CHAMPIONSHIP DIGEST: Catch-up with Thursday's action from around the country

The Cricketer rounds-up all the events from the third day of this latest round of red-ball fixtures

DIVISION ONE

Edgbaston: (third day of four): Warwickshire 517, Essex 278-6

Scorecard

Warwickshire advanced to the brink of Division One safety after Essex were forced into a dogged rearguard action on the third day of their County Championship Division One tussle at Edgbaston.

Having resumed on 31 for 1, in reply to 517, at the start of the third day, Essex closed it on 278 for 6 with Tom Westley leading their defiance with an unbeaten 123 - his 21st first-class century.

The accomplished work of Westley, supported by Nick Browne (65) steered Essex towards the follow on figure of 368 though the loss of three quick wickets after tea means they still have some work to do to get there on the final morning.

With Somerset having thrashed Yorkshire at Taunton, a draw would leave Essex playing catch-up in the title race with just two games left. Meanwhile, Warwickshire, having secured two bowling points, need only to close out the draw to secure safety and condemn Nottinghamshire to the drop.

DIVISION TWO

Bristol: (third day of four): Gloucestershire 200 & 197-6, Sussex 370

Scorecard

Sussex look set to propel themselves right back into the Specsavers County Championship Second Division promotion race after dominating the third day of the match against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

On the brink of a second successive victory, Sussex posted 370 to establish a first-innings lead of 170 and then reduced their opponents to 197-6 by the close, Ollie Robinson and David Wiese claiming two wickets apiece.

Gloucestershire lead by just 27 runs with four second-innings wickets in hand, and much will depend on the seventh-wicket pair of Ryan Higgins and Jack Taylor, who will resume in the morning on 24 and 10 not out respectively.

But it will require something special for the home side to avoid defeat and retain second place in the table with two games to play.

Only Chris Dent, who top-scored with 72, summoned meaningful second-innings resistance for Gloucestershire, whose top-order batting was undermined by a series of soft dismissals, James Bracey, Gareth Roderick and Miles Hammond all falling to ill-advised forcing shots.

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Grace Road: (third day of four): Leicestershire 308 & 189, Northamptonshire 357 & 22-0

Scorecard

Northamptonshire, with all ten second innings wickets in hand, need just 119 more runs to complete victory, and possibly move into second place in the second division, after bowling Leicestershire out for 189 in their second innings in the Specsavers County Championship match at the Fischer County Ground.

Accuracy, allied to early swing, were the key factors in an impressive collective bowling display by the visitors, who won eight leg before wicket decisions from umpires Billy Taylor and Paul Pollard, equalling the world record in an innings in first-class cricket. 

The morning had seen Northants resume their first innings on 325 for 7, but lose their last three wickets in adding only 32 runs to that score.

Leicestershire's reply began badly when Paul Horton padded up to his first delivery from Sanderson, and despite Colin Ackermann's half-century, they were skittled out for 189, before the visitors reached 22 without loss at the close.

Courtesy of the ECB reporters network