Hampshire made a steady start to the morning session but are trying to pile up quick runs before lunch, with a view to a declaration and a chance to bowl at Glamorgan on the final day.

Andrew Neal and captain Ben Brown are both going along at more than a run a ball.

And as if to illustrate the point, Neal smacks Dan Douthwaite straight back over his head for six to take the lead past 250.

100 for Ricardo Vasconcelospublished at 12:41 BST 30 August

12:41 BST 30 August

Northants 201-2 v Kent 345

Image source, Getty Images

Ricardo Vasconcelos completes his hundred in style, giving Matt Parkinson the charge and slamming him down the ground for six!

It's been an excellent knock by the Northamptonshire opener - who began his innings almost two days ago, of course - but it's been worth the wait.

A fifth Championship century for Vasconcelos, while Nathan McSweeney is going nicely at the other end on 27.

Thankfully, it turned out to be only a brief shower and the players were back on the field less than 10 minutes after leaving it.

Tom Abell promptly punches Henry Crocombe off the back foot for four.

Surrey have got the 96 runs they needed to ensure Essex will need to bat again if they are to win this match.

The bad news for Surrey is that they've lost six wickets in getting there.

Essex are definitely the favourites though and with Leicestershire having drawn against Yorkshire, there's a fair chance that Surrey will be in the Division One relegation places by the end of today.

Oh no. That poor woman. (see 12:24 BST entry).

There will be no play possible after all. The umpires have deemed the wet outfield unplayable on the final day.

271 overs lost to the elements at North Marine Road this week.

Such a shame.

Yorkshire take 9 points from the draw with 11 for Leicestershire.

Some heavy showers in this afternoon's forecast for this part of the West Midlands and the Bears are still a long way from a batting point.

Notts, on the other hand, are one wicket away from a third bonus point of the match. What should the Warwickshire approach be with the bat?

Sam Hain edges Fraser Sheat fine down the legside for his second boundary to go to eight.

After a gutsy 30-run stand for the final wicket Toby Roland-Jones has picked up the wicket of Nick Potts, caught by Tom Helm for 11, as Derbyshire are bowled out for 131.

Word is that Middlesex are going to forfeit their first innings in the hope of teeing-up a result.

Just a reminder, there will be no play before lunch, which will be taken early at 12:30 BST.

The mopping up operation has gone well, however, and someone is clearly champing at the bit to get going at North Marine Road...

Image source, Shutterstock

Rain stops play at Hovepublished at 12:24 BST 30 August

12:24 BST 30 August

Sussex 250 v Somerset 202 & 225-3

The sky above the ground is slate grey, the floodlights are on and there's a bit of rain in the air - so the umpires have removed the bails and we're off for now.

The groundstaff are moving into action, with Somerset leading by 177 and three second-innings wickets down.

Tom Abell's been hunkering down during this innings so far, but the return of Henry Crocombe and a couple of loose balls on leg stump prompts him to dispatch both of them to the boundary.

Those two deliveries treble Abell's score to 12 and extend Somerset's advantage to 171. Nowhere near a position of safety just yet, though, you'd imagine.

Surrey's deficit is down to just eight runs now.

Of course they need runs along the way, but the most important thing is to bat time if they're going to escape from Chelmsford with a draw.

Last-wicket pair Will Rogers and Nick Potts are holding up the Middlesex onslaught at Derby.

Derbyshire are 126-9 after that flurry of wickets this morning.

Rehaan Edavalath and Jake Libby are going steadily for Worcestershire at home to Lancashire, with the hosts 64-1 in reply to the Red Rose's 180.

Early bowling change for Nottinghamshire as debutant Fraser Sheat replaces Dillion Pennington after his decent three-over spell.

He immediately finds the outside edge of fellow Kiwi Will Young which squirts past the slips for a streaky boundary.

More oohs and aahs from the slip cordon as Young almost plays on and is then beaten outside off stump. Testing first over from Sheat who contributed an unbeaten 41 with the bat.

It's all feeling rather attritional for now, with Sussex pressing for further wickets and Somerset just trying to eke out their lead while chewing up overs.

Tom Abell's batted more than half an hour now for two singles, while Henry Nicholls' overnight 12 has advanced by just 15 so far.

The lead is 160 and Sussex are sticking with their seamers - no sign of Jack Carson or James Coles warming up just yet.