We are under way on a HUGE day three for Somerset at Headingley.

Dom Bess on strike for the first over for Yorkshire, which will be bowled by Craig Overton.

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What an excellent game this has been so far - somewhat befitting of the occasion with Somerset chasing a first ever County Championship title.

The pendulum has swung one way then the other throughout.

Somerset were on top after bowling the hosts out for 212 but then at 55-5 for in their first innings reply, they looked dead and buried.

Enter Craig Overton, who made 64, and Migael Pretorius, who could not have timed his first half-century of the season any better to hit 58.

The pair put on 90 for the ninth-wicket in what was undoubtedly a match - and potentially title-saving - partnership.

Yorkshire then slumped to 54-6 in their second innings but have recovered slightly to 128-6 to lead by 139 thanks to a George Hill 50 and 27 for Tom Bess.

It is anyone's guess which way this one will go, given the chaotic nature of the game so far, but one thing is for sure... it promises to be exciting and nerve-wracking in equal measure.

Raining at Canterburypublished at 10:28 BST 17 September

10:28 BST 17 September

Kent 84-2 (target 140 to beat Lancashire)

The chase is on hold for now as the St Lawrence Ground is under rain and heavy cloud cover.

The full set of covers is on.

More news as we get it.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottinghamshire's hopes of winning back-to-back County Championship titles for the first time in the club's history are hanging by a thread after Sussex dominated day two.

The hosts quickly took the final wicket they needed yesterday morning to bowl out Notts and deny them what could have been a vital batting point as they posted a first innings score of 240.

Tom Clark's 89, a fifty for Charlie Tear and Tom Price's unbeaten 56 have helped Sussex to build a 68-run lead with four wickets in hand.

If Notts can't take quick wickets this morning, they might see their chances of defending their title drift off into the sunset by close.

Quite simply, today is huge, if the weather allows of course. The covers are still on and the rain has been coming down this morning so we will have a delayed start.

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Warwickshire head coach Ian Westwood insisted his side will "stay in the moment" for the final week of the County Championship following a two-day win over Essex.

The 19 points for the victory put the Bears back on top of Division One pending the outcome of Somerset's game against Yorkshire at Headingley.

"We can only control what we’re doing. Tomorrow and Friday we’ll obviously be Sussex and Yorkshire fans," he said following the game.

"But it’s really exciting going into the last game of the season knowing we are going to be in with a chance of winning it. That’s a really nice place to be, whatever the outcome.

"We’ve got a nice group. We don’t need to do anything differently for next week to how we have been. We’ll try and stay in the moment and play what’s in front of us."

Warwickshire, who last won the title in 2021, finish the season at home to Leicestershire.

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If Leicestershire's points deduction stands, Surrey and Glamorgan will both be safe if the match at the Oval ends in a draw.

But both counties will be wary of a potential appeal from their rivals and will want to prove they can stay up on their own merits.

Glamorgan will have all but achieved that, and secured their highest placing since winning the title in 1997, if they turn their dominant position into a victory.

They have Asa Tribe to thank for being in with a chance of that after the 22-year-old secured the first century in what he admits has been a difficult season for him.

"I've not had the championship season that I would have liked to have had so it was very nice to get across the line and get to my hundred," he said.

For Surrey, used to chasing and winning titles, it's been another sorry tale in this game so far but they remained defiant in the belief they can win even though Glamorgan are 356 ahead with five wickets left.

Bowler James Taylor, playing in his last home game for Surrey before heading for Yorkshire, is hopeful it can be done;

"We think we can chase anything down," he insisted. "I know the boys are not great in confidence at the moment but backs against the wall this is where we're supposed to come good."

Adam Whitty
BBC Radio Leicester commentator

Image source, Rex Features

What a strange day's cricket we've got ahead of us. We must not forget Hampshire can try and set up a victory to keep their slim survival hopes alive.

However, that's not what anyone is talking about at Grace Road. As I got out of my car today, a fan shouted 'what a disgrace' at me. I presume he wasn't discussing my commentary.

The County Cricketing world seemed to be speaking with one voice last night about the Foxes' 27 point deduction (which puts them on the brink of relegation) for breaching pitch regulations - that this is all "a bit harsh" - we'll come to that.

