Wednesday 24 August 2016 20:09, UK
Division Two leaders Essex took control against promotion rivals Leicestershire on the back of Dan Lawrence's century.
Resuming on 13 for two, they were on the ropes at 68 for five - four of which fell to Dieter Klein - until Lawrence and Ryan ten Doeschate came together.
Lawrence finished not out on 123 from 254 balls, with Ten Doeschate making a breezy 86 in their 125-run stand.
On 368 for eight at stumps, they closed 130 in front.
There was another match-turning stand at Bristol where England's Sam Billings (86no) and veteran all-rounder Darren Stevens (121no) put on an unbeaten 205 for Kent against Gloucestershire.
That left the their side 364 for four and Gloucestershire on the wrong end of a 125-run deficit.
Northamptonshire piled on 551 against Worcestershire, with Steven Crook and debutant Chad Barrett following day one centurion Rob Koegh to three figures.
Crook made 145 and Barrett, setting a new county record from number 10, was 114no.
The Pears also found runs easy to come by, making 153 for one in the first 40 overs of the response.
Glamorgan versus Sussex at the SWALEC Stadium was finely poised at the start of the third innings, with Glamorgan 50 for one and 19 ahead.
Sussex established a slender 31-run lead after both sides had batted the match thanks to Chris Nash's 132.
