Hampshire captain James Vince hit a dazzling half-century as they beat Durham to boost their chances of avoiding relegation.
They were left a target of 163 after dismissing the home side for 200, and lost Jimmy Adams and Will Smith cheaply, while Michael Carberry was caught behind off Graham Onions for 39.
Vince, however, hit 16 fours in his 76 not out off 65 balls as he and Liam Dawson (34) saw them home on 166-3.
Croft props up Lancashire
Kent 570-8 dec, Lancashire 233-7 - tea, day three
Skipper Steven Croft made an unbeaten 67 to give Lancashire hope of avoiding the follow-on against Kent at Canterbury.
Having begun their innings needing to score 350 to earn four bonus points that would make certain of promotion, their focus has now switched to trying to avoid defeat.
Jordan Clark (44) helped add 91 for the sixth wicket but was caught at slip, and Tom Bailey followed when he was bowled by spinner James Tredwell.
Wright makes Worcestershire suffer
Worcestershire 210, Sussex 510-5 dec - tea, day three
"A wonderful career-best innings of 226 from Luke Wright, including 28 fours and seven sixes, has put Sussex in a strong position.
"Having taken 23 balls to get off the mark, Wright flayed the Worcestershire attack to all parts, together with Ben Brown (103) and Chris Nash (90) before Sussex declared on 510-5.
"However, bad light has now set in and Sussex will be hoping their efforts to win this match are not thwarted by the weather."
Taylor treble boosts Leicestershire
Leicestershire 415, Gloucestershire 207-6 - tea, day three
Rob Taylor took three wickets in successive overs to leave Leicestershire looking good for a first-innings lead against Gloucestershire at Grace Road.
He ended a stand of 120 between Chris Dent (73) and Peter Handscomb (53) by dismissing both and also picked up the wicket of Hamish Marshall.
Benny Howell was caught behind off Clint McKay before the tea interval, which the visitors reached still 208 in arrears.
Hants chase modest target
Durham 213 & 200, Hampshire 251 & 47-1 - tea, day three
"Play did not get underway until 13:10 BST but the rain stayed away through the afternoon, so Hampshire, who need another 116, could wrap up victory with a day to spare.
"Jimmy Adams looked out of form before he was bowled by Chris Rushworth, and Graham Onions may consider himself unlucky not to have picked up a wicket as yet.
"The pitch is still offering help to the seam bowlers, but Michael Carberry (28 not out) is steering Hampshire towards their target."
Northants close in on Essex score
Essex 360, Northants 257-6
Northants have shown plenty of lower order spirit to reduce their first innings deficit to less than 100 behind Essex at Chelmsford with four wickets in hand.
South African Rory Kleinveldt is closing in on a half-century while Olly Stone is also unbeaten.
Young paceman Jamie Porter now has three wickets.
Surrey set for Oval lead
Derbyshire 313, Surrey 306-6
Surrey are poised to take a first-innings lead, thanks to half centuries by Gary Wilson and Zafar Ansari on day three against Derbyshire.
The pair added 109 for the sixth wicket before Wilson was caught behind off Mark Footitt for 72. Partner Ansari was unbeaten on 53 at the interval, with Surrey, who will seal promotion if they win the game, just seven runs behind.
"A record breaking morning for Sussex with Luke Wright and Ben Brown adding 282 for the Sussex fourth wicket surpassing the previous record of 226 for any wicket against Worcester set in 1954.
"In so doing Sussex lead by 170 at lunch with Luke Wright 163 in sight of a career best 189.
"Ben Brown's hundred was his fourth of the season as a tired looking Worcester attack were put the sword as Sussex chase quick runs for a declaration."
Leicestershire make double breakthrough
Leicestershire 415, Gloucestershire 100-2
Leicestershire struck twice in quick succession after a solid start by Gloucestershire on day three in reply to the home side's big first-innings total.
Will Tavare and Chris Dent put on 51 for the first wicket, but Tavare was then caught behind off Ben Raine, and Wayne White bowled Gareth Roderick in the next over.
Dent remained on 34 not out at lunch, with Peter Handscomb on 21.
"The champagne is firmly still on ice and promotion will have to wait a little longer for Lancashire after some excellent bowling from Kent this morning.
