The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during the final round of the Vitality County Championship in 2024
Cardiff (day two of four): Glamorgan 283-4, Gloucestershire
After a frustrating day of no action on day one, Gloucestershire won the toss and put Glamorgan into bat on a dampish pitch at Sophia Gardens.
With the previous day's torrential rain a thing of the home side started well when play began at 12 noon, but then found themselves pinned back by another great spell from Matt Taylor.
He broke up a flourishing partnership between opener Asa Tribe and Colin Ingram that had accumulated 129 runs for the second wicket with the ninth ball after tea when he trapped Tribe lbw for 70.
Ingram, the first player to reach 1,000 first-class runs this season, was at his fluent best and hit 12 fours as he faced 96 balls in an innings that lasted just over two hours.
Better was to follow from Taylor when he bowled the dangerous Ingram for 84 in the 50th over to make it 209 for 3. Two overs later he had Kiran Carlson caught at the wicket by James Bracey (1).
Taylor ended the day with figures of 3 for 43 from 14 overs, including three maidens. The other wicket to fall went to fellow paceman Tom Price, who removed opener Will Smale for 41 thanks to a catch by his brother, Ollie Price.
Related: County Championship 2024: All the permutations ahead of the final round
Grace Road (day two of four): Leicestershire, Derbyshire - no play due to rain
More heavy overnight rain caused day two of Leicestershire's County Championship match against Derbyshire to go the way of the first - abandoned without a ball bowled.
After the first day's play was called off shortly after lunch, umpires Neil Bainton and Nigel Llong announced that Friday's play was off as early as 9am.
The experienced officials consulted with the ground staff at the Uptonsteel County Ground and concluded that areas of the playing surface were so waterlogged that there was no prospect of any action within the scheduled hours of play.
The forecast for tomorrow is better but with temperatures only just creeping into double figures today the drying process is likely to be slow.
Only pride is at stake for either side. Defeats in their last two Division Two matches have ended Leicestershire's chance of promotion, and Derbyshire's 16th wooden spoon is all but mathematically confirmed.
Ben Coad's three wickets edge Yorkshire closer to division one (Getty Images)
Headingley (day two of four): Northamptonshire 117-6, Yorkshire
Yorkshire will be promoted to Division One of the Vitality County Championship if they draw their final-round clash with Northamptonshire at Headingley after Ben Coad claimed three of six wickets to fall when play finally got underway after tea on day two.
Coad's three for 29 from 12 overs, including his 300th first-class wicket, left Northamptonshire in trouble at 117 for 6 from 40 overs, handing Yorkshire two of the maximum 10 points they require to secure second place behind Sussex.
The start of play was delayed until 3.30pm following first-day rain and a wet outfield on day two.
Related: Derbyshire unveil first overseas recruit ahead of 2025 season
Hove (day two of four): Sussex, Middlesex - no play due to rain
There was more frustration for promotion-chasing Middlesex after play was abandoned without a ball bowled for the second day running against Sussex at Hove.
With the outfield saturated and rain still falling, umpires Paul Pollard and Surendiran Shanmugam carried out a brief inspection before making their decision just before midday.
Middlesex now have two days left to try and force victory and make up the 15-point gap between them and second-placed Yorkshire. Already promoted Sussex need four points to secure the title but the likelihood is that they will need fewer with Yorkshire still not on the field against Northamptonshire at Headingley.
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