The Cricketer rounds up the action from day three of the latest round of LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Taunton (third day of four): Somerset 389 & 277-1, Northamptonshire 265 - Somerset lead by 401 runs with nine second-innings wickets in hand
Somerset will go into the final day of their LV= Insurance County Championship match with Northamptonshire at Taunton in a strong position, knowing that victory will guarantee Division One survival.
With a lead of 401 and nine second innings wickets still in hand, the home side can feel confident of at least a draw, which would put them 17 points clear of second-from-bottom Warwickshire.
Having bowled out Northamptonshire for 265 from an overnight 184 for 6, Craig Overton finishing with 5 for 38, Somerset built on a first innings lead of 124 by posting 277 for 1.
Unbeaten centuries from skipper Tom Abell, his second ton of the match, and Tom Lammonby led the way, while Imam-ul-Haq contributed 52. Abell hit 112 not out and Lammonby 101 not out to effectively bat Northants out of the game.
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DIVISION TWO
Leicester (third day of four): Middlesex 297 & 271, Leicestershire 294 & 13-4 - Leicestershire trail by 262 runs with six second-innings wickets in hand
Middlesex have put themselves within sight of a victory that will put them squarely in contention for the Division Two title after Leicestershire's fragile batting undid their good work with the ball on day three of their County Championship match.
Skipper Callum Parkinson took 4 for 69 and young leg spinner Rehan Ahmed a career-best 3 for 50 as Middlesex collapsed from 209 for 3 to 271 all out in their second innings, losing their last seven wickets for 62 after Mark Stoneman (81) and Max Holden (91) had put on 165 for the fourth wicket.
It left Leicestershire with a fourth-innings target of 275 to record their first win of the season. Instead they are in deep trouble at 13 for 4 going into the final day.
After leaders Nottinghamshire's heavy defeat at Worcester, a win here would take Middlesex into the final round of matches next week in second place just nine points behind.
Ajaz Patel (right) continues to impress for Glamorgan [Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images]
Chester-le-Street (third day of four): Sussex 162 & 9-4, Durham 459-7d - Sussex trail by 288 runs with six second-innings wickets in hand
Durham took one wicket at Seat Unique Riverside before rain intervened to halt their charge for victory against Sussex and take the game into the final day.
In a day which only saw 14 balls delivered, Ben Raine still found time to pin Dan Ibrahim lbw for 0 before rain ended the session and eventually the day after just 10 minutes of play, Sussex adding three runs to their overnight score.
The inclement weather continued to keep the players off the field when eventually the umpires called close at 3:40 BST, with the visitors still 288 runs behind and likely needing to bat the final day out to rescue a draw.
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Cardiff (third day of four): Glamorgan 550-5d, Derbyshire 253 & 123-3 (f/o) - Derbyshire trail by 174 runs with seven second-innings wickets in hand
New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel claimed his first five-wicket haul for new county Glamorgan to help them close in on victory at home to Derbyshire.
The Welsh county need another seven wickets on the final day to maintain the pressure on Middlesex in the race for the second promotion spot in Division Two.
It took two sessions for them to take the remaining five wickets of the Derbyshire first innings, Anuj Dal top scoring with 92 and Patel taking two catches to add to his five wickets.
It wasn't quite up to the Test record-equalling 10 wickets he managed with ball in hand for New Zealand in India, but still a massive contribution for his new county as they enforced the follow on. Derbyshire finished the day on 123 for 3.
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