Symonds strikes Lancashire to promotion

While rain made the fifth Ashes Test its biggest casualty, poor weather also tried to hamper the Australians in teams pushing for County Championship honours or fighting to avoid relegation. Lancashire managed to avoid any serious interruptions to seal promotion back into Division One, and with only two rounds until the end of the season David Hussey's Nottinghamshire are favourites for the main trophy ahead of Sussex and Kent.

Notts gave themselves a ten-point boost at the top of the table with impressive help from Hussey in a two-day innings-and-54-run victory over Gloucestershire at Trent Bridge. Hussey stroked 157 from 187 balls in a sparkling innings that included 27 fours and three sixes. It was Hussey's third century of a season that has produced 1220 runs at 76.25, and his fine effort was matched by Mark Ealham, who twice knocked into Gloucestershire with nine wickets.

Middlesex, who were without the Australia A bowler Stuart Clark in the draw with Kent, are battling with Surrey and Warwickshire to miss the three-team relegation. The demotions of Gloucestershire and Glamorgan have already been confirmed.

Boosted by a two-pronged Australian contingent, Lancashire earned Division-Two promotion with an eight-wicket victory over Essex at Chelmsford. Symonds made 98 from 135 balls - his Championship scores since joining after Australia's one-day series are 134, 45, 121, 146, 1, 37, 4 and 98 - and Law added 14 and 13 not out after Murali Kartik collected ten wickets for the match. Lancashire are the first team to be promoted while Durham and Yorkshire currently hold the crucial second and third spots.

Ian Harvey grabbed three wickets and scored 11 as the weather hindered Yorkshire's push against Worcestershire at Headingley. Only five overs were possible on the final day as Yorkshire desperately tried to haul in their target of 203. When the match was abandoned they were 2 for 125 from 25 overs.

Rain ruined the Northamptonshire v Somerset match at Taunton after three innings with the visitors on top. Martin Love contributed 14 and Damien Wright 71 as Northants cruised to 574 with centuries to Usman Afzaal and David Sales, while the home side managed 396 and 4 for 163 before rain intervened to force an early finish. Wright had a memorable match with seven wickets to go with his fourth Championship half-century of the year.

Derbyshire confirmed they would finish last with a draw against Leicestershire that was limited to two innings because of the weather. Jon Moss managed 14 as Derbyshire were dismissed for 190 chasing the opposition's 6 declared for 552 at Grace Road.