Surrey v Northamptonshire, Essex v Hampshire and more: County cricket – live | County Championship

At Lord’s, Tim Murtagh bagged two early Nursery End wickets, to make it five in his final home match, before Will Rhodes (95) and Danny Briggs (71) put on 133 for the seventh wicket. Then the rain fell. Warwickshire took their foot off the gas with a lead of 107. Ryan Higgins left with a side strain and Middlesex remain in danger of relegation.

At the Oval, Karun Nair’s spirited and entertaining 144 did not keep Surrey at bay, with his 114-run partnership with Tom Taylor the cause of much frustration in south London. Nair had time to hit Tom Lawes for a joyous one-handed six before bad light arrived, leaving Surrey looking over their shoulders at Essex.

In ChelmsfordSecond-placed Essex declared on 447 for 9, with three batting runs in the bag – canceled out by Surrey’s three bowling runs at The Oval. Matt Critchley was unlucky to fall in love with 99; before Simon Harmer and Umesh Yadav played whoopee with successful half-centuries. Hampshire was 10-0 when the bad light hit. Essex, 18 points behind Surrey, need a win to stand any chance of having a realistic chance of winning the title.

SECTION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex 447-9 December v Hampshire 10–0

Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire

Lord : Middlesex 121 v Warwickshire 228-6

Taunton: Somerset 214-2 against Kent

The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire 351-9

SECTION TWO

County land: Derbyshire v Sussex

Road of Grace: Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9

New road: Worcestershire 104-1 against Durham

Good morning! Summer – or at least a pleasant autumn – is here again, at least at The Oval. The teams warm up on a bright outdoor field, in tracksuits but not a hat in sight. But elsewhere, a small bomb exploded: rumors say that Sir Alastair Cook should hang up his boots.