"Lancashire heading into the day needing to add a further 325 runs inside 100 overs to clinch promotion, but as soon as Darren Stevens took two wickets in one over the Red Rose quickly adjusted their thoughts to trying to save the game."
"Middlesex had much the better of this morning session.
"When Ollie Rayner was entrusted with the first over, and dismissed William Porterfield in it, spin seemed likely to be the main threat.
"However, all the other wickets fell to the seamers Toby Roland-Jones and Tim Murtagh, who bowled with great energy and discipline.
"Varun Chopra may feel unlucky to have cut Murtagh straight into gully's hands to end a well-made 44, but it was the first of three wickets in three overs for Murtagh, a spell which gave Middlesex the advantage."
YORKSHIRE BEAT SOMERSET BY AN INNINGS AND 126 RUNS
Somerset 110 & 155, Yorkshire 391
Yorkshire have all but sealed their second straight County Championship title after thumping Somerset at Headingley.
The hosts took eight wickets before lunch on day three as Somerset slumped from 44-2 to 155 all out.
The wickets were shared between the Yorkshire seam attack with Ryan Sidebottom and Steven Patterson both picking up three each.
The Tykes will win the Championship at the home of cricket next week if they avoid defeat against second placed Middlesex at Lord's.
Weather hold-up at Chester-le-Street
Durham 213 & 126-6, Hampshire 251
There will be no play before lunch on day three of Durham's game against Hampshire, with the home side set to resume with an 88-run lead, but only four second-innings wickets remaining.
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Latest PostChampionship day three round-up
Play has finished for the day. Please click the links below to read the match reports:
Durham v Hampshire
Warwickshire v Middlesex
Worcestershire v Sussex
Yorkshire v Somerset
Essex v Northants
Kent v Lancashire
Leicestershire v Gloucestershire
Surrey v Derbyshire
HAMPSHIRE BEAT DURHAM BY SEVEN WICKETS
Durham 213 & 200, Hampshire 251 & 166-3
Hampshire captain James Vince hit a dazzling half-century as they beat Durham to boost their chances of avoiding relegation.
They were left a target of 163 after dismissing the home side for 200, and lost Jimmy Adams and Will Smith cheaply, while Michael Carberry was caught behind off Graham Onions for 39.
Vince, however, hit 16 fours in his 76 not out off 65 balls as he and Liam Dawson (34) saw them home on 166-3.
Croft props up Lancashire
Kent 570-8 dec, Lancashire 233-7 - tea, day three
Skipper Steven Croft made an unbeaten 67 to give Lancashire hope of avoiding the follow-on against Kent at Canterbury.
Having begun their innings needing to score 350 to earn four bonus points that would make certain of promotion, their focus has now switched to trying to avoid defeat.
Jordan Clark (44) helped add 91 for the sixth wicket but was caught at slip, and Tom Bailey followed when he was bowled by spinner James Tredwell.
Wright makes Worcestershire suffer
Worcestershire 210, Sussex 510-5 dec - tea, day three
BBC Sussex's Adrian Harms at New Road:
"A wonderful career-best innings of 226 from Luke Wright, including 28 fours and seven sixes, has put Sussex in a strong position.
"Having taken 23 balls to get off the mark, Wright flayed the Worcestershire attack to all parts, together with Ben Brown (103) and Chris Nash (90) before Sussex declared on 510-5.
"However, bad light has now set in and Sussex will be hoping their efforts to win this match are not thwarted by the weather."
Taylor treble boosts Leicestershire
Leicestershire 415, Gloucestershire 207-6 - tea, day three
Rob Taylor took three wickets in successive overs to leave Leicestershire looking good for a first-innings lead against Gloucestershire at Grace Road.
He ended a stand of 120 between Chris Dent (73) and Peter Handscomb (53) by dismissing both and also picked up the wicket of Hamish Marshall.
Benny Howell was caught behind off Clint McKay before the tea interval, which the visitors reached still 208 in arrears.
Hants chase modest target
Durham 213 & 200, Hampshire 251 & 47-1 - tea, day three
BBC Solent's Kevan James at Chester-le-Street:
"Play did not get underway until 13:10 BST but the rain stayed away through the afternoon, so Hampshire, who need another 116, could wrap up victory with a day to spare.
"Jimmy Adams looked out of form before he was bowled by Chris Rushworth, and Graham Onions may consider himself unlucky not to have picked up a wicket as yet.
