Dropped catchpublished at 10:34 BST 26 September

10:34 BST 26 September

Kent 353 v Glos 229 & 61-2

Tough situation for Gloucestershire at Canterbury.

They need another 63 to avoid an innings defeat - and we don't know whether James Bracey will be able to bat because of injury.

It remains a possibility as he hasn't been substituted out of the game.

Khaled Ahmed bowls the first over for Kent - and Tommy Boorman is dropped at first slip from his fifth delivery by Zak Crawley.

It was a sharp chance but he should have taken it. Maiden over.

250 up for Northantspublished at 10:34 BST 26 September

10:34 BST 26 September

Middx 255 v Northants 103 & 254-7

Toby Roland-Jones to open day three for Middlesex attack.

Ben Sanderson clips the third ball off his pads for four down to the fine leg boundary.

It brings up the 250 and takes the Northants lead into three figures.

A big appeal folliows as Ro-Jo thuds one into the pad but it's outside the line.

Essex add a couple of early runs but then the nerves return.

Zaman Akhter plays and misses at successive deliveries from Ray Toole before the New Zealander extracts an inside edge from the batter with the ball whistling past the leg stump and they collect a single.

100 for Tom Hainespublished at 10:33 BST 26 September

10:33 BST 26 September

Hampshire 128 v Sussex 244 & 220-5 – Sussex lead by 336

The Sussex skipper keeps his nerve after finishing last night on 99 not out to complete his century in the opening over of the morning.

Sussex looking very well set here.

Lots of expectant Bears fans have packed themselves into Edgbaston and give their players a brilliant welcome onto the pitch in anticipation that this could be a very special day.

Here we go...

OK. Time for action.

BBC Local Radio

As usual, we have live commentary on all nine 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 all nine grounds with regular text updates.

Image source, Shutterstock

Seven more wickets.

That's all Warwickshire need over the next few hours to be crowned county champions for the ninth time.

After Sam Hain's heroics with the bat, Ethan Bamber and Chris Woakes struck with the ball late on day two for the Bears.

"I am pretty proud of that innings. I think you could see when I did get to 100 the emotion in it. It felt pretty special," said Hain.

"We know where we are in the game and we are quite happy with that."

Leicestershire will resume 192 runs behind with seven wickets left - their first target is to try to avoid an innings defeat.

There is still the question of their appeal against the 27-point deduction for breaching pitch regulations. If that is unsuccessful, the Foxes will definitely go down to Division Two.

Image source, Shutterstock

Events in the Midlands mean Somerset thoughts may now be turning towards securing second spot and they have gone about it the right way.

Tom Lammonby's unbeaten 103 followed a second morning when the home side took the remaining six Surrey wickets for the concession of only 95 runs.

The visitors have lost first-innings centurion Dan Lawrence for the rest of the game after he was called into the England squad for Sunday's ODI against Sri Lanka at The Oval while leg-spinner Rahul Chohar has a back injury - Ralphie Albert and Nik Gorantla are their replacements.

Lammonby, skipper Tom Abell (63*) and the remaining batters will hope to take Somerset as close as possible to Surrey's first innings before letting their bowlers loose for a second time.

“We would certainly have taken the position we are in at the start of the day. Now we have to build as big a total as possible and hopefully put some pressure on Surrey with our spinners," said Lammonby.

Image source, Shutterstock

Nottinghamshire's title defence may have ended on the third-to-last day of the season, but the runners-up spot - and the extra prize money it brings - is still at stake.

A rip-roaring day of red-ball cricket saw 14 wickets fall at Trent Bridge on Friday, leaving Notts 127 ahead with three wickets down.

Already a good lead you’d say when you consider Yorkshire were tumbled out for 179 - and if the game continues to move at such a pace we could have a result before tea.

For landmark fans, Jack Haynes resumes this morning needing another 25 more runs to hit the 1,000 Championship runs milestone for the season.

And Yorks all-rounder George Hill requires two further scalps to cap a super season with 50 wickets.

Image source, Shutterstock

Essex's season has descended into an abyss with continual batting collapses putting them under pressure.

With the outcome of Leicestershire's appeal against their 27-point deduction still to be decided, relegation for Essex remains a possibility and they have hardly helped their case so far in Cardiff.

A draw would be enough to secure their First Division status, regardless of Leicestershire's appeal but they have dug a very deep hole from which they need to climb.

