low which happened to a couple of our lads or one that jumps up off a length so it goes through periods of feeling good and then not so good.

"I think patience is a massive thing on this pitch, they had periods especially when [Ben] Aitchison bowled and also [Martin] Andersson and [Brett] Randell they just bowled particularly straight.

"They hit the top of off a lot of times and asked a lot of questions on what was a tricky pitch so I think learning from them could be a big thing for us."

Image source, Shutterstock

Defending champions Nottinghamshire will be looking to polish off Hampshire as quickly as possible this morning after determined resistance from the visitors on day two, led by Jake Lehmann's century.

The Australian left-hander has passed 50 nine times this season, but his unbeaten 115 was only his second three-figure score.

"As the pitch has dried out it has become more consistent. I tried to get out there and put them under pressure from the off. With the field spread later, I could bide my time," said Lehmann, who now has 922 Championship runs.

"Getting there was a bit of a moment for us as a group because it’s hundreds that really keep you in a game. We’ve been struggling definitely, especially in the first innings."

Image source, Getty Images

Division Two leaders Durham find themselves that bit closer to Division One cricket after a wonderful Wednesday.

Brydon Carse's 5-72 helped to bowl out Middlesex for 202 before an unbeaten 115 from opener Ben McKinney has extended their advantage to 253 with eight wickets in the hutch.

Northants being bowled out for 289 by Worcestershire means Durham need even fewer points for promotion. It was 17 at the start of the week and has now dropped to 13.

Victory would scrap the need for calculators and the north east side will fancy their chances of doing it in this game, and possibly today if the weather holds up.

Essex begin day three with a yawning gap between them and the White Rose county after spinners Dom Bess and Kuldeep Yadav snared six out of the seven Essex wickets to fall on a turning pitch.

The visitors have already been beset by an injury to Jamie Porter, which saw the bowler leave the field before completing his 21st over.

Porter will be replaced by Sam Cook though one wonders how much work he will have to do should Essex not make the follow on.

They still need another 104 to avoid that.

Amidst the rubble of the Essex innings to date, Lancashire loanee George Bell batted with great composure for his unbeaten 42.

He resumes with Zaman Akhter, who survived a catching chance via a reverse sweep last night on 11. He's now on 19.

Image source, Shutterstock

The Sussex total doesn't tell the whole story. At one stage the hosts were 269-4 and on for maximum batting points.

Surrey deserve credit for taking the last six wickets for 124 in 30.1 overs.

Both teams are playing frontline spinners.

If Surrey can get close to that Sussex total - they can call on the leg-spin of Rahul Chahar and the left-arm of Mahipal Lomror.

The Indian pair took six wickets between them yesterday - and five out of the last six wickets of the innings between them.

No doubt that hasn't gone unnoticed by Sussex spin duo Jack Carson and James Coles.

A first-innings deficit on a pitch already taking a bit of turn could be very costly for a Surrey team only marginally above the relegation zone.

Adam Lanigan
BBC Sport reporter at Old Trafford

Image source, Shutterstock

There was a revolving cast of batters on day two at Old Trafford with 22 wickets falling in the meeting of Division Two's bottom two.

Lancashire took 12 and Gloucestershire 10, but it's the visitors who hold the upper hand heading into day three.

They skittled Lancs for 134 for a halfway lead of 78, but were teetering at 63-7 in the third innings before a battling 44 not out on debut from Kamran Dhariwal steered them to 118-8 at the close, a valuable advantage of 196.

The Red Rose are set to face to a fourth innings chase of 200 or more, which will not be easy given the pitch, the match situation and their own batting struggles.

But pressure will be on the bowling side too, as they aim to secure back-to-back wins at the end of a difficult season.

Image source, Getty Images

Saif Zaib was delighted to put Northamptonshire in a "nice position" with a century on day two against Worcestershire.

They are vying with Kent for the second promotion spot and Zaib's 110 helped them to an 89-run first-innings lead - which the Pears reduced to 34 by stumps.

Zaib scored 1,425 Championship runs in 2025 but has found them harder to come by this summer and said: "I am really delighted to get a hundred on that type of wicket. It was really tough up front and there was a few chances early on but it is always nice to capitalise on them.

"I was a bit disappointed to get out like I did, I would have liked to have a got a few more but that’s the way it goes sometimes."

This morning's BBC Weather summary says: "Today, mostly overcast and breezy, with spells of showery rain pushing south-eastwards. Rain clearing to showers in the north later. Early hazy sunny spells in the south-east, turning cloudy later."

We could be set for a few interruptions - but hey, fingers crossed.