John Crawley, 150 not-out overnight, added a further 161 runs on day two of Hampshire's match against Nottinghamshire. Crawley remained unbeaten on a career-best 311 as Hampshire declared on 714 for 5. Nottinghamshire were then dismissed for just 213, with Mascarenhas - who earlier struck a blistering hundred - taking 5 for 55. In their second innings, the champions closed on 1 without loss, trailing by exactly 500 runs.
Neil Carter took four wickets for Warwickshire who bowled Gloucestershire out for just 118 at Edgbaston, to give the home side the advantage of a 90-run lead. In their second innings, Warwickshire are 197 for 3, with Nick Knight ending the day not-out on 77. They lead by 287 runs with seven wickets remaining.
On the second day at Old Trafford, Lancashire just scraped past Leicestershire's first-innings score of 165 to post 191. John Maunders took four wickets in eight overs, including the prize scalp of Andrew Symonds and Stuart Broad grabbed 3 for 57. However, Leicestershire stumbled to 158 for 7 and hold a slender lead of 132.
98 for 2 overnight, Northamptonshire quickly overhauled Yorkshire's first-innings total of 177 to declare on 476 for 9. Usman Afzaal struck 157, and the young Australian Steven Crook hit 97 at nearly a run a ball. Monty Panesar then added to his five wickets in the first innings, when Riki Wessels stumped Joe Sayers for just 6. Yorkshire are 22 for 1 and trail by 277 runs.
Derbyshire lost just three wickets against Somerset at Taunton, where there were big hundreds for Steve Stubbings and Hassan Adnan. Stubbings, 45 not-out overnight, reached his hundred in 251 mins off 221 balls; Hassan Adnan was altogether quicker, needing 148 balls for his. He was finally out for a career-best 191, as Derbyshire ended the day on 549 for 4. They lead Somerset by a commanding 290 runs.
Essex's last three batsmen added 177 runs as they reached a commanding 574. Timothy Phillips struck 89, and Graham Napier also reached fifty. Worcestershire, undaunted, reached 244 for 2, with Stephen Moore not-out on 124.