Having allowed Glamorgan to pile up 505 the familiar procession of batters heading back to the pavillion has not calmed the nerves of Essex supporters and a mammoth effort will be required in the remaining two days to salvage something from the wreckage.

Zaman Akhter did offer some joy for Essex with a five-wicket haul but will now be required to do his bit with the bat.

"Me and Harmy (Simon Harmer) will start us off in the morning, we've got three partnerships (to come) so we'll see where we are at the end of them," he said.

Image source, Shutterstock

The promotion race could well be decided in Kent's favour at Lord's where their rivals Northamptonshire are battling to avoid a three-day defeat.

Starting their second innings trailing by 152, Ricardo Vasconcelos (69) and Saif Zaib (83 not out) at least ensured Northants would not finish the season with the ignominy of an innings defeat.

Zaib has taken the visitors to a 97-run lead but with the fragile insurance of just three wickets in hand to set Middlesex a challenging chase.

While 20 wickets tumbled on the opening day, batting looked much easier on day two so Northants will need as many runs as they can muster, you feel.

Defeat will signal the end of their promotion hopes for another year and start the party in Canterbury.

Image source, Shutterstock

Had there been a lot more riding on Sussex's match at Hampshire, then Tom Haines might have had a sleepless night.

The visitors' skipper was 99 not out at the close on day two, one away from a first Championship century of the season.

Sussex are in a commanding position against already-relegated Hampshire, leading by 332 runs with five second-innings wickets remaining.

"I never experienced being on 99 overnight! Haines has got lots of time to get there tomorrow. Hopefully he starts again with the same processes and goes ball by ball," said Sussex batting coach Grant Flower.

"[To get to the next level] He needs hundreds, and big hundreds. That is what the best players do. He needs to keep working hard on his games and his fitness. He is a very good player and has the world at his feet. He has the natural talent, now it is about getting the mental side 100 per cent right."

Image source, Shutterstock

Ben Compton insists Kent must concentrate on taking care of their own business, irrespective of events at Lord's, as they look to secure promotion to Division One for 2027.

Compton hit 126 to put them in a strong position against Gloucestershire, while rivals Northants struggled with the bat against Middlesex.

"Of course we probably check the score (at Lord's)....but it's all irrelevant in the respect that we've just got to take care of what's here," the opener said.

“I think the main thing is to get over the line. However that happens, that's what we all care about and what we're focused on. So yeah, we've got two days of cricket here and what happens will happen, but we've got to take care of our skills tomorrow and come in hot and take each thing as it comes."

On his own innings, Compton added: "Personally, I was itching for an impactful score and to try and put us in a good position, so I was very, very happy in that regard. Just grateful I could spend some time out there and put us in a good position."

BBC Weather

BBC Weather morning summary: "Largely dry and sunny across central and southern areas today. Windier in the north with blustery showers from the west, these mainly affecting the north-west."

This late in September, we'll take that.

Division One

Glamorgan 505 v Essex 100-7

Essex trail by 405 with three wickets standing

Hampshire 128 v Sussex 244 & 216-5

Sussex lead by 332 with five wickets standing

Nottinghamshire 251 & 55-3 v Yorkshire 179

Nottinghamshire lead by 127 runs with seven wickets standing

Somerset 222-3 v Surrey 422

Somerset trail by 200 runs with seven wickets standing

Warwickshire 372 v Leicestershire 125 & 55-3

Leicestershire trail by 192 runs with seven wickets standing

Division Two

Kent 353 v Gloucestershire 229 & 61-2

Gloucestershire trail by 63 runs with eight wickets standing

Lancashire 10-0 v Durham 493

Lancashire trail by 483 runs with 10 wickets standing

Middlesex 255 v Northamptonshire 103 & 249-7

Northants lead by 97 with three wickets standing

Worcestershire 214 & 203-9 v Derbyshire 88

Worcestershire lead by 329 runs with one wicket standing

Image source, Shutterstock

Warwickshire went into the final round of County Championship matches knowing the destiny of the Division One title was in their hands.

Two days in, the trophy is almost in their grasp.

Their bowlers still have some work to do to see off Leicestershire, but with only a draw required to seal the title, only the most miraculous Foxes comeback at Edgbaston will deny Ed Barnard's side.

There's also a promotion place in Division Two to be decided between Kent and Northamptonshire.

Welcome to our coverage of day three. Play starts at 10:30 BST.