"The pitch is still offering help to the seam bowlers, but Michael Carberry (28 not out) is steering Hampshire towards their target."
Northants close in on Essex score
Essex 360, Northants 257-6
Northants have shown plenty of lower order spirit to reduce their first innings deficit to less than 100 behind Essex at Chelmsford with four wickets in hand.
South African Rory Kleinveldt is closing in on a half-century while Olly Stone is also unbeaten.
Young paceman Jamie Porter now has three wickets.
Surrey set for Oval lead
Derbyshire 313, Surrey 306-6
Surrey are poised to take a first-innings lead, thanks to half centuries by Gary Wilson and Zafar Ansari on day three against Derbyshire.
The pair added 109 for the sixth wicket before Wilson was caught behind off Mark Footitt for 72. Partner Ansari was unbeaten on 53 at the interval, with Surrey, who will seal promotion if they win the game, just seven runs behind.
Wright closes in on career-best for Sussex
Worcestershire 210, Sussex 380-4
BBC Sussex's Adrian Harms at New Road:
"A record breaking morning for Sussex with Luke Wright and Ben Brown adding 282 for the Sussex fourth wicket surpassing the previous record of 226 for any wicket against Worcester set in 1954.
"In so doing Sussex lead by 170 at lunch with Luke Wright 163 in sight of a career best 189.
"Ben Brown's hundred was his fourth of the season as a tired looking Worcester attack were put the sword as Sussex chase quick runs for a declaration."
Leicestershire make double breakthrough
Leicestershire 415, Gloucestershire 100-2
Leicestershire struck twice in quick succession after a solid start by Gloucestershire on day three in reply to the home side's big first-innings total.
Will Tavare and Chris Dent put on 51 for the first wicket, but Tavare was then caught behind off Ben Raine, and Wayne White bowled Gareth Roderick in the next over.
Dent remained on 34 not out at lunch, with Peter Handscomb on 21.
Lancashire lose early wickets
Kent 570-8 dec, Lancashire 104-5
BBC Manchester's Scott Read at Canterbury:
"The champagne is firmly still on ice and promotion will have to wait a little longer for Lancashire after some excellent bowling from Kent this morning.
"Lancashire heading into the day needing to add a further 325 runs inside 100 overs to clinch promotion, but as soon as Darren Stevens took two wickets in one over the Red Rose quickly adjusted their thoughts to trying to save the game."
Wickets tumble at Edgbaston
Middlesex 207, Warwickshire 106-6
BBC WM 95.6's Mike Taylor at Edgbaston:
"Middlesex had much the better of this morning session.
"When Ollie Rayner was entrusted with the first over, and dismissed William Porterfield in it, spin seemed likely to be the main threat.
"However, all the other wickets fell to the seamers Toby Roland-Jones and Tim Murtagh, who bowled with great energy and discipline.
"Varun Chopra may feel unlucky to have cut Murtagh straight into gully's hands to end a well-made 44, but it was the first of three wickets in three overs for Murtagh, a spell which gave Middlesex the advantage."
YORKSHIRE BEAT SOMERSET BY AN INNINGS AND 126 RUNS
Somerset 110 & 155, Yorkshire 391
Yorkshire have all but sealed their second straight County Championship title after thumping Somerset at Headingley.
The hosts took eight wickets before lunch on day three as Somerset slumped from 44-2 to 155 all out.
The wickets were shared between the Yorkshire seam attack with Ryan Sidebottom and Steven Patterson both picking up three each.
The Tykes will win the Championship at the home of cricket next week if they avoid defeat against second placed Middlesex at Lord's.
Weather hold-up at Chester-le-Street
Durham 213 & 126-6, Hampshire 251
There will be no play before lunch on day three of Durham's game against Hampshire, with the home side set to resume with an 88-run lead, but only four second-innings wickets remaining.
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Full scorecards available here
(All matches start at 10:30 BST)
Worcestershire v Sussex - BBC Hereford and Worcester
Surrey v Derbyshire - BBC London 94.9
Essex v Northants - BBC Essex
Durham v Hampshire - BBC Newcastle
Leicestershire v Gloucestershire - BBC Radio Leicester
Warwickshire v Middlesex - BBC Coventry and Warwickshire
Kent v Lancashire - BBC Radio Kent