Image source, Getty Images

It may be a scant crumb of comfort after their wretched season, but at least Lancashire know the ignominy of finishing bottom of the County Championship is now off the table.

With that said, the Red Rose are guaranteed to register their lowest ever placing in the competition – 17th of the 18 first-class counties – and are still facing the possibility of a ninth defeat in 11 games.

Division Two champions Durham, who will finish their campaign undefeated unless there are some truly extraordinary developments on the final day of this game, are very much in control at Old Trafford.

Lancashire-born spinner Callum Parkinson picked up three wickets on day three to keep the pressure on the home side, who reached 267-5 at stumps and need another 77 to pass the follow-on target.

However, Josh Bohannon’s return to form was a timely one for Lancashire. The 29-year-old hit his first hundred in over a year and remains at the crease on 125, with Ben Walkden at the other end as they attempt to deny Durham victory.

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Essex can take nothing for granted as they go into the final day of the season still 45 runs behind Glamorgan's big first-innings total.

As things stand at the moment, their Division One status for 2027 is secure, but a draw would only earn them nine points and were Leicestershire to win their appeal against the 27 taken away from them, that would not be enough.

Dean Elgar signed off from professional cricket with an excellent 108 and George Bell will resume on 59 not out.

"I always want to perform even up to the last one," said Elgar. "The boys were saying I write my own scripts which is not the case, otherwise I would've changed things but it's nice to go out in good form.

"I've got to address the team tomorrow and the emotions will come when I go back to South Africa. I'm going to stay as far away from cricket as I possibly can."

Division One

Hampshire 128 & 238 v Sussex 244 & 319-9 dec

Sussex won by 197 runs

Nottinghamshire 251 & 85 v Yorkshire 179 & 159-9

Yorkshire won by one wicket

Warwickshire 372 v Leicestershire 125 & 168

Warwickshire won by an innings and 79 runs

Division Two

Kent 353 & 120-2 v Gloucestershire 229 & 241

Kent won by eight wickets

Middlesex 255 & 134-3 v Northamptonshire 103 & 285

Middlesex won by seven wickets

Worcestershire 214 & 206 v Derbyshire 88 & 157

Worcestershire won by 175 runs

Division One

Glamorgan 505 v Essex 129 & 331-5

Essex trail by 45 runs with five wickets standing

Somerset 691-8 v Surrey 422

Somerset lead by 269 with two wickets remaining

Division Two

Lancashire 267-5 v Durham 493

Lancashire trail by 226 runs with five wickets standing

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After a season that began on 3 April, here we are for the last knockings of the 2026 County Championship.

Warwickshire wrapped up their ninth title - and first since 2021 - on day three with an innings win over Leicestershire and Kent made sure of the second Division Two promotion spot by beating Gloucestershire.

Only three games are left of the nine which began on Thursday, but we are still hopeful of one or two more 'magic moments' if the weather is kind.

Welcome to our coverage. Play starts at 10:30.