Yorkshire romp past Kent, Surrey and Leics draw: county cricket – as it happened

I must retire to the round up.... keep your eye on Trent Bridge.

And an inswinging yorker does for Kerrigan, first ball!

Bresnan muscles a four down to the boundary to move to 46 as theNotts-up train pulls out of the station. Feeling in my bones that Northants will hold on at OT. Sussex cruising, Worcs and Kent holding on too. Rory Burns (0-9) bowling at The Oval so handshakes expected there soon. And I save myself from jinx-accusations as Buck succumbs to Wood for 20 before I press send. Northants 196-8.

I hear on the radio commentary that Dane Paterson is only playing for Notts because Luke Fletcher phoned in sick! Six wickets in the match but Bresnan and Stone are hanging on at Trent Bridge - just 86 now needed.

Huge congratulations to Hassan Azad, 106 not out and seemingly steering Leicestershire to safety. There’s a lovely picture of Lewis Hill giving him a hug, but I can’t access it, so have this one instead - from yesterday evening.

The Lancs slips leap up and down like sparks in a fireplace for a shout against Procter, but it is high and so we go on. This is an admirable innings by Procter, who came in 54 minutes before the close last night.

Ollie Robinson apart, the batsmen are winning today. Surprise application at Old Trafford, at The County Ground, at Trent Bridge, at The Oval, and at Kent. Eyes down and right to Sophia Gardens where Sussex should be on their way to deserved victory. Elsewhere it is buckle up and hold on grimly.

One, two, three, four slips as the sun comes out and Mahmood gives it one last welly before tea. Buck not looking completely comfortable but hey he’s still there. OH, Sussex? Proceeding in an orderly direction 47-2, 107 needed. And that’s tea! Scores to follow.

And more admirable examples of stonewalling - Roderick and Cox at The County Ground (Worcs83-5); Stone and Bresnan at Trent Bridge (127 to win); Procter and Buck at OT; Milnes (66) and that man Darren Stevens at Canterbury.

Down at The Oval, Amar Virdi has just done for Colin Ackermann, but Hassan Azad is still there 75 not out. Leicestershire 145-3, a deficit of 152 but only a session and ten minutes to bat out.

In pursuit of 154, Sussex have lost their first wicket, Tom Haines for six, to Hogan, in the third over. 15-1. And Worcestershire have lost two more - 83-5 -Roderick and Cox currently gritting it out. Bresnan and Stone, a northern funeral directors, defying Notts at Trent Bridge - 127 needed, four three wickets left.

And a wicket at Old Trafford! Rob Jones, brown hair flying over his face, has Tom Taylor stumped for 13, with the 92nd ball of his first-class career. Northants 156-7.

Against all the odds, Northants really battling here, Luke Procter has just dug his way to fifty ,off 188 balls with three fours.

And a shout out for women’s Super league which kicks off at 3pm after an 18 month hiatus. The Leeds Rhinos captain Courtney Winfield-Hill is married to England cricketer Lauren Wingfield-Hill, a pretty formidable combination

Not great news for Warwickshire on Thursday...

Worcestershire falling in rather a heap, two wickets since lunch, Fell and D’Oliveira, 64-4. At Trent Bridge, Burgess has gone too - 186-6, 7 really if Sibley isn’t going to bat. Paterson has three and its down to Bresnan and Stone.

Shout out to Leicestershire, 137-2, Azad and Ackermann prodding and pushing, prodding and pushing. Milnes and Robinson holding on at Canterbury, as are Procter and Taylor here at OT.

Stuart Kerrison, Essex’s head groundsman, asks a simple question;

I missed nothing at Old Trafford, “very sedate” according to lovely Dave at reception. Let’s see what’s been happening elsewhere...no much but oooof a wicket at Trent Bridge - no two! ...and it was Hain and Lamb, both for fifty-odd, both to Paterson. 185-5 and that is heading only one way ...

SO that’s the easy ones sorted. Now... Trent Bridge ... Sophia Gardens...what can you offer us? With imperfect timing, as the players walk out, I must just go for a quick stroll as I’ve got pins and needles in my legs - back shortly.

