Thursday 3 September 2015 19:58, UK
Far from possibly clinching promotion, LV= County Championship Division Two leaders Lancashire are battling to avoid an innings defeat after an action-packed day three at Canterbury.
Replying to Kent's impressive 570-8 declared, Lancashire began the day on 25-0 but were bowled out for 259 and, having been made to follow on, finished on 47-2.
Lancashire needed 350 in their first innings to claim the four batting points required to secure their return to the top flight but fell 162 runs short of avoiding the follow-on despite 85 from skipper Steven Croft.
Matt Coles (3-75) led the way for Kent, while Matt Hunn, Darren Stevens and Calum Haggett chipped in with two wickets apiece.
The follow-on got off to a terrible start for Lancashire when Karl Brown, who made 53 in the first innings, departed for a second ball duck, trapped on the crease and lbw to give Coles his 61st wicket of the championship campaign.
James Tredwell then came on for the last over of the day and capped a great Thursday for Kent by bowling Alviro Petersen (28), who rashly went for a big shot with just two balls left.
Zafar Ansari made the third first-class century of his career as promotion near-certainties Surrey took charge of their match against Derbyshire at the Kia Oval.
In reply to 313, the hosts began day three on 227-5 and went on to make 560 all out, before bad light prevented Derbyshire from starting their second innings.
Ansari, who had taken 4-61 with his spin in the Derbyshire innings, batted for 305 minutes for his 106 before finally falling lbw to Wes Durston's nagging off-breaks.
James Burke made a career-best 79 and helped add 148 for the seventh wicket, after Gary Wilson (72) and Ansari had put on 109 for the sixth.
In the final session there was a speedy 46 off 44 balls by promising 17-year-old Sam Curran and Gareth Batty then made 35 not out as he and Tom Curran (24) added 61 for the last wicket.
Durston finished with 6-113, a career-best and the first time he had taken six wickets in a first-class innings.
Leicestershire are on top against Gloucestershire after bad light ended play early on day three at Grace Road.
Replying to 415, Gloucestershire closed on 249-8, and still need 17 runs to avoid the follow-on.
Rob Taylor (3-41), Ben Raine (2-37) and Clint McKay (2-72) made steady inroads for Leicestershire, as the bowlers built on the good work of the batsmen.
Gloucestershire's main resistance came from opener Chris Dent (73) and Peter Handscomb (53).
At Chelmsford, Rory Kleinveldt scored a valuable 52 not out as Northamptonshire managed to avoid the follow on against Essex.
The visitors began the day on 143-3, still 217 behind, but made it to 275 before Essex closed on 55-1, to lead by 140 going into the final day.
Jamie Porter (3-93) took two wickets in as many balls at the start of the day to leave Northants struggling on 151-5.
Richard Levi (31) then had to retire hurt after he was struck on the finger by Tom Moore, and he will take no further part in the match, having suffered a broken knuckle.
But Kleinveldt played positively from the start and added 55 for the seventh wicket with Ollie Stone (22) before Jesse Ryder (3-53) ended the innings with three wickets in five balls.
