Essex win the top Division Two Championship match

In the 25 overs available because of the weather in Manchester, second placed Warwickshire were able to more or less say goodbye to their championship challenge. They progressed to 126 for four, losing their top scorer James Troughton (43) to the last ball that was bowled in the day. Lancashire lead by 472 runs.

Across the Pennines, Yorkshire enjoyed the better of day three of their match with Leicestershire. Vince Wells took five wickets, but Yorkshire set Leicestershire a winning target of 345 after Richard Blakey had scored 63 and Andy Gray 74 in an unbroken ninth wicket partnership worth 149. Leicestershire lost opener Trevor Ward in the four overs that were possible after the declaration.

Kent declared their first innings 60 runs in arrears of Somerset. Ed Smith went on to 154 and Paul Nixon 88, but then batsmen continued to prosper as Peter Bowler was on 77 not out after 79 from Jamie Cox as Somerset reached 265 for four at the close and a lead of 325.

Sussex appear to have batted Hampshire out of this game and probably into relegation after taking their first innings on to 631 for six declared. Richard Montgomorie was out for 196, but Matthew Prior also reached a hundred while Robin Martin-Jenkins added 64. Martin-Jenkins then had Neil Johnson caught behind by Prior for 51 as Hampshire closed the second day still trailing by 562 runs.

Essex wrapped up victory by 6 wickets in the top of the table clash in Division Two. Middlesex began the day on 21 for three, but slipped to 47 for seven before David Nash and Ashley Noffke put up some belated resistance. Even so, Middlesex were bowled out for 97, setting Essex 111 to win. At 28 for three, the victory was anything but a formality until Ronnie Irani and Andy Flower took the score on to 95 when Irani was out and it was left to Flower to steer Essex to an important win.

Derbyshire have been set a stiff task if they are revive their promotion prospects at Bristol. Gloucestershire set them 583 to win after declaring on 577 for nine. Matt Windows only added one to his overnight score, but Jack Russell with 119 not out found an unlikely ally in Roger Sillence. The man who averaged under ten in his first class career before today scored 101 as the pair added 181 for the eighth wicket and then Jon Lewis scored 57 of a ninth wicket partnership worth 90. Michael Di Venuto is 92 not out as Derbyshire need another 427 to win.

Adrian Dale made 127 not out for Glamorgan on the second day of their match against Worcestershire as they made 447. Worcestershire lost Anurag Singh in making 99 before stumps. Less than 20 overs were possible on the first day of the match between Nottinghamshire and Durham, with the home side reaching 56 for one.