Here's the case for the prosecution. Leicestershire have essentially admitted in this report, external that the pitch wasn't really up to scratch. The ground staff weren't happy with the time they had to prepare the pitch, which, rather comically, was affected by filming for a Bollywood Virender Sehwag biopic and the hot weather.

There were players hit on the hand, and uneven bounce from the off. Questions need to be asked about that.

However, for the defence, the general sense is, as I mentioned, this is a bit 'harsh'. The rules state you need to be docked the points you win in that game, fine. But some fans feel the extra eight is unecessary.

Others also point to several low totals around the country in the past few weeks and months, and other high-scoring bore-draws. Are they also not unsuitable pitches?

The issue with those defences? It's whataboutery, isn't it? It doesn't deal with the fact this wasn't a great pitch - by design or not.

Leicestershire have been given a kick in the unmentionables, a real shame, having worked so hard to get into a survival battle.

Whether they will appeal remains to be seen - but the fact remains that Leicestershire knew the rules, and the risks of creating that pitch. It has cost them.

We had a bit of rain here this morning and play will begin at the slightly later time of 10:45 BST - weather permitting.

Always add "weather permitting" just in case.

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Leicestershire were already drifting somewhat in this match - and that was before the hefty points deduction the club received last night.

The 27-run penalty was handed down because of a breach in pitch regulations in the Foxes win over Glamorgan last month.

The deduction leaves the club at the bottom of the table, three points below Hampshire, on 89 points.

If Leicestershire win from here - and achieve a win with maximum bonus points in the last round away against Warwickshire, they can finish on 132 points.

That's only just ahead of where Glamorgan (8th) and Essex (7th) are now, making relegation near certain.

It should be added that the club can appeal the points deduction verdict.

Hampshire begin day three with a lead of 225, thanks in the main to an unbeaten 124 from opener Nick Gubbins.

Sam Northeast (23*) and Tawanda Muyeye (37*) will resume the Kent chase in a very healthy position after slipping to 22-2.

Should the club manage 56 more runs as seems likely, they will pull ahead of promotion rivals Northants - should the latter fail to beat Derbyshire at Wantage Road - and retake second place in the table.

Zak Crawley contributed a crucial first innings 84 to help Kent to an innings lead over Lancashire, while pace bowlers Matt Milnes, Keith Dudgeon and Khaled Ahmed took three wickets each to restrict Lancashire to a second innings 192.

Lancashire need early wickets and a few mistakes from the Kentish middle order for any chance of an upset.

The rain might have an impact in Canterbury this morning though...

Division One

Leicestershire 244 v Hampshire 214 & 255-3

Hampshire lead by 225 with seven wickets standing

Surrey 115 v Glamorgan 132 & 339-5

Glamorgan lead by 356 with five wickets standing

Sussex 308-6 v Nottinghamshire 240

Sussex lead by 68 with four wickets standing

Yorkshire 212 & 128-6 v Somerset 201

Yorkshire lead by 139 with four wickets remaining

Division Two

Durham 465 v Worcestershire 270-5

Worcestershire trail by 195 runs with five wickets standing

Gloucestershire 296 v Middlesex 326 & 17-0

Middlesex lead by 47 with 10 wickets standing

Kent 214 & 84-2 v Lancashire 161 & 192

Kent need another 56 to win with eight wickets standing

Northamptonshire 310 v Derbyshire 372

Northamptonshire trail Derbyshire by 56 runs

---Wednesday's result---

Essex 134 & 189 v Warwickshire 191 & 138-2

Warwickshire won by eight wickets

Image source, Shutterstock/Opta

Good morning!

Warwickshire may have wrapped up a two-day win over Essex yesterday to go top of the Division One table, but with Notts and Somerset still in action we're no closer to knowing who will be crowned county champions.

At the other end of the table, Essex and Glamorgan have been given a lifeline in their bid for survival following a huge points deduction for Leicestershire.

In Division Two, Kent and Northants are both vying to join Durham's promotion party.

It's day three in the penultimate round of the season, and it's all to play for...