Thanks for the tip BTL, seems Stuart Broad has been rolling back the years at Trent Bridge but Sam Hain (55) and Matt Lamb (39) countering his ferocity. Broad in short sleeves, wrist band on his left arm, hot day, short shadow. Lamb ducks under a short one. Hain another. Well done Warwickshire! 167/3 and that’s lunch. They’ve added 82 for the fourth wicket and all results still possible.

At Old Trafford they troop off, a rose for Procter, who has made 15 runs in two hours. Lunchtime scores to follow.

Just noticed the union jack has zipped back up the flag pole here at Old Trafford where Northants are in danger of taking things into the afternoon session. 103-6. Gloucestershire are in touching distance now, just 18 needed, James Bracey, who is having a cracker of a match, 76 not out.

The scorecard changed in front of my eyes there as I pressed send. Carse lbw Harmer, 15 The hit man now has 5-56.

Ooooh, the Durham target falls below fifty. Carse 15 not out. Two boundaries. Could yet be tasty.

A piece of delicious homemade cherry cake in the OT box, but that won’t be any comfort to Saif Zaib who is given out lbw a little unluckily - however big Parky turns them. Northants 99-6

After an hour or so at the crease, a quick look-see round the grounds.

Worcestershire - buoyant. 10-0 chasing 388.

Durham - cataclysmic. 97-7, chasing 71 to win. Harmer three wickets this morning.

Warwicks - cautiously optimistic. 124-3 chasing another 209 to win

Middlesex - down n out. 245-8 chasing another 286 to win

Gloucestershire - happy as larry.- 89-2 chasing another 64 to win

Leicestershire - lazy-days. 74-0 with a 233 run deficit

Glamorgan - watchful waiting. 305-6 with a lead of 109

Kent - ocean, no paddle. 87-5, need 388 to win

Northants - home in time for tea. 89-5 need 336 to win

Harmer, harmers. Raine lbw for 3 and Durham are 91-7, contriving to lose four wickets in less than four overs.

Gloucestershire meanwhile are strolling to victory, just 64 needed, nine wickets in hand.

Now Poynter has gone, for one to Sam Cook, Durham 88-6 with hope slipping out of reach.

Arghg, wickets, wickets everywhere. Now Rossington pushes plumply forward at Luke Wood and is caught by Jennings at slip for 8. Northangs 87-5.

Durham, Durham, Durham. Now 87-5, need another 81. Harmer has snaffled both Burnham and Borthwick and hopes rest with Eckersley and Poynter.

And from Gary Naylor, the Parky Problem:

This may be of interest....

Parky! Second ball of the day, Vasconcelos decides to reverse sweep and is bowled into the dust. Middle stump pingo. Perhaps not the wisest decision of the day. Northants 76-4.

Oh dear Middlesex. With Robbie White’s dismissal, for 73, and now Andersson - both to Holland - another low-key name who has had a big match - their chances have fallen from miniscule to infinitesimal (if that is actually a decrease).

And Glamorgan’s hope slip away too with Kiran Carlson bowled by another man of the moment Ollie Robinson - who now has 5-61 . Amazing effort by Carlson though, 132 to join his 127 from the first innings.

And the bell tolls first for Daniel Bell-Drummond, bowled by David Willey for 24. Just the 397 to win for Kent, seven wicket in hand.

Mahmood has the ball from the Jimmy Anderson end, arrow-straight run up, fast arm. Loved watching the three slips - Jennings, Croft and Hartley - shimmy-inch into position, rather like the soldiers shuffling into line to lift the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin out of the hearse yesterday.

Reports from Taunton spoke of no devil in the pitch, but we know Somerset’s potential for black magic on the last day. A nice interview with one of Ciderabad’s finest here.

At Old Trafford Glenn Chapple is holding a baseball glove and looking as lithe as ever. I fear for Northants , on a turning pitch against Parky and after Saqib Mahmood’s rapid spell yesterday evening.