Harmison sets up Durham victory

Durham 338 and 35 for 1 defeated Lancashire 199 and 173 (Flintoff 55, Harmison 6-52) by nine wickets
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Steve Harmison took six wickets to make it four wins out of four for Durham, whose best-ever start to a championship season shows no sign of abating. This time it was Lancashire who were put to the sword in a convincing nine-wicket win. The visitors started the third day in fine form, jolting out the last five wickets for just 38 runs as Lancashire slipped to 173 all out. Harmison took four of the five wickets in a return of 6 for 52, with match figures of 9 for 84. Andrew Flintoff was his first victim of the day, trapped lbw for 55 after adding a lucky 13 to his overnight score, including two fours off Mick Lewis; the dismissal of Lancashire and England's talisman triggered the collapse. Flintoff may have considered himself unlucky to be given out by the umpire, Steve Garrett, a Nottinghamshire policeman on the reserve list, when he was way down the pitch. But there was nothing lucky about the honest Harmison's bowling, and he was rewarded accordingly, adding Warren Hegg, James Anderson and Muttiah Muralitharan to his list of victims in quick succession. Lewis removed Dominic Cork at the other end, leaving Durham to chase just 35. Jon Lewis fell cheaply - Anderson inducing his edge for 5 - but that was a mere hiccup and Mike Hussey and Paul Collingwood sealed the match without further alarm.

Yorkshire 151 and 261 for 3 (McGrath 70*, Harvey 32*) need another 143 runs to defeat Leicestershire 278 and 276 for 9 dec
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Yorkshire fought back superbly in their second innings against Leicestershire to set up an intriguing final day at Grace Road. By the close the visitors were on 261 for 3 after Leicestershire declared on 261 for 9, a lead of 403, which they assumed would be more than enough. But the gritty Anthony McGrath led Yorkshire's charge, posting an unbeaten 70, with Michael Vaughan adding 55. Dinesh Mongia was Leicestershire's topscorer with 70, and he was strongly supported by Paul Nixon, who struck 68. The Yorkshire bowlers shared the wickets around and had chipped away at the majority of them before declaring. Yorkshire will start the final day needing a further 143 runs for victory, but Leicestershire will also fancy their chances of taking the seven remaining wickets for their first championship win of the season.

Essex 178 and 282 for 2 (Cook 131*, Flower 44*) trail Northamptonshire 552 for 7 dec (Afzaal 168*, Wright 55) by 92 runs with 8 wickets remaining
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Alastair Cook and Ravinder Bopara spared Essex's blushes on the third day at Northampton, with a stand of 177 for the second wicket. Cook was unbeaten by the close on 131, along with Andy Flower (44 not out). Essex's first innings had earlier crumbled to 178 all out, with Johann Louw mopping up the sorry tail early in the morning to finish with 6 for 51l, but the visitors made a much better showing in their second innings to post 282 for 2 by the close. Heads fell when Louw again struck early, as Will Jefferson feathered through to the reserve keeper Kiki Wessels for 11. Although they are still 92 runs behind, they will be in much better spirits than yesterday. But tomorrow is when it counts, and they still have a whole day to survive.

Worcestershire 478 need another 99 runs to defeat Derbyshire 263 and 314 (di Venuto 51, Moss 75, Sutton 45, Welch 63)
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Worcestershire are strongly placed to seal victory at New Road. After shooting out Derbyshire for 314 in their second innings, the hosts will require just 99 runs for victory when they get their second innings underway on Saturday. Derbyshire's first innings closed early when Kabir Ali held a return catch off Ian Hunter, with just three runs added to their overnight score of 290. They followed on and were soon in trouble again when Matthew Mason trapped Steve Stubbings lbw for 7. But then Michael di Venuto and Jonathan Moss made a game attempt to rescue the visitors, adding 67 for the second wicket. Di Venuto strode on to 51 before he fell to Ali, inducing a minor collapse as 100 for 2 became 115 for 4, Chaminda Vaas claiming two quick wickets lbw. Moss went on to make 75, and Luke Sutton (45) and Graeme Welch (63) also batting well lower down the order. Nevertheless, it's more than likely that their valiant efforts will be in vain.