Draws across the board as rain has final say

Even though the match was heading for a certain draw, the Surrey bowlers took the honours on the last day's play at The Oval - despite 103 not out from Warwickshire's Nick Knight. You don't often see Alec Stewart turning his arm over, but Adam Hollioake used Stewart and seven other bowlers as the game drifted to its inevitable conclusion. Earlier, the more recognised duo of Alex Tudor and Saqlain Mushtaq had taken three wickets each as Warwickshire finished on 221 for 7.

Essex did their best to force a result in an action-packed day at Leicester. Scott Brant polished off the Leicestershire first innings with three quick wickets, and then Will Jefferson led the way for Essex with 43 from 52 balls as they declared their second innings on 191 for 9, in which Nasser Hussain made his highest championship score in two seasons - a huge 26. That left Leicestershire needing 179 to win in just over a session, and after Brant and Jon Dakin nipped out a few early wickets, a shock win for Essex looked a possibility. But Darren Maddy restored order with a calm 39 not out as Leicestershire stumbled to104 for 5, with Phil Defreitas suffering the ignominy of being out twice in one day.

Derbyshire 190 and 197 for 6 drew with Somerset 397
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The typical, early-season wet weather came to Derbyshire's rescue at the Racecourse Ground today. Play was twice interrupted as Somerset hunted their second win of the season. Andy Caddick followed up his four-wicket haul in Derbyshire's first innings with another three in their second, picking up the wickets of both overseas stars, Michael Di Venuto (36) and Shahid Afridi (6). Nixon McLean also grabbed two as Derbyshire struggled to 197 for 6, but in were in effect seven down, as Dominic Cork had to leave the game due to family reasons. Derbyshire were still 10 short of Somerset's first innings when the bad weather let them off the hook.

Durham 183 and 159 for 6 drew with Gloucestershire 341
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Jon Lewis saved Durham's bacon with a stubborn fifty - his second of the match - against Gloucestershire at Chester-le-Street. Following-on 158 behind, Michael Gough and Lewis cruised to 105 for 0 at tea, but Mike Smith must have put something in his cucumber sandwiches, as after the interval he got rid off Gough for 73, Gary Pratt in the same over for a fourth-ball duck, and then Vince Wells for 1. But Lewis stood firm until he was out just before the close.

Hampshire 175 drew with Yorkshire 293 and 23 for 0
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No play today.

More rain meant play was restricted to the morning session only at New Road. And it belonged to Northants's new recruit, Phil Jaques. Jaques, an Aussie with a British passport (pity there aren't more of them about), made only one appearance for New South Wales before moving to Northamptonshire, but he showed what he is capable of by scoring his maiden first-class century. He went from his overnight score of 83 to 149 not out, including 24 fours and a six, as the game came to its inevitable conclusion.