Saturday 29 September 2018 12:25, UK
Yorkshire's Adam Lyth hit his first Specsavers County Championship century since last June on a rain-affected third day against Hampshire - whose Division One safety was mathematically confirmed by Worcestershire's defeat at Essex.
Opener Lyth reached his 23rd first-class hundred as the hosts strengthened their grip on the match at Headingley, with the 30-year-old left-hander advancing from 60 overnight to 134 not out.
Yorkshire moved from 172-4 to 287-5, holding a 314-run lead when the rain arrived during the lunch break and there was no more play possible.
Heading into day four, Yorkshire still have a realistic chance of victory as long as there is no more weather interruption and if they win, they will also be mathematically safe from relegation.
But five points for the draw would leave them needing a maximum of just two points from next week's final-round clash with Worcestershire at New Road.
Surrey were frustrated by the weather and some stiff Somerset resistance at Taunton. SCORECARD
By the close of a day limited to 49.3 overs by rain and bad light, the hosts had reached 168-3 in their second innings and required a further 171 to avoid an innings defeat.
The match looked set to end inside three days when Somerset crashed to 4-2, following on, Marcus Trescothick bagging a pair when dismissed by Morne Morkel for the second time in the match.
But from there the home side found a resolve that was missing from their first-innings batting, James Hildreth making 60 and Azhar Ali ending the day unbeaten on 61.
Warwickshire are closing in on reaching Division One next season after bad light brought a premature end to the day at Hove with the Bears 141-0, giving them a lead of 238 in a game they only need to draw to seal their promotion. SCORECARD
Having dismissed fellow promotion-chasers Sussex for 343-9 - with Tom Haines unfit to bat - Warwickshire's opening pair of Will Rhodes (76 not out) and Dom Sibley (43 not out) piled on the runs to move them to the brink of an immediate return to the top flight.
Matt Critchley became Derbyshire's youngest ever centurion at Lord's - but his side will face an arduous challenge to overcome Middlesex. SCORECARD
The 22-year-old all-rounder top-scored for the visitors with 105 before picking up four wickets as Middlesex ended day three with a healthy advantage of 327 runs.
Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire were frustrated by the weather as heavy overnight rain left the outfield sodden and put paid to any prospect of play on day three in Bristol. SCORECARD
