Surrey on the brink

Mark Ramprakash again stood firm where his team-mates failed at the Brit Oval

Surrey are hanging on to life in the top flight of the LV County Championship by a thread after a dramatic collapse on day three against Hampshire at the Brit Oval.

Surrey are rooted to the bottom of the table and will resume tomorrow on 171 for seven in response to Hampshire’s 480 for eight declared.

Scott Newman hit a feisty 58 at the top of the order but only captain Mark Ramprakash, with 55 not out, offered sustained support.

Spinner Imran Tahir collected 3-23 as he undermined the Surrey effort, with James Tomlinson taking two wickets and Dimitri Mascarenhas picking up the remaining wicket to go with his 99 with the bat.

West Indies star Shivnarine Chanderpaul celebrated his coronation as the International Cricket Council's player of the year by hitting 93 for Durham in their potentially crucial clash with Somerset at Taunton.

Both sides came into the match harbouring genuine Division One title ambitions and, although rain has frustrated any attempts to get a full game in, Durham have come off better in the exchanges that have been possible.

After toppling their opponents for just 224 in the first innings, they will resume on the final day on 265 for three with centurion Michael Di Venuto, who shared a 174-run stand with Chanderpaul, on 131 not out.

Charl Willoughby underlined his importance, snaring Shivnarine Chanderpaul in figures of 2-58

Charl Willoughby was the only home bowler to get any real joy, accounting for Chanderpaul to return figures of 2-58 off 28 hard-working overs.

Worcestershire look set for a draw that would secure their promotion to Division One after the second day of their match against Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium was washed out.

Wantage Road was again the scene of plenty of rain as Northamptonshire’s meeting with Essex lost 29 overs before play got under way.

As it stands, a positive result for either side looks unlikely, but Essex look well set to cash in with some batting points after moving to 256 for two after their hosts’ 304 all out.

All four batsmen to take the crease scored half-centuries, with Jason Gallian’s 72 the top score and England all-rounder Ravi Bopara weighing in with an unbeaten 65.

Struggling Gloucestershire were the recipient of a bold declaration by Leicestershire captain Paul Nixon at Grace Road, giving them the prospect of a first win of the campaign.

Nixon attempted to force a result by declaring on 169 for four - with the skipper himself three short of a fifty - handing his opponents a 112-run lead.

That had been extended to 154 at the close, but the gentle seamers of occasional bowler Jacques du Toit with the new ball, with which he helped himself to 3-17 in a score of 42 for three, puts the hosts in contention as well.

Garnett Kruger had earlier enjoyed similar success in the field, reducing Gloucestershire from 223 for three to 281 all out courtesy of five wickets.