Key events

Division One

Chelmsford: Essex v Warwickshire

Grace Road: Leicestershire v Hampshire

The Oval: Surrey v Glamorgan

Hove: Sussex v Nottinghamshire

Headingley: Yorkshire v Somerset

Division Two

Chester-le-Street: Durham v Worcestershire

Bristol: Gloucestershire v Middlesex

Canterbury: Kent v Lancashire

Wantage Road: Northamptonshire v Derbyshire

Division One

Sophia Gardens: Warwickshire 391 BEAT Glamorgan 69 and 65 by 257 runs

Grace Road:Somerset 363 and 316-5dec BEAT Leicestershire 157 and 145 by 377 runs

Trent Bridge: Notts 377 and 104 BEAT Hampshire 304 and 123 by 54 runs

Hove: Sussex 393 and 167-3 DRAW with Surrey 321

Headingley: Yorkshire 390 BEAT Essex 171 and 113 by 106 runs

Division Two

Derby: Derbyshire 300 and 352-8dec BEAT Kent 219 and 252 by 181 runs

Chester le Street: Durham 252 and 374 BEAT Middlesex 203 and 330 by 93 runs

Old Trafford: Gloucestershire 212 and 169 BEAT Lancashire 134 & 142 by 105 runs.

New Road: Northamptonshire 289 and 96-4 BEAT Worcestershire 200 and 182 by seven wickets.

It did! Randell with a third wicket, five for Aitchison, and a stirling performance by the Kent’s lower order which couldn’t quite save the day. Kent must slide below Northants as we move into the last two games.

Derby: Derbyshire 300 and 352-8dec BEAT Kent 219 and 252 by 181 runs.

Will the headband win it?

Twenty balls to go at County Ground. The indefatigable Aitchison v the Bangladeshi duo of Mahmud and Khaled.

Seven overs left and Kent still holding out..

I’m going to write up now while keeping half an eye on events at Derbyshire – two wickets needed, 21 overs left.

A wicket at long last at Derby! Stewart can barely drag himself off, lbw Andersson for 65. The umpire raises the finger with a flourish. Kent 218-8.

The curtains close on this quiet corner of the Championship.

Hove: Sussex 393 and 167-3 DRAW with Surrey 321

Sussex (14pts) drew with Surrey (13)

Have just amended those Durham stats below which were from the wrong year! Also wanted to throw in the red-haired disruptor – 19 wickets at 21.78 and 463 runs at 52 for Ben Stokes.

And so it goes on at Derby. Kent’s hatches battened. Grant Stewart (59) and Bertie Foreman (16)‘s partnership now worth 68 in nearly 25 overs. Kent 213-7.

Ah Babar. Time for me to grab a quick cup of tea.

Well played this Durham side, who were far too good for Division two almost from the off but never took their feet off the accelerator. They are promoted with nine wins from 12 games and not a single defeat. David Bedingham threw down 1029 runs at 73.5; McKinnney has made 916 at 53.88, while Matthew Potts has snaffled 58 wickets at 17.18, Ben Raine 44 at 19.70.

Next ball does it! Sharma nibbles and Robinson collects. Four wickets for Carse, hugs all round for the Durham players, whoops from the crowd. Durham applaud HArry Duke off, unbeaten on 100, then walk up the stairs to the dressing room and Division One.

Duke goes big again and there’s a confusion of fielders which results in McKinney lying flat on his tummy and the ball racing over the rope. An enraged Carse beckons in the fielders with Duke on 99. Duke keeps his head, grabs a quick single and that’s his first first-class century. He pulls off his helmet to reveal Sir Lancelot hair and raises his bat. Well played!

Now six! Hooked over a leaping Rhodes on the rope who is now scrabbling under the stand. Duke has 95, 99 to win.

Sharma survives another over and Carse hands the umpire his jumper. Duke has a dirty swipe at his first ball but misses. Seven fielders on the rope. A bouncer.

Harry Duke is bashing Carse about like a pinball machine, three fours in the over. He races to 89, but Sharma has the strike. And Raine has the ball.

Division One

Sophia Gardens: Warwickshire 391 BEAT Glamorgan 69 and 65 by 257 runs

Grace Road:Somerset 363 and 316-5dec BEAT Leicestershire 157 and 145 by 377 runs

Trent Bridge: Notts 377 and 104 BEAT Hampshire 304 and 123 by 54 runs

Hove: Sussex 393 and 141-3 v Surrey 321

Headingley: Yorkshire 390 BEAT Essex 171 and 113 by 106 runs

Division Two

Derby: Derbyshire 300 and 352-8dec v Kent 219 and 175-7 Kent need 259 to win

Chester le Street: Durham 252 and 374 v Middlesex 203 and 306-9 Middx need 118 to win

Old Trafford: Gloucestershire 212 and 169 BEAT Lancashire 134 & 142 by 105 runs.

New Road: Northamptonshire 289 and 96-4 BEAT Worcestershire 200 and 182 by seven wickets.

Sharma survives two balls and gives Duke the strike with a single. Duke, pounds two fours and then steals the strike. And it isn’t tea. But it is at Derby where Kent are seven down.

The new ball is six overs away at CLS, though I’d be surprised if Middx last that long…

Sharma now has one over to face before tea . The bowler? Carse.

Some take-that from Harry Duke who pounds Ben Raine back over his head for four.

Parky does a sprinting loop of joy, punches the air, after removing Tom Helm, lbw for 32. Middx 289-9. The end of an excellent 79-run partnership with Duke.

Tea is approaching – Kent and Middlesex survive. At Hove, Chahar has removed Haines, and Sussex 140-3 potter along.

Now Harry Duke has fifty under his belt, he’s happy to take on Carse and decline the singles, five dots in that over and then four tumbling back past Carse in hia follow through. Midd 285-8

And here comes Brydon Carse…

This all feels a bit like waiting for the inevitable at CLS. When does Carse come back on?

Tom Helm almost removes Will Rhodes’ head after cracking the ball to him on the bounce. He sways like Torvill and Dean at the beginning of Bolero.

Kent, I’m afraid to say, have lost their seventh wicket, Chris Benjamin all deliberate defence but beaten. Randell again. Kent 150-7.

It looks quite nice at CLS, friendly fluffy clouds, rusty autumn sunshine, short sleeves in the field, as Helm and Duke have added fifty for Middlesex’s ninth wicket. Parkinson (3-38) rolls into over 16.

It’s another man with a headband causing the damage. Halfway through the afternoon session, Brett Randell gets a ball to spit and surprise Ekash Singh, who sprays a catch to backward square leg. Out for a very good 59. Kent are six down.

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