Essex search for last-day target

Tom Westley struck his maiden first-class hundred but Essex conceded a 118-run deficit by declaring nine down

Northamptonshire face an anxious wait to see if they have done enough for promotion, with Essex needing 19 points at Derbyshire to deny them a place in the top flight for the first time since 2004.

Essex’s fading hopes are in Derbyshire’s hands after the home side ended the third day at Derby on 108 for three and a lead of 221 runs.

Earlier, Tom Westley made 132, his maiden century for Essex, before the visitors declared on 356 for nine.

Northants’ victory means Essex have to win to deprive them of second spot and £70,000, but that depends on what target Derbyshire are prepared to set.

A magnificent spell of pace bowling from David Lucas against Leicestershire ensured Northamptonshire moved to pole position after routing the visitors by an innings and 196 runs at Wantage Road.

The left-arm seamer returned figures of 7-45 - the second-best of his career - as the visitors were bowled out for 186. It allows Northants to add 22 points to their season's total.

In Division One, Nottinghamshire put themselves in a strong position to secure victory over relegated Sussex and claim second place thanks to the second half-century of the match from skipper Chris Read.

Knowing a win would guarantee the £225,000 runners-up prize money, Read reached 64 not out before bad light brought an early end to play at Trent Bridge.

Read put on 80 for the seventh wicket with Akhil Patel to rescue Nottinghamshire from a precarious 107 for six, with Dwayne Smith picking up three for 50.

Samit Patel’s 54 helped Nottinghamshire finish on 236 for seven, a lead of 321.

Samit Patel flashes a cover drive past the infielders during his fifty for Nottinghamshire, who are hunting second place

Durham virtually guaranteed an unbeaten record for the season when Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s first double century in the championship put Worcestershire under the cosh at New Road.

The West Indies left-hander made an unbeaten 201 as the champions ruthlessly reinforced their powerful overnight position by going beyond 600 for only the fourth time since becoming the 18th first-class county in 1992.

When Will Smith declared at 634 for eight – the fourth-highest total ever made against Worcestershire - the relegated home side needed 278 to avoid closing their dismal season with an innings defeat.

They trimmed back the deficit to 237 but lost Stephen Moore in making 41 for one.

Yorkshire trailed by three runs at the end of their first innings after succumbing to the second new ball against Hampshire at Headingley Carnegie.

They lost their last seven wickets for 89 runs to finish on 348 with Joe Sayers top scoring with 95 and Jonathan Bairstow unbeaten on 50.

When bad light stopped play with 23.3 overs remaining, Hampshire were 41 without loss.

Veteran left-arm spinner Gary Keedy claimed his second six-wicket haul of the season to take Lancashire to a 10-wicket victory against Warwickshire at Old Trafford.

Warwickshire, faced with a first-innings deficit of 241 after bowling their hosts out for 389 this morning, were bowled out for 244 in their second innings.

Chris Jordan celebrates the fall of Jamie Dalrymple, but his wicket came amid four big hundreds for Glamorgan

The remaining Division Two games saw Gloucestershire wrap up their sixth victory of the season inside three days against title-winners Kent at Bristol - but they still miss out on promotion.

However, Gloucestershire finished on a high note after Steve Adshead’s 114 had boosted their first innings total to 552 all out.

That gave them a lead of 288 and, despite teenager Sam Northeast making 128 not out - his maiden century for Kent - the visitors collapsed to 265 all out to lose by an innings and 23 runs.

Glamorgan were just 16 runs shy of equalling their best ever championship score when they declared on 702 for eight against Surrey at the Brit Oval.

Gareth Rees, Mark Cosgrove, Jim Allenby and Mark Wallace all scored centuries and they had reduced the hosts to 24 for one at the end of play to trail by 248 runs.