Saqlain Mushtaq was Surrey's hero as the championship leaders reached the brink of victory over Hampshire at The AMP Oval. Pakistan's premier spinner took six for 115 off his 35 overs as the visitors closed on 303 for eight, still needing 83 to make Surrey bat again. But for Dimitri Mascarenhas, who made an unbeaten 75 and held the hosts at bay with James Hamblin in the closing overs, the game would already be over. Earlier Ali Brown (135) and Jonathan Batty (89) extended their overnight partnership to 154 runs before Brown was dismissed. Surrey were eventually bowled out for 576, a massive lead of 386 on first innings. Although Shaun Udal took four wickets, he went for 213 runs off his 47 overs.

Kent lead Leicestershire by 49 runs with seven wickets remaining going into the final day of their game at Canterbury. A swashbuckling innings of 82 by Min Patel (89 balls, one six, nine fours) extended the hosts' first-innings lead to 120 after Paul Nixon had been dismissed for 86. For Leicestershire, Javagal Srinath ended with four for 70 and Phil DeFreitas three for 71. Martin Saggers (two for 35) again impressed as Leicestershire reached 169 for three by stumps. Trevor Ward made 66 and Darren Maddy is unbeaten on 41.

An unbroken last-wicket stand of 42 Between Shane Bond and Neil Carter frustrated Somerset and salvaged a draw for Warwickshire at Taunton. The two came together after Richard Johnson (four for 60) had accounted for Graham Wagg, Neil Smith and Ian Clifford. Earlier Ian Bell (77) had been the lynchpin of the Warwickshire innings, supported by Dominic Ostler (55) and Dougie Brown (30).

At Hove, Lancashire should complete a comprehensive victory over Sussex tomorrow after the hosts ended the day on 276 for nine, just 91 runs ahead. Glen Chapple took six for 66, while Sussex captain Chris Adams was his team's top scorer with 61. Robin Martin-Jenkins (55), Ricky Montgomerie (43) and Tony Cottey (41) all made useful contributions, but no one played the major innings necessary to bring Sussex back into the game.

The race for promotion is wide open after Derbyshire handed Division Two leaders Middlesex a comprehensive thrashing at Lord's. Chasing 412 to win, the home side fell apart from the beginning, when Mohammed Ali bowled Sven Koenig with the fifth ball of the innings. Lian Wharton ended the match with career best figures of six for 62 (31 overs). He had Andrew Strauss stumped by Luke Sutton for 21, and once he had claimed the wicket of Owais Shah the home side collapsed, losing five wickets for 23 runs. Ed Joyce was resilient, scoring only two boundaries in his 51, but when he too was caught behind off Ali, there was no way back for Middlesex. The visitors wrapped up the victory when they dismissed the stubborn Phil Tufnell. The 204-run win puts Derbyshire third in the table behind Middlesex and Essex.

Veteran John Stephenson and England Under-19 starlet Mark Pettini guided Essex to their seventh Championship win of the season at Colchester. They again proved that they have the ability to chase high scores on the last day with a four-wicket win over Durham. The visitors had lost their last two wickets by the third over of the morning (332 all out) allowing Darren Robinson and Will Jefferson set up the foundations for a comfortable victory. After their dismissals Stephenson was calm and dominant, reaching an unbeaten 100 with a four that also won the match. Pettini smashed his way to 64 (ten fours and 1 six) and shared a 97-run stand for the fifth wicket. Essex lost the youngster, Ravinder Bopara, and John Dakin to Nicholas Phillips but it was only a brief scare as the home sided cruised to their target.

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