Yorkshire demolished Somerset in under two days at Scarborough, an innings and 33-run victory guided by a superb century from Harry Brook, capped at the start of the match, and a career-best nine wickets for Matthew Fisher.

In a clash between two teams without a bean in the title soup, Middlesex had a day to remember at Hove, as Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson put on 376 – a club record opening partnership, beating Mike Gatting and Justin Langer’s 372. With new ball in hand Sussex finally had Stoneman caught behind for 174, his first hundred since moving to Lord’s. Robson remains, on 192, the pitch friendly and the forecast good.

The Division One clash at Edgbaston swerved one way, then the other, as Hampshire batted through the second day, finishing with a useful lead. Keith Barker, five-wicket destroyer in the first innings, was top scorer against his old county team. James Vince made a typically skittish 48, before holing out to long leg. Liam Norwell grabbed 4-64. In the other top of the table clash, Nottinghamshire hold the upper hand after bowling Lancashire out for 168, Saqib Mahmood batting with a runner after injuring his side on Sunday.

Despite 50 from James Bracey, Gloucestershire are in a sticky position against Essex. Paul Walter, 96, and an autumnal jig of an innings from Simon Harmer built a first-innings lead. Harmer then grabbed two wickets, a catch and watched with interest as Ollie Price was run out off the last ball of the day.

Rikki Clarke, in the final month of his final season, hushed the passing years as he took his 800th career wicket against Northants, helping to put Surrey in a healthy position.

Leicestershire scrubbed up nicely to reach 528 thanks to a hundred from Lewis Hill and a career-best 87 from Chris Wright. Derbyshire slipped to 41-3 at stumps. At the Riverside, Durham played with uncharacteristic panache, revving up a 406-run first innings lead, before browbeaten Glamorgan lost two wickets.

An innings defeat looks on the cards for Worcestershire, who sloshed along to 91-6 in their second innings, undone by Kent’s Grant Stewart, Nathan Gilchrist and, yes, Darren Stevens.

Oh dear, oh dear, Somerset. All wrapped up within two days with just one ball remaining of the final half hour. The Yorkies leap from bottom of Division One to the top. And with that, thank you for all the comments, and sticking with us throughout the excitement of the Test. See you tomorrow!

Time for me to retire to the round-up, with Somerset finally hammering up the windows and filling the keyholes.

And with that, Mark Stoneman falls for 174, caught off a weary Crocombe. Middx 378-1

A glance at the Division One games: Notts whipping off their britches and hoisting them up the flagpole at Trent Bridge, leading Lancashire by 198, seven wickets in hand. Clarke and James at the crease.

At Edgbaston, Hampshire have squeaked a lead of 225 thanks to squirrelling efforts by the tail, two wickets in hand.

And Somerset having a game to scrub out with carbolic at Scarborough. 54-6, still 120 behind on first-innings.

Derbyshire 18-1 in pursuit of that big one at The County Ground. Glamorgan 23-1 in what, one feels, fruitless pursuit.

And a maiden first-class wicket for James Sales, as Surrey slip to 49-3 - the lead already a more than handy 144.

A sixth wicket at Scarborough, as inevitability follows predictability. Banton gone for ten. Somerset really are unstuck when their bowlers can’t rescue them - with either bat or ball. 45-6.

It is Day one at Hove. Middlesex are 352-0. Robson 170, Stoneman 164. The Middlesex cup truly runneth over.

Glamorgan have started batting. They can take heart from Gloucestershire who have made a much better fist of their second innings 100-2, Bracey and Dent the not out batsmen.

If Mahmood is off with a side strain, and Overton now with something nasty to the elbow... who next for the England whistle?

If your heart is in Taunton, look away now. Currently 18-5: Abell, Lammonby, Azhar, Hildreth, Bartlett all gone. Fisher 4-2.

I don’t know who is the more shell-shocked, Sussex or Middlesex.

Somerset, I’’m afraid to report are 7-2.

Kent added 22 for the first three wickets, 284 for the next three. Leaning 97, Robinson 50, Stevens 66, Billings (sent back by England) 72. Currently 371-9, a whopping 238 run-lead on first innings.

