Durham build a platform to eye top spot

Durham can move to within striking distance of the leaders Sussex if they can polish off Surrey at Chester-le-Street. They closed on 325 for 7, a lead of 374, and will have all day tomorrow to bowl relegation-threatened Surrey out. They might have to do so without Steve Harmison, however, who will almost certainly be sidelined with swelling and stiffness in his side. All of Durham's batsmen contributed, with Michael Di Venuto (77) and Ottis Gibson (55) passing fifty, while Surrey relied heavily on Harbhajan Singh, who took 2 for 104 off 39 overs.

Second-placed Yorkshire finally got their match against Worcestershire at Kidderminster underway. Click here for John Ward's report.

It was another washout in the relegation battle at Edgbaston where Warwickshire and Kent were left kicking their heels.

Only 9.2 overs in two brief sessions were possible at Northampton, which was enough for promotion hopefuls Middlesex to reach 21 for 1 against Northamptonshire after winning the toss. Ed Smith, who edged short of gully in the morning, fell to a slip catch the ball after being offered the light by the umpires. Nick Compton, whose one scoring shot was a six over square leg, followed him off with the other players straight away as thunder and then rain arrived.

For the second day running there was no play in the match between Glamorgan and Somerset at Cardiff.