Walker and Kemp batter Surrey

Kent took a leaf out of Surrey's book and cashed in on a flat Guildford wicket as this match continued to be dominated by the batsmen. Matthew Walker and Justin Kemp put together an undefeated sixth-wicket stand of 206 as Kent closed within 44 runs of Surrey's 452 for 8 declared. Kemp's innings was a breakthrough for the South African allrounder, who had previously managed 56 runs in four Championship innings. Walker has had no such problems this summer and reached his third century from 120 balls. Azhar Mahmood was the best Surrey bowler but Ian Salisbury and Nayan Doshi both struggled to exert any control. Surrey's declaration had earlier denied Kent the chance of a third bowling point after Amjad Khan, Andrew Hall and Min Patel had picked up a wicket each in the morning session.

Nottinghamshire ended the second day within one shot of a crushing win over Warwickshire but the umpires ruled play had to finish so the match will have to completed in the morning. Warwickshire subsided for 133 in their second innings with Graeme Swann taking 6 for 57 after David Hussey had helped secure a 122-run first innings lead with an aggressive 77. Swann ran through Warwickshire's middle and lower order and only Ian Westwood showed any real resistance with 33. In all, 18 wickets clattered during the day and Warwickshire are now on the verge of their third defeat of the season, leaving they grip on the County Championship increasingly weak. Nottinghamshire, though, are continuing to perform impressively and this will be their fifth win.

Hampshire suffered their second top order collapse of the match after Sussex gained a slender seven-run lead while 16 wickets tumbled in the day. Three late strikes - two to James Kirtley and one to Mushtaq Ahmed - left Hampshire ahead by just by 15 runs. Richard Montgomerie top-scored for Sussex with 64 and all their middle order chipped in useful contributions. Rana Naved hit 39 from 38 balls before Sean Ervine wrapped up the innings with 5 for 73. Hampshire's first innings resistance lasted a further 12.1 overs during the morning session, Nic Pothas was trapped lbw by Mushtaq for 135.

Owais Shah made his third Championship century of the summer to give Middlesex a solid start in their clash with the Division One strugglers Glamorgan. Shah, Middlesex's second highest run-scorer, with 858, after the prolific Ed Joyce, added 109 with Ben Hutton. Shah then received useful support from the middle-order until he was caught behind off Robert Croft for 101. Although Scott Styris went without addition to the score, Jamie Dalrymple caused further problems for the Glamorgan bowlers. He ended the day unbeaten on 57 and his partnership with Ben Scott is already worth 60. The pick of Glamorgan's attack was Huw Waters, an 18-year-old, who took 3 for 67 in his second Championship match.

Steven Davies and Vikram Solanki built a valuable lead against Worcestershire but Northamptonshire fought back before losing Martin Love to the final ball of the day. Davies, the promising young wicketkeeper who is filling an opening role, struck a career-best 95 and Solanki a typically boundary-filled 80. A useful 48 from Gareth Batty and a valuable last-wicket stand of 45 between Shoaib Akhtar and Matt Mason gave Worcestershire an 82-run lead. Northants had gone virtually all the way in clearing the deficit but, such is Love's importance, his dismissal to Ray Price could yet prove a pivotal moment in the match.

Leicestershire have compiled a healthy lead of 286 with five second-innings remaining despite a belated comeback from Yorkshire. Ottis Gibson - who earlier fell nine runs short of a second first-class century - Charl Willoughby and Stuart Broad took three wickets each as Yorkshire stumbled to 187 all out - 179 behind Leicestershire - but were not asked to follow on. Darren Maddy and Darren Robinson both fell for nought when Leicestershire batted again, but a stand of 65 between John Maunders and Chris Rogers settled the nerves. However, two late wickets from Anthony McGrath have left Yorkshire with a glimmer of hope.

Paul Collingwood made a career-best 190 for Durham but a belated Derbyshire fightback left the match interestingly poised after the first day. Collingwood and Dale Benkenstein added 250 for the third wicket however, Benkenstein's dismissal for 98 sparked a collapse. Derbyshire lost 6 for 50 as Nick Walker took 4 for 64. Collingwood was eventually caught by Jon Moss off Walker after facing 255 balls and striking 28 fours and two sixes.

Andy and Grant Flower gave Essex the upperhand against Lancashire at Old Trafford. Grant anchored the innings with 115 after the early loss of Will Jefferson to Dominic Cork. He added 96 with Andy before falling to the last ball of the afternoon session, caught behind from Gary Keedy. He faced 238 balls and hit 19 boundaries while his brother will be trying to match him after ending the day on 62. Cork was the most impressive of Lancashire's attack taking 2 for 49 in 21 overs.