The Leicestershire riches keep accumulating: rubies, emeralds, gold beyond avarice. Hill 113, Wright 87, Swindells 47 not out. Poor old Kimber the only outright failure, with a seven ball duck. Currently 457-6.

I have neglected those batting on an alternative celestial plain. Leicestershire, Durham, Middlesex and Kent....

And as England lose four for six to the Indian power surge , James Vince hits the ball straight to Matthew Lamb. Hants 173-6.

Make that 168 all out, the red rose limp, the deficit 104.

At Hove, i jest not, Robson and Stoneman are both in the nineties. Middlesex 199-0.

It’s all swishing down the plughole for Lancashire. Croft’s stumps receive an uppercut, Tom Bailey’s pad glued in front. Lancs 164-9

Hampshire’s second-innings batting suggests that the pitch wasn’t the daemon yesterday’s scores indicated. James Vince, six fours in his 36 - can he do it any other way? -is showing Felix Organ the way. They’ve lost a couple since lunch, Alsop stumped going for a dalliance, the lead of 133, five wickets left. Anyone?

Bumr-aghghghghg.The fastest Indian seamer to reach 100 Test wickets.

Glamorgan are chipping away at Durham, Coughlin a third for van der Gugten, but with the lead already 265, I’m feeling a vast black nothingness for their second innings.

Harry Brook is snaffled by Tom Abell, for a super 118. As mature as a Normandy Camembert after six hours stuffed in a suitcase in the boot. Yorks 232-7, a lead of 100 over Somerset

I find Peter Moores such a fascinating character. Two tarnished goes at the England job, but superb at county level. Has anyone else won the County Championships with three counties as coach? I’m giving it to Notts now, try and stop me. Lancs now 124-7 as Dane Vilas offers a friendly pad to Brett Hutton, who now has a five-fer.

Northants lose their fifth wicket, Rossington lbw to Rikki Clarke - proper heavyweight contest that. Not sure if Stewie was still marooned at square leg...

They’ll try anything in saarf London.

Time to quickly buy a PE kit, back in twenty minutes!

So Bohannon didn’t quite fly as expected (35), a third wicket for Brett Hutton, but Jones and Vilas stride onwards towards the follow on. Lancs 109-5, trail by 165. At Scarborough, Brook is still there on 117. Match-winning, I’ll wager.

Hampshire lose Ian Holland just six short of his fifty - 112-2, a lead of 85. Remember, Hampshire, and probably Yorkshire and Somerset, need a win to stay in with a chance of the title.

While at The Oval, Hass has flush of blood, and is dropped.

Strange going on at Hove where Robson and Stoneman are stealing sweeties from the Sussex (under 21s). A century stand.

Three boundaries as Bohannon picks up where he left off against Warwickshire, and starts firing against Patersnon, the boy making a late bid for the Ashes boat. Lancs 72-3.

And the ball after reaching his fifty, Burns gets an unplayable ball from Thakur. Comments on the Test are most definitely allowed today.

Revolving doors at the PCB...

A relatively quiet first half hour: In Division One, Lancs (47-3) and Hampshire (66-1) have both lost a wicket

In Div 2: Durham have lost Bedingham for 47, thanks for the nudge below the line that he is close to, but not touching, 100 runs. Essex are skipping along thanks to a snappy, six boundaried, 30 by Simon Harmer. Paul Walter 88 not out. Northants are yet to lose a morning wicket.

In Div 3: Sam Evans has fallen but Lewis Hill has the second hundred of the round. Well played! (Leics 314-2). At Canterbury it looks like another Darren Stevens day - 65 not out, while Robson and Stoneman (in his new colours) are rocketing along at Hove (Middx 45-0).

Just in case your thoughts were drifting towards The Oval, where HH is currently scratching his guard with his heel like a thoughful rabbit by his warren, you can follow it here with the awesomeness that is Rob:

It’s bloody raining at Scarborough, with Yorkshire 168-5.

A wicket at Trent Bridge! Balderson flicks into the paws of Liam Patterson White without adding to his overnight score. Lancs 33-3 and in a sticky situation.