County champions Surrey hold an almighty lead going in to day four in their Division One clash with Leicestershire at The Oval. The visitors lost their last five wickets for 58 runs with Tim Murtagh picking up three. Darren Maddy remained unbeaten on 127. Surrey then got off to an explosive start. By stumps they were 335 for four off 63 overs. Adam Hollioake had stuck 18 fours and three sixes in his 152-ball 146 and Ali Brown 89. Both remained undefeated with Surrey 468 in front.

Warwickshire require another 297 runs for victory against Sussex at Hove. Sussex were finally dismissed for 341 in their second innings after Mark Davis and Keith Innes both batted sensibly with the former scoring 66. With seven wickets in hand Warwickshire will have it all to do on the final day if they are to wrap up victory.

Yorkshire's woes continued as they suffered yet another defeat. The already relegated penniless club were thrashed by Kent by eight wickets. Following on in the second innings the home side failed to make any significant start and lost wickets at regular intervals. Richard Blakey top scored with 94. Robert Key guided his side home with an unbeaten 33 and wicket-keeper Paul Nixon was there too at the end as the visitors rounded off a good season with a win.

The Division Two title is in the balance at Chelmsford. Essex require another 210 runs while Nottinghamshire need to take eight wickets. The increasingly impressive Will Jefferson found the boundary 15 times and remains at the crease on 71 while Australian Mark Waugh ran diligently between the wickets. The visitors were bowled out for 280 with Bilal Shafayat hitting a well-deserved 70 to resist the Essex attack while the last three wickets put on a vital 131.

Derbyshire were indebted to their middle order, which grew from strength to strength as the day progressed in their match against Worcestershire at New Road. Resuming on 98 for two, there were half-centuries from Steve Selwood, Jason Kerr and Nathan Dumelow. David Leatherdale took four for 50 as the home side bowled Derbyshire out for 391. Chasing 373 for victory Kevin Dean shook the visitors with an early wicket but Steven Peters kept his cool to remain undefeated on 23. At the close of play the home side were 30 for one.

Darren Thomas claimed the last Northamptonshire wicket at Cardiff before Glamorgan began show again what a good pitch it is. Glamorgan lead by 388 after ending the day on 470 for five. Matthew Maynard was in awesome form as he scored 151 at more than a run a ball. In an innings which spammed just over three and a half hours, he hit 19 fours and two sixes and shared a 252 run stand for the second wicket with Darren Hemp, who also scored a hundred. Maynard was stumped by Torbin Bailey off Rob White, whilst Hemp was bowled by the same bowler for 108. Michael Powell (82 not out), Adrian Dale (50) and Robert Croft (47 not out) also found the batsman-friendly pitch easy going.

Gloucestershire beat Durham by ten wickets at Bristol. Ian Fisher took four of the nine Durham wickets that fell on the third day for the addition of 198 runs. Michael Gough was the top scorer with 78, but the target of 170 posed no problems for Gloucestershire. Craig Spearman led them home with 114